IM Nuvo 50 spare parts build

[Schulks]

I have been working on this setup for a couple months and it is finally coming together. I am an inexperienced reef keeper but have been keeping marine fish for about 2 years now. This is my first sump build and I have no one helping me so if anything looks off please let me know.

Currents parts list:
Tank: IM Nuvo 50
Sump: Trigger Triton 20 Cube sump
Stand: DIY
Lights: 2x Ecotech XR15 G6
Return Pump: Ecotech Vectra S2
Heater: IM Helio Heater Controller
2x 125w Eheim Jager TruTemp
Powerheads: Hygger 1600
Hygger 2600
Filtration: Red Sea Reefmat 250
Aqua Ready FR-S mini reactor
Pentair 40w UV
Protein Skimmer: IceCap k1-50 (I know it's small!)
ATO: Amazon.com Red Sea ReefATO+

I purchased a lot of this used either on the marketplace here or facebook. Some of it was reused from my previous but of course it was still crazy expensive...

The reefmat 250 is awesome. I'm so happy to have never touched a sock and never will lol. It has taken 0 maintenance 1 month in. IT is really big though..
The Aqua Ready FR-S is just to run carbon. It is kind of annoying how the sponges/media rise to the top of the chamber when I turn it on but it works and is very small.
The Pentair UV is running at about 110 gph for 280,000 uw/cm2 exposure targeting fish parasites.
I'm not certain what the return is actually running at. The vectra s2 is at 60% and it moves a good amount of water.

Side note about amazon ATOs. I've always used them but I was inspecting the sensor when moving it and I could see water moving inside of it.. I also have another one that was only a couple months old but it is looking sus with a crack that appears to goes through to the magnet.

I am picking up a used Redsea ato & vectra s2 tomorrow. I'll use the temperature alarm and leak detector with Kasa strips as a controller of sorts for now.



Current Stock: 2x Snowflake Clownfish
1x Yellow watchman Goby + Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1x Royal Gramma (The Queen of tank, rules with an iron fist..)
1x Shark nose Goby
1x Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
1x Peppermint Shrimp
Various snails, emerald crabs, and hermits

What should I get next?? Would a smaller specimen tomini tang work?

I ordered 55 lbs of Aquacultured rock and 15 lbs live sand from GulfLiveRock.com. I got some really good rock pieces and lots of cool critters. There were a few dead shrimps and a teeny tiny crab but I did not want him in the tank. It did come with a good amount of aptasia too. Here are a bunch of close up pictures of the rock. Please tell me about the corals and critters I might not notice! I really like the 2 pieces with big holes in them for fish to go into and the flat piece I used as an arch.



Lots and lots of cool orange sponges and I had some really big tan sponges but they both died. I heard most of my orange sponges will die too
couple of clams on the rock in the above left picture.


Sadly this guy isn't looking too good. I had to take the picture of the unhealthy part from above so it is a little blurry. Anything I can do for it?





I'll try to get some more pictures of things but I just turned the lights on for a few tonight.

I also found this crazy lookin worm - https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/found-this-yellow-and-orange-worm-what-is-it.1054989/

Plumbing was a nightmare when you have no idea what you are doing but I learned a lot.. and survived. Hopefully you can make out how it works in these pictures. I was only able to support the plumbing in one spot. On the return line that goes to the UV sterilizer. But on the line that brings water from the UV back to the return I may still need to support it somehow. (in the picture showing the back-top of the tank against the wall)
Removing the body of the UV will be very difficult since I did not properly plan draining it. Hopefully I never have to.






This rats nest of controllers and wires is at least hidden under my desk some but yeah it is ugly...

How I feed:

Turning off the return was extremely useful and easy in AIO's but I am feeling the impracticality of doing it on a sump build. If I had more water volume I don't think I would but since it is only 50 gallons I think it will be useful, at least until I have corals growing. I also want to keep my sump super shiny.

There is another power strip to the left of the picture above. On that strip I have a kasa wifiplug with a splitter plugged in. The splitter has the return pump and the UV light. If I turn off that kasa it turns off both so I don't burn up the lamp. The protein skimmer is on another Kasa plug as well. I can use alexa to start feeding mode which turns off the return+UV and the skimmer. Alexa will auto restart the pump after 10 minutes and the skimmer after 15. I also have the kasa app programmed to auto turn on the pump every hour just in case. Yes that catches me off guard sometimes lol

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! Do you have any more coral you want to add to your tank?

