Nuvo Fusion 10 setup

[SMSREEF]

I am just getting back into the reef hobby after a 10 year break. I was going to start off with a larger tank, but decided to go with a Nuvo Fusion 10. I am not sure what I will put in the tank, but I'm hoping to start with small frags and have good growth and get a bigger tank in a year or so.
i was worried about escapees and evaporation so I had a piece of glass cut for the top. I didn't like the screen top that came with the tank.
Light: Wave Point Blade High output blue and daylight.

I just got it set up this weekend with live rock and 2 snails. I used Fritz Zyme to help cycle the tank. Today there is a bit of film on the surface of the water. I'm not sure if this is normal or if I need to increase the flow in the tank.

My plan is to do weekly 50% to 80% water changes.
Im not sure if I need a skimmer?
349463

[SMSREEF]

Here are some other pics
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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160503/96207c4bbf18f5cc477db33da7514242.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160503/e178f7582083082cdaac4d528ce0c858.jpg



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[strummerfan]

The skimmer requirement is dependent on bio load, tank husbandry, and your tanks inhabitants. IF you stick with those weekly water changes you don't need a skimmer. My personal opinion on nano tanks is people need to make a decision on if they want a fish tank or reef tank. I'm not saying you can't have fish in a nano reef, but that it's much easier if the bio load is kept low. Pick one or two interesting fish as opposed to the is this too many fish for x tank mentality. You see it every day on forums people have 5 or 6 fish in their tank, feed constantly and then wonder why nitrates are high, hair algae everywhere, corals are dying etc

I like that aquascape a lot.

[SMSREEF]

Thank You Strummerfan,

I want to focus on corals with 1 fish. Either clown or a goby of some kind. My preference is a tank that feeds itself without too many additional nutrients. I don't mind adding minerals but have no clue how to figure this out in a cost effective way. Will weekly water changes solve this?

I do not want to deal with hair algae or dying fish & coral. I want anything I add to live and hopefully thrive. Preferably tank raised. My goal is to grow and start a new tank when the inhabitants outgrow the tank.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.



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[strummerfan]

Thank You Strummerfan,

I want to focus on corals with 1 fish. Either clown or a goby of some kind. My preference is a tank that feeds itself without too many additional nutrients. I don't mind adding minerals but have no clue how to figure this out in a cost effective way. Will weekly water changes solve this?

I do not want to deal with hair algae or dying fish & coral. I want anything I add to live and hopefully thrive. Preferably tank raised. My goal is to grow and start a new tank when the inhabitants outgrow the tank.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.



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I've always gone by one simple rule when it comes to additives in a reef tank. Don't add anything you aren't testing for. Go into your local fish store and they probably have shelves full of strontium, iodine, minerals yada yada yada. In my experience all of those things are best left replenishing via water changes.
If you start getting into hard corals then you'll want to keep an eye on Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. There are several ways to go about doing that. Some people like the two part solutions that(I think they're tech a and tech b) are added daily by dosing x number of cap fulls per x number of gallons. I always found that to be a pain in the backside. Another route is to buy large quantities from Bulk Reef Supply and use dosing pumps with either timers or an aquarium controller. My preferred method is to use Kalkwasser/limewater with an auto top off. Kalk is a balanced solution and a great way to maintain(maintain, not raise) Calcium and Alkalinity. Unfortunately there are limitations to Kalk. In large systems that are heavily populated with hard corals it might not be able to maintain your desired levels. If you choose to use one of those methods make sure you're diligently testing for Cal and Alk. Hope that helps.

[strummerfan]

One other thing. Instead of going with 50-80% water changes try 10 or 20%. I've always found that regular smaller changes were better than large drastic changes.

[SMSREEF]

Thank You Strummerfan
Yes, that does help. I don't trust dosing pumps, read too many horror stories. The Kalkwasser sounds like a good option when I top off.
Right now I am trying to be patient and let it cycle good before I add anything other than LR. Just trying to gather all the information I can so the tank does well.


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[Cliving1]

How do you like the tank? I was thinking of grabbing one as a nano. Great aquascape. You probably won't need a skimmer on that size.

[strummerfan]

Thank You Strummerfan
Yes, that does help. I don't trust dosing pumps, read too many horror stories. The Kalkwasser sounds like a good option when I top off.
Right now I am trying to be patient and let it cycle good before I add anything other than LR. Just trying to gather all the information I can so the tank does well.


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Going slow is the best option. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

[SMSREEF]

How do you like the tank? I was thinking of grabbing one as a nano. Great aquascape. You probably won't need a skimmer on that size.



