Built like a tank: my Innovative Marine Nuvo EXT 100 build

[TX_REEF]

Much has happened, time for an update.

Assembling that stand. It was simple, the instructions are easy to follow. Wear work gloves (not latex), there are sharp edges and even aluminum burrs that can cut your skin.

Almost done. Make sure the frame is square before you tighten all the screws. The stand comes with a proper driver for the job.

Onto the next step; adding my own touches to the stand.

That’s a sturdy looking piece of kit!

 

[silent1mezzo]

Excited to see this progress!

 

[GunnarH]

I watched YouTube videos where people were putting plastic sheeting at the bottom of their IM/APS stands, so I decided to do the same. I bought pond liner and waterproof Gorilla tape and set to work.

First, measuring and cutting.

Next, test fitting. This pond liner is 14.5 mil thick, soft, and easy to work with. And yet plenty strong for this application.

On to using the Gorilla tape to secure the pond liner to the frame of the stand. I decided to pull the liner up the rear wall as well, as a splash guard.

The pond liner is done, time to install lighting. I bought a 16' light strip with motion detection.

The finished result. There's plenty of light inside this stand!

Next; installing the sump.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I watched YouTube videos where people were putting plastic sheeting at the bottom of their IM/APS stands, so I decided to do the same. I bought pond liner and waterproof Gorilla tape and set to work.

Next; installing the sump.

are you planning on doing anything with the shelf? mine became a puzzle board at 3'x3'. would make a good mounting board for controls. I just used a bathroom side cabinet I found online to fit my space. though I thought of altering a jewelry armoire so each drawer was its only controller and it would look unique next to it but may space was only 18"x12" and still access stand.

 

[fishface NJ]

Are you doing your own plumbing or using the kit?

 

[GunnarH]

doing anything with the shelf?

Not sure what I can do with it. I've started attaching the controllers to the insides of the cabinet side doors using velcro, and so far I'm happy with that. It allows for very easy access.

 

[GunnarH]

your own plumbing or using the kit?

I'm using the kit. This is my first sump system, and I decided to keep it simple. The main problem with the standard kit is that there's nowhere to plumb in a UV lamp. I figure I'll deal with that later.

Apart from that, the plumbing was easy to assemble and no leaks on the first attempt.

 

[GunnarH]

The sump that came with the system is massive. It came in its own box.

Unboxing is always fun. Mine arrived in great shape, no damages.

I just had to put it up on a table first, so I could inspect it closely. This way I also got a feel for how to install it and how to hook everything up.

I left the top plate off the stand until the very last moment, when it was time to install the display tank. That way it was very easy to place the sump inside the stand.

In this picture you can see the pond liner behind the sump. I'll add more pond liner on the back wall of the stand once the plumbing and all the electrical cables are installed.

Here's a view from above, which also shows the light strip I installed inside the stand. Obviously, the stand needs to come further out from the wall once the tank is installed.

 

[fishface NJ]

Can the sump be removed from the stand without having to remove the tank if needed?

 

[X-37B]

Can the sump be removed from the stand without having to remove the tank if needed?

The sumps are removed from the side on all exts so yes.

 

[GunnarH]

Can the sump be removed

Yes, it can. It can be pulled out through either of the side doors in the stand. A little harder to get a good grip and lift the weight with the tank in place, but absolutely doable.

Here's a picture showing what it looks like when you open the side door.

 

[fishface NJ]

The sumps are removed from the side on all exts so yes.

thanks for the answer!

I see you have the 170! That must have been an ordeal to pick up the tank at close to 600 pounds

 

[X-37B]

thanks for the answer!

I see you have the 170! That must have been an ordeal to pick up the tank at close to 600 pounds

I had someone move it with a lift.
I also have an ext 50 which I could move myself, lol.

 

[GunnarH]

The crate comes apart easily, you just unbend some metal tabs. In the background you can see all the panels from the crate, and in the foreground you can see the bag with the plumbing kit.

Time to move the tank onto the stand. It weighs 290 lbs (131 kg), so I got three guys to help me.

