SPS Filled IM Nuvo 10 Build
 

So this is my first time keeping sps, have been wanting to for a while and decided to give it a go. The tank is an IM nuvo 10 and I’m running a nanobox duo plus m (overkill I know but it was laying around so I was like sure) and circulation is the stock return and a hydor koralia 425, almost used my old sw-4 but thought that would be overkill in a 10 gallon. Stocking is a couple acros, some Scarface zoas, and my Pygmy cherub angelfish from kp aquatics. I know some people will say that this tank is too small for him, but he seems perfectly content and if he didn’t I would move him to a larger aquarium. I’m running filter floss, carbon, and gfo in the first chamber in the back of the tank, and a refugium in the middle. I’m using the stock return but may upgrade to the sicce 0.5 or 1.0 in a couple months. Thanks for stopping by, and advice is appreciated.

I did a wc today, tank is looking great right now, not much to update on beyond that, here are the numbers from today.
SG 1.026
temp. 79.6
NO3 3
CA 425
MG 1400
Kh 8.2

All looks good and best of luck with the nuvo 10. I've been running a nuvo 16 for many years and enjoy it very much. I dabbled in sps a couple of years back but found it too challenging amidst even the most subtle parameter changes. Keep in mind these changes occur very fast in a nano which the sps don't care for. I've stuck to mostly lps, softies, anemones and a pair of clowns. Everyone is settled in and I do a 5 gal WC every two weeks. I ditched the IM lights and use a Maxspect Razor which is worlds apart from the IM lights. Try getting your nitrates down lower. I run ChemiPure Blue and Phosguard which do the trick. I have an IM skimmer which work great but sounds like a rock tumbler. Way too noisy. I even had a 3 gal IM Pico running for a few years with some softies and a damsel. I thing the key in nano's is large frequent WC's.

I prefer to run nitrates around 3-5, sps seem to color up best and have better pe around these numbers. The reason I got into sps is for the challenge, so far not that tough but I’ll see. Everything seems happy with good pe right now, not much to update on

About to perform a waterchange, possible pictures tonight

New red montipora cap, tank is doing well.
No3 3
Po4 0.03
Ca 415
Mg 1400
Kh 8.4

Looking good....

Keep an eye on the monti IMO montis are really good at showing how stable a tank is.... If you can keep him happy and growing then you can step up to some other higher end ones.

That’s the plan, hopefully ordering a battlebox from BC this winter some time

right on.... Montis and birdnest are really good starter pieces but also come with so many variations and colors that you could almost do a tank with just those.

Yeah, I’ve been looking for a nice birdnest because I’ve always loved them, just haven’t found a healthy piece. Also, my angel ate the Scarface zoa I had so I’m just going to do sps in this tank.

ouch yea some fish dont play nice with corals.

a nice birdsnest if you can find it is the ORA Ponape one.... I have one in my tank great color and cool grower.

https://www.orafarm.com/product/ponape-birdsnest/

I like ponape and the BoP birdsnest, it’s more of sourcing for me, there aren’t any good lfs in my area and it’s hard to order online because I’m still in hs and can’t skip class to receive corals

Hey there. I'm following along. I'm thinking about getting back into it with a 50EXT.

Keep it up bro.

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Thanks, you should go for it

Just thought I'd chime in again... Thinking more on it I might go with something like what you have and get my feet wet again. Kinda build some habits and get back into the routine on a smaller scale.

Does IM build custom sizes? I like the 10 but could probably push it to a 13-16g with some custom dimensions.

I think this would good idea for me so I dont bite off a big project too early. This size could be a stepping stone for me.

P.S. Show us some more pics.

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Not much to take pictures of, I took a top down of my acro with my iPhone and a pic of refugium. It won’t let me upload the refugium picture

So I tested calcium this morning, it was down to 300ppm. Guess I need to stay on top
Of dosing better than I have been

Got calcium back up to 420 ppm, everything else is looking good, corals and fish are happy

Made a brs order, got test kits, additives, and food. Tank is doing well not much to update on.

what corals are next?

I don’t know, the rest of the corals will probably be nicer pieces. I’m considering a battle box or an order from cherrycorals when they restock