 

[Arkayology]

Nice tank! Following.

 

[Schulks]

Picked up a redsea reefato+ second hand today and found out why it was such a good deal.. It is the version specifically for redsea sumps.. so I have to spend $85 bucks to buy a corner bracket... or find a way to rig it in my sump.. I already glued a K&Jmagnet I bought awhile ago to a piece. Hopefully this works alright.
Also got a spare vectra s2 that was a really good deal.
And some zoas!




I need to get a better picture of that last one sorry

 

[Schulks]

Working on the light schedule right now. I want this to be an LPS mostly tank. I am using a kessil to create a hot spot in the middle on the arch. Is this a bad idea?

The yellow numbers are measured a couple of inches off the rock.

 

[Schulks]

I ordered a hydros launch, a leak sensor, and a couple nero 3's.\
I also picked up a red emerald crab. He's pretty cool!

 

[Schulks]

1 month and a couple days after receiving the live rock I have found a tiny urchin.
Can anyone ID it better?


I have lost it now.. so only picture I have. lol

 

[Schulks]

First pictures of my fish in the thread. This is all the current tank inhabitants. I need something that swims around more any recommendations? LFS said a Tomini Tang might work but I am hesitant.


I need to learn to use my s23 ultras camera better...


I lit up my sump and it looks spiffy down there.


I have been trying to figure out what skimmer I could upgrade to. I've got a nice list going but can't decide so I am sticking with the k1-50 until I need something bigger or find a good deal on something nice.

 

[Arkayology]

First pictures of my fish in the thread. This is all the current tank inhabitants. I need something that swims around more any recommendations? LFS said a Tomini Tang might work but I am hesitant.


I need to learn to use my s23 ultras camera better...


I lit up my sump and it looks spiffy down there.


I have been trying to figure out what skimmer I could upgrade to. I've got a nice list going but can't decide so I am sticking with the k1-50 until I need something bigger or find a good deal on something nice.

What skimmers are on the list for possible upgrades?

 

[Schulks]

What skimmers are on the list for possible upgrades?

The current list is -
$ means it is in the coralvue outlet / open box / marked down a lot

1) Maxspect Jump sk200 - I've heard it is very quiet and is DC. I was about to buy but realized I might not be able to hook up anything to the air intake. I emailed BRS to ask but it is the weekend.

2) IceCap k3-130INT - this is sized great (60g heavy bioload), is DC, isn't expensive and matches my sump colors

3$) IceCap k3-160 OVP - This is probably too big but I can get it for the same price as the Icecap 130INT. It is a different design but I'm not sure if that is important. The 160INT is in the outlet store too but OVP looks cool.

4) Simplicity 120DC - Appropriate size, cheap, and DC

5$$) Reef Octopus Regal 150-SSS - really good deal($390). Looks amazing but I am afraid it would be too powerful. Lots of people told me to go with this one anyway though.

If I don't get a DC I'll get one of these Reef Octopus'

6$) Reef Octopus eSsence S-130 - heavy bioload 75g

7) Reef Octopus Classic 110-SSS - heavy bioload 60g, the best AC option?

7.5$) Reef Octopus Classic 150-SSS for a good deal but it would probably be way too big.


8) Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite - this one is AC. It is kind of an honorable mention.


I don't have much experience with skimmers and I've heard a lot of conflicting advice. It must be because everyone stocks and maintains their tank differently. I think I should shoot for something appropriately sized since I won't be stocking heavy and I have the reefmat.
Also, people say DC skimmers are a level above AC. DC is really expensive in the good brands so I'm not sure if I'd be better off with a really high quality AC or a lower quality DC.

 

[Arkayology]

The current list is -
$ means it is in the coralvue outlet / open box / marked down a lot

1) Maxspect Jump sk200 - I've heard it is very quiet and is DC. I was about to buy but realized I might not be able to hook up anything to the air intake. I emailed BRS to ask but it is the weekend.

2) IceCap k3-130INT - this is sized great (60g heavy bioload), is DC, isn't expensive and matches my sump colors

3$) IceCap k3-160 OVP - This is probably too big but I can get it for the same price as the Icecap 130INT. It is a different design but I'm not sure if that is important. The 160INT is in the outlet store too but OVP looks cool.