Thank you Cliving 1. I really like the tank a lot. It's well made and seems like it will be a great tank.

[SMSREEF]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160511/6d73543df65c268ee9dc95edea04c96d.jpg

So much for starting slow... All my levels were 0 so I got some corals, clown and a Goby. My technical skills at attaching coral need serious help. But everyone in the tank seems happy.



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[SMSREEF]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160511/ae3d4c0afe5a5b2965384459e52baa29.jpg
Does anyone know what kind of goby this is?


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[Lalaloopsy69]

I didn't know IM nuvo made this small cube. Looks awesome. Why the chaeto is in the main tank, not at the back chamber ?

[SMSREEF]

Hi Lalaloopsy,
The back chamber is all blacked out. I kinda like the look of it so I added it to the tank hoping it would keep algae from growing on the rock. This is not working though.


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[jraker]

Not a goby, but a blenny. It is Acanthemblemaria hancocki.

[SMSREEF]

Thanks Jraker


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[SMSREEF]

So my algae is growing kinda out of control. Not hair algae. I scraped the tank yesterday morning and the glass was Covered again last night. I read scraping is not the best way because it just releases everything back into the water to reattach again so I used a few pieces of floss and tried to get it out of the tank. Hopefully this works. Nitrite 0 nitrate 0 this morning. I don't have a phosphate test yet, but I think algae is just as good a test kit as anything. Should I start using GFO in a filter bag?


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[SMSREEF]

After cleaning crystal clear in the AM, this is what I came home to. A little better than yesterday but not something I am thrilled about happening in 12 hourshttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160513/5b4171243e485673c17bba0c9f8fb363.jpg


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[SMSREEF]

The method of using floss to get the algae out of the tank, GFO and 2 additional snails seemed to work. I may need to get an emerald crab because I have some bubble algae and the hair algae on the snails. Will the eat it off the snail shells?
I was going to add a powerhead to the inside of the tank to add flow but instead replaced the pump that comes with Nuvo Fusion 10 with a 240gph powerhead. It was a good suggestion from my LFS.
I added ceramic media to the 2nd chamber and added floss above the filter sock that I replace every other day.
I got a few more frags and am loving the tank.


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[SMSREEF]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160518/9261f955cc2337724f157e5c854a47dc.jpg


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[SMSREEF]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160518/a8f2abd8e43f5d926e95b2940b5e49d8.jpg


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[joedodge]

Wow looking great!

[tfrechette]

Had a Nuvo 30L and cut a portion of the black material from the back of the glass. Put chaeto in there and used IM 's fuge light.

[jraker]

That is a pretty cool aquascape, difficult because you used all tonga rock. I like it.

[SMSREEF]

Thanks Joedodge and Jraker.

Tfrechette, in the back portion I have bio filter ceramic balls. No room for a fuge. But my plan is next year upgrade to a bigger tank and use this one as a refugium.


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[SMSREEF]

Have been testing kH, Ca, Mg.
The only thing I have needed to add has been kH this week. It was 7, have gotten it up to 8.4 with small doses. Ca is 420. Mg is high 1440 to 1480. I read when starting a tank it burns through kH first. All the corals looked great yesterday.
My blenny passed away, over the weekend before any messing with the kH. He had been eating and seemed well the night before. His eye had turned gray and was twisting in circles dying. Looked like he was in pain. I pulled him out and put him in ice fresh water.
What do you do to euthanize a fish? Was this right?

My Clown is showing no signs of disease, eating and energetic.


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[SMSREEF]

I was not happy with my lighting so I got am AI prime. I love that I was able to program it from sunup to sundown and keep a moonlight on. I took the glass lid off and the tank looks much better.

I am glad I started small to learn the following lessons:
Always dip my corals(I did not do this and I have found multiple hitchhikers in the tank so far... Snail that was eating the bottom of my acropora, flatworm, aiptasia).
Small tank is helping me figure out what kind of larger tank I need.
Chemistry and dosing every day is quite a job so I will need some kind of dosing system for my final tank.
Finally LED is a beautiful light but when I go larger I will do LED and t5 so I don't get any shadows.

Some new pictures of the tank.


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[SMSREEF]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160530/ccb87618cf513c23178cae5ba2ac0790.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160530/b11573480a36b68edf2f28aa904793f3.jpg
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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160530/266c7db94baed122b7df16cb2835b64a.jpg


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[jraker]

Looking great! Glad you went with the prime.

[SMSREEF]

Looking great! Glad you went with the prime.



