My IM Nuvo 30L Mixed Reef

[Bouncingsoul39]

New DIY chaeto reactor made today using Two Little Fishies Phosban 150, cheap Amazon pump, and Amazon LED grow light flexible strip. Excited to see how it does.

 

[STEEZY]

It’s the Cadlights PLS-50 V. II. Well, to be blunt it blows away all four of the other nano skimmers ive tried recently. Much larger pump (still small but comparatively) much more air, darker and more skimmate. Really thick acrylic and heavy duty construction. All around great skimmer. It’s nothing like other nano skimmers in a great way.
The IM midsize i had before it worked ok but the pump is under sized and just doesn’t pull much air. It only runs wet or very wet. Can’t get dry at all even with the cup adjusted all the way up.
Auto Aqua Lite has been great so far. I love how tiny it is. No issues and it does it’s job. It’s also quieter than Tunze which is a benefit to me because I have noise sensitivity.

Dang that skimmer looks super legit and heavy duty like a full size skimmer. I noticed the 30 has a slight wider sump area, unfortunately I don’t think it’ll fit in my Nuvo 20 . ****** tho!

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I love watching these guys pick algae off the rocks. There are two in the tank and they’ve about doubled in size since I got them. This guys monchin on the algae clip nori.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Some new additions over the weekend:

From top to bottom:
Pink ******* Chalice
Japanese Green Toadstool
PC Rainbow
Rainbow Granulosa
My all time fav Oregon Blue Tort

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

This IM30L is just too small. Especially width from front to back. Already out of room so time for an upgrade:

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Anyone have experience with Planet Aquariums in Texas? I upgraded to the premium kit with has the external overflow and nicer sump. Very excited should be here in about two weeks.
Last night i cleared out my AIO fuge chamber and setup my diy chaeto reactor.

My chaeto was growing well but had a ton of GHA so i wanted to start fresh with a new clump. Got a chunk from ReefPro. It arrived alive but zero pods inside. So I stood over my old clump for about 40 minutes saving as many amphipods as I could. Found a dozen or so and put them in the new reactor.
To contain the light from the reactor I put a black short sleeve over it. lol ghetto!

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I’ve never been a big softy guy, but just love something about this Japanese Toadstool. It’s so fluffy!

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

So my skimmer water level wasn’t where it should be and I thought the aqua-stik epoxy i used a lot of was the reason. After two days messing with it, I finally yanked the whole thing out and see there’s a dang Cerith snail blocking one of the water exit holes in the bottom. Evicted him and a buddy out of the back chamber back to the DT and now all is well.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I didn’t really think about getting a longer LED strip to get more light and more coverage. Not sure how the shorter one would have worked but more must be better, right? Behold, DIY chaeto reactor v. 2.0

 

[Lasse]

If anyone has any care tips for it i’m all ears.

Be sure to have at least 0.1 ppm Si in the water

I didn’t really think about getting a longer LED strip to get more light and more coverage. Not sure how the shorter one would have worked but more must be better, right? Behold, DIY chaeto reactor v. 2.0

Watch up for high temperatures inside the reactor. You must have a dissent flow through it

Sincerely Lasse

 

[va_ill]

Tank update: My beautiful nem is now taking over the tank and stinging corals over 6” away. I’m trying to rehome it now. Just too big for this small tank.

Wished I had never put in a nem in my IM 30.. its taken over the tank and at this point it mind as well be a nem only tank..

Great build!

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Wished I had never put in a nem in my IM 30.. its taken over the tank and at this point it mind as well be a nem only tank..

Great build!

Thanks. My nem is taking over too. had to move a frag that was getting stung. probably going to setup a cube tank for it. it’s just taking up so much space.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Be sure to have at least 0.1 ppm Si in the water



Watch up for high temperatures inside the reactor. You must have a dissent flow through it

Sincerely Lasse

Thanks Sir. I’m dosing Brightwell Sponge power which is silicate water. The reactor is getting warm it’s raising the tank 1 whole degree. I will increase flow per your advice. the algae growth is great though so far. Also dosing Iron, potassium and a trace element mix.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I can’t believe how fast the cheato has grown with this led strip. Started with 1 cup and after five days the reactor is full!

 

[jphilip813]

Is this the sound of the Cad Skimmer?

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Is this the sound of the Cad Skimmer?

I can’t play the clip.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Spent about 4 hours tonight redoing my entire scape. Took out some blah frags and kept my favs. Made a nem island to keep him from stinging everything. He has stayed out so far and seems happy.

It feels a lot more open with more room to swim and I spaced out the frags more so they can become bigger colonies. You can see the original old school rock wall I had before in my post history. Oh, I found two 4” fire worms and they got the boot. My emerald crab is enormous his arms and claws are bigger than his body used to be. dude lifts.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

 

[claybers]

I added a new IM Aqua Shield 11 watt UV sterilizer to the tank. Midsize version fits perfectly in the back chamber that would have held the filter sock.
Never run UV in my home tank before. Interested to see if there’s any noticeable improvements.

How is this working? How long do you run it for?