And here it is, on the stand. I used blue painter's tape to hold the stand's top lid fixed in place. I didn't want to screw the lid down as per the instructions, I didn't like the idea of the tank potentially resting on those four screw heads.

Time to get busy with plumbing. But also time to start making RO/DI water. I got a 44 gallon Brute trash can from the local hardware store to collect the water. It takes about 12 hours to fill it with my 75 gpd filter. I sent the wastewater through the garden hose to the thirsty backyard plants.

Onwards to the plumbing!

 

[GunnarH]

The kit instructions say to replace the ends of the drain pipes with the supplied hoses, but there were no hoses in my kit.

There's no way the drains are going into the sump while the sump is in the stand with those PVC end pipes attached. And, there's no way to install the pipes once the drain plate is installed in the sump.

I had to undo the unions and install the drain plate into the sump first, then wiggle the pipes into place and connect the unions back together.

Primary and secondary drains installed, viewed from the front.

And viewed from the back.

Looking forward to adding water and salt next!

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

The kit instructions say to replace the ends of the drain pipes with the supplied hoses, but there were no hoses in my kit.

There's no way the drains are going into the sump while the sump is in the stand with those PVC end pipes attached. And, there's no way to install the pipes once the drain plate is installed in the sump.

I had to undo the unions and install the drain plate into the sump first, then wiggle the pipes into place and connect the unions back together.

Primary and secondary drains installed, viewed from the front.

And viewed from the back.

Looking forward to adding water and salt next!

yeah, that's the error with their instructions thats still hasn't been re-written. the hard pvc pipe is what goes in and no hoses.

 

[GunnarH]

Do you know how they tested the first Apollo Saturn 5 rocket? By launching it.

I decided to take the same approach with leak testing my tank: by filling it with RO/DI water, starting the return pump, and firing up the heaters. I figured that if it's not leaking then I'd already have it filled and ready to go.

Just like NASA with the Saturn 5, I did a good job but I also got lucky. No leaks.

You learn something new in this hobby almost every day. I did not know that there's a right way and a wrong way to mix salt. Long story short; I got cloudy water caused by precipitation of calcium carbonate.

I installed three 150 micron filter socks in the sump and the water has cleared up a lot. Hopefully, it'll clear completely in a few days. I guess I'll need to check my calcium (and magnesium) levels before adding any livestock.

And now I have to go bang on some rocks.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Do you know how they tested the first Apollo Saturn 5 rocket? By launching it.

I decided to take the same approach with leak testing my tank: by filling it with RO/DI water, starting the return pump, and firing up the heaters. I figured that if it's not leaking then I'd already have it filled and ready to go.

Just like NASA with the Saturn 5, I did a good job but I also got lucky. No leaks.

You learn something new in this hobby almost every day. I did not know that there's a right way and a wrong way to mix salt. Long story short; I got cloudy water caused by precipitation of calcium carbonate.

I installed three 150 micron filter socks in the sump and the water has cleared up a lot. Hopefully, it'll clear completely in a few days. I guess I'll need to check my calcium (and magnesium) levels before adding any livestock.

And now I have to go bang on some rocks.

it will go away but you'll get a hazy/oily glass for a while. just keep wiping.

 

[GunnarH]

I spent three days smashing and gluing Marco Rock, ending up with these creations: three major structures and two smaller islands.

I was quite pleased with the result and was patting myself on the back. A little too soon, as it turned out.

I went back out in the garage today to add mortar, only to have two of the structures collapse on me. I was working on the one on the right when the one in the middle just suddenly broke apart. Minutes later the same happened to the one I was working on.

Interestingly, it wasn't the superglue that failed. In both cases it was the actual rock breaking apart.

Moral of the story: yes, you can create some impossible looking (H)NSA structures using Marco Rock and superglue. But, there are limits. The rock itself can only support so much and you're going to have to build in some hidden/non-obvious supports.

Back to aquascaping square one, almost.

 

[fishface NJ]

You should order some AF StoneFix! Great stuff. My ocean live rock is very heavy and it has held some crazy heavy pieces upward horizontal