Thanks Jraker!
The corals are already doing better, I think... Does greater polyp extension during the height of the light cycle mean the corals are happy or do I need to turn the percentage up. They definitely look better!

[SMSREEF]

Update:

Xenia is growing like crazy. My green torch started to die back and was losing tissue. The dead tissue stung a couple other corals when it let loose. The other corals seem to be doing well and are growing. Clown and clown goby are both doing well. I'm thinking about adding a yellow clown goby. What do you all think?

KH 9.2
Ca 425
Mg 1400

I am dosing Red Sea Reef Foundations A B and C. Mag is pretty steady so not dosing much of it.

A couple really cool hitchhikers came with one of my corals. At least I think he's cool now while small... Maybe when bigger they will cause problems.

If you know what kind of crab this is please let me know
https://vimeo.com/170221772


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[SMSREEF]

Just want to add some update pics.


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160628/2fc27b2300b2bee246b02fea8ae41da7.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160628/ce094403d9a8a974120ff45694bdc8d8.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160628/8777686a7a428da43ab7c96eb2f454eb.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160628/be2e00c81f5f9c79d08928b8f9024ee7.jpg


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[TprMoore]

Love the tank! Great work on the aquascape!

[SMSREEF]

Love the tank! Great work on the aquascape!



Thank you so much!

[Silver_Stang]

why dose when you are doing weekly water changes? shouldn't that keep the levels in check?

[SMSREEF]

why dose when you are doing weekly water changes? shouldn't that keep the levels in check?



My tank is heavily stocked with coral and I have found my KH and Ca levels drop really quickly. KH especially quick. Mg not so much. I think I would shock the heck out of my corals with a sudden change every week if I relied only on water changes.

I use the weekly water changes for nutrient removal (cleaning up detritus and rocks) because I don't have a skimmer.

[CuhRaig]

Just bought one of these tanks. Gonna go all sps with 1 fish. Tank looks great !

[SMSREEF]

Just bought one of these tanks. Gonna go all sps with 1 fish. Tank looks great !



Thank you CuhRaig
I love the tank. I'm glad I started small to learn my lessons and easily correct.
My mistakes.
1. Didn't notice bubble algae
2. Didn't start with the right light. Ended up with AI prime.
3. l Didn't dip corals(SPS eating star and snail)
4. Didn't quarantine fish (Ich)
5. Make sure the fish eats before you buy it.
Yellow clown goby died of starvation
6. Emerald crab started eating my coral(after hair algae gone and he was hungry)
7. Blood Shrimp stole food out of my coral's stomach.
8. Trust in digital thermometer. It read 78 but actual was 72.
9. Trust in light inside heater that heater was on (light was on but heater element was not working)

Things I have found to help:
1. Dip corals before you put them in your tank
2. Peroxide kills algae. Even on snail shells. Do not get on snail body, but if you dip only the shell without getting it on the body, algae will die.
3. Get a $3 thermometer to assure accurate temp.

Also. Do not Pop bubble algae because it will spread everywhere!

Pic tonight.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160710/292b84487239bf39b3abdba7932a3dff.jpg

[SMSREEF]

Update Pichttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160722/534d06a2df77df851029f8eb02cee530.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160722/eb9db885a8e64b12ca4fcd403506c77d.jpg


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[rodcpierce]

I know this is an old thread, but I just ordered an IM Fusion 10 after nearly a decade out of the hobby. How many pounds of dry rock are you guys using in these tanks?

I ordered the 20lb nano kit from Marco's and just want to make sure it will be enough (Im assuming it will be way more than enough going by the old 1 lb per gallon analogy)

But never hurts to ask!

[Ranchhand02]

I have the same tank and I think I have 10-15 pounds in it. I think 20 should be plenty of rock

[LA_Mixed_Reef]

cool little tank

[rodcpierce]

I have the same tank and I think I have 10-15 pounds in it. I think 20 should be plenty of rock

I actually used about a third of what they sent. So maybe 7 pounds or so? i think I used a total of 6 pieces. Thank you!

[RobSpeed13]

not sure what size return pump you have, but with such a large opening on the spin stream. i upgraded to a siccee 1.0 and with the spin stream there was lots of good flow throughout the aquarium.

[rodcpierce]

not sure what size return pump you have, but with such a large opening on the spin stream. i upgraded to a siccee 1.0 and with the spin stream there was lots of good flow throughout the aquarium.

I just upgraded to a 330gph pump and it works great with the spin stream! Gives flow everywhere.