4) Simplicity 120DC - Appropriate size, cheap, and DC

5$$) Reef Octopus Regal 150-SSS - really good deal($390). Looks amazing but I am afraid it would be too powerful. Lots of people told me to go with this one anyway though.

If I don't get a DC I'll get one of these Reef Octopus'

6$) Reef Octopus eSsence S-130 - heavy bioload 75g

7) Reef Octopus Classic 110-SSS - heavy bioload 60g, the best AC option?

7.5$) Reef Octopus Classic 150-SSS for a good deal but it would probably be way too big.


8) Bubble Magus Curve 5 Elite - this one is AC. It is kind of an honorable mention.


I don't have much experience with skimmers and I've heard a lot of conflicting advice. It must be because everyone stocks and maintains their tank differently. I think I should shoot for something appropriately sized since I won't be stocking heavy and I have the reefmat.
Also, people say DC skimmers are a level above AC. DC is really expensive in the good brands so I'm not sure if I'd be better off with a really high quality AC or a lower quality DC.

That's a nice list. I've had a Reef Octo in the past. They are OK. The Bubble Magus has been around for awhile and a lot of people use them. Both will work fine. I have never had an Icecap skimmer. The review do seem good on them.

I have been eying the Simplicity 120 as well. It seems like a good skimmer for the price, and it is DC, which is always good. I am leaning towards that skimmer for my build.

Let us know which skimmer you end up getting.

 

[Schulks]

@Arkayology BRS is liquidating royal exclusive and ultra reef skimmers. I ordered a Royal Exclusiv Mini Bubble King 160 for $440. Get in there!

 

[Schulks]

I just found another, slightly larger, and healthier looking urchin! Pics with just room lights

Bonus Pic of red mithrax in same lighting

 

[Arkayology]

@Arkayology BRS is liquidating royal exclusive and ultra reef skimmers. I ordered a Royal Exclusiv Mini Bubble King 160 for $440. Get in there!

Oh dang, that is a sweet deal!

 

[Schulks]

Found a chiton, I believe? In my sump.

 

[Schulks]

Lots of changes to report.

My first few frags were bleaching so I had to turn down my radions about 50% of what they were. Now they are at 30% and the kessil in the middle is at 15% during peak. No idea what the par is now but I guess things aren't dyeing..

I won a few corals in a TCK coral auction. I'm mostly excited about this torch though.



The above is what I got from TCKcorals auction. The oddball gonis arent doing very well my shrimp keeps flipping the ultron favias.. I need more frag racks x(( The fender bender cyphastrea is really boring...I also have a green blastomussa but my shrimp flipped it and I have it hiding in a dark cave.


below are other frags I have in the tank right now



I really need to start planting these on the rocks somewhere.. at some point..


And my all natural corals..




I installed a hyrdros launch, hydros 2 ml/m doser, and hydros wifi strip.
The Launch AC outlets are running my return pump, UV, skimmer, and hydros 2ml/min doser. The UV and skimmer are both turning off for feed mode/water change mode. The 2ml/min doser is dosing 8 mL of 50% All-For-Reef each day.
I have been dosing 2 mL Red Sea Alkalinity each morning and night to raise alkalinity about 0.1dkh each day. I am trying to get closer to my salt mix (IO Reef Crystals) parameters.

The wifi-strip is only running 1 of the nero3s to turn it off when the return pump is off because it is too close to the surface.


Here is the doser hidden behind the stand and my ATO bucket reservoir.




The mini bubble king 160 skimmer is really nice.. Removing the cup is incredibly easy and cleaning it is just as convenient. The inner cup is removeable so you can wipe everything down each time you dump it. It is a real piece of art.
But I am still getting micro bubbles in the display hopefully that stops or I figure it out soon..

My ph was dropping to 7.7 before the BK160 now it is running 7.8-8.0. I am installing a CO2 scrubber but still figuring it out. I want to attach the airline to the BK160s silencer but I'm not sure how I'm going to connect a hose up.

I was worried about oversizing the skimmer but my nitrates and phosphates have been running a bit high, 24 nitrate and 0.22 phosphate. Nothing crazy but it isn't over skimming..


The red mithrax crab I purchased had grown tremendously and he was grabbing the acan frag and dragging it into a cave to pick at it. He is the first outcast to my sump..