JMCollins24 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 ... And the salty fun begins... again! So after taking down my last tank almost a year ago, the saltwater bug bit me again and I purchased the IM Nuvo 8. I always loved the IM Nuvo 16, but I wanted something that I could keep in the kitchen that wouldn't jeopardize too much space... I'm loving the look of this tank and the versatility is great too! I moved the tank from the kitchen, for fear of something leeching into the water. It now happily resides in my living room. Can't believe two months has passed with this tank! ...and now I'm starting to heavily debate on getting the Nuvo 16 I have a laundry list of upgrades that will slowly start trickling in... This one's going to be a fun ride! Tank: Innovative Marine Nuvo 8 GallonSubstrate: 6 lbs carib-sea aragoniteLive Rock: 15 total lbs Fiji Premium LRLighting: LEDTRiC Full Spectrum Par38 LEDsFiltration: AUQA Media Basket - Seachem Purigen, Carbon, Poly-fil Other Goodies: Two Little Fishies Nimble Nano, 50w Heater Livestock: 1 True Percula 1"1 ORA Premium Black Snowflake Clown- 2.5" 1 Sustainable Aquatics Premium Snowflake Clown 1 Peppermint Shrimp (Aiptasia MACHINE!) 1 Blood Red Shrimp 1 Rainbow Bubble Tip Nem 1 Starfish - Fromia Nodosa Coral: Zoas Mushrooms The pics aren't the best since I took them with my iPhone 5, but they do the trick in the meantime. Thanks for checking my tank out and Happy Reefing! Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 The other side of the black-ice snowflake with her two little spots Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 Tested the tank today and its time to go coral shopping! Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite ~0 Happy Day... I see some Euphyllias in my near future! Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Bought a new fixture for the LEDTRiC Par38, so I've changed up my lighting to the Full Spectrum LEDs... Lighting looks so much better- forgot how much I love that bulb! The fixture is really industrial looking and really hides the bulb, but has enough room for breathability.. Makes it blend in nicely with the rest of my decor Pic Below of the new fixture. More pics to come soon when my lights come back on tomorrow AM. Link to comment
Gramophone Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Good stuff! What Euphyllia were you thinking of getting? Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Thanks! Torches have always been my favorite, so in all my tanks there's usually been at least one... Froggys and hammers are cool too, but I'm just not as big a fan of them as the torches. PS- Beautiful tank! I'll follow along Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Wait don't you have a anenome, I wouldn't get a torch their sweeper tentacle are the longest, they may fight with the anemone Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 yeah I'm steering clear, knowing about their sweeper tentacles.. I was just saying they are my favorites Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 Added another 8 lbs of live rock, some new perigean, filter floss and carbon today... Things seem a little pissed off at the moment, but the clouds are settling Updated OP with new livestock and details... pics to come soon! Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Yeah More pics ... How did you get more live rock in there and are you going to add the anemone... I wouldn't do it Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 I had to break some rocks up, but after some hard work, it looks pretty decent! I always felt like it looked a little bare with the one rock in there... I already have the nem, but I'm really thinking of trading it in at the LFS... although, my black snowflake clown will be sad since she loves it so much. We'll see... I'll post pics when things settle back down after tonight's water change/ cleaning/ re-squape Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Ooooh really I think you should just propagate it when it gets to big like 5 inches and then just let them heal in the tank for a week or two and then sell them to lfs Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Pretty stoked.. just ordered some goodies from Marine Depot... Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share Posted November 15, 2013 Haven't updated in a while, but I've changed out my media basked for the IM AUQA Gadget 16... The cobalt MJ900 was pretty noisy so I need to exchange it, and the spin stream worked great, but I have it chillin' while I wait for the new mj900. The pictures aren't the best since I took them with my iPhone 5 Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 It's been a while since I've come back to this forum... My tank was a little overgrown with hair algae and a cyano bloom, so I was a l ittle discouraged. On the flip side, I know it was due to my overwhelming load of school and work that lead to this downfall... but with that behind me, it should be smooth sailing from here on out. I'm sure the snail that had the hair afro growing off its shell is happier, LOL I'm happy to say that my tank is still established and is cleaner than ever. I took out some of the rocks that had the HA on them, which means I had to rid some of my zoanthids. Basically, I'm starting from scratch, for the most part... My BTA is still happy and has only moved 1 or 2 inches in the 6 months that I've had it. My starfish has been pretty happy too! I was a little concerned with adding it, from hearing all the horror stories of them dying so quickly, but I'm happy to say that after 6 months, she's still alive and kicking! I lost my true perc to carpet surfing, so after a few months of being single, Prada has a new snowflake companion The pics aren't the best from my GS4.. The nasty before... A cleaner after! The two clowns hiding under their anemone Starfish on the back wall Updated FTS 04.29.14 Link to comment
pugmommie Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Your fish look very happy in their clean tank! How do you like the 2 little fishes nano cleaner mag? Does it work good on the corners? Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted April 29, 2014 Author Share Posted April 29, 2014 Thanks! Yeah, I love it... does great on the rounded corners and really gets into the tighter spaces Link to comment
Illuiix Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I think the original scape looks less cuttering but nevertheless tank looks great. How long have you had the starfish for? Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 I think the original scape looks less cuttering but nevertheless tank looks great. Thanks for the compliment! Yeah, I agree on the scape.. I'm thinking of downgrading the rock mass... proves to be difficult to clean behind them sometimes... How long have you had the starfish for? About 6 months and kicking.. I know starfish aren't known for their longevity, but I'm hoping this one will last a while! It's pretty small- about the size of a half dollar... Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 ^ yeah good question it probably won't last they need massive tanks with good sandbeds for them to thrive Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 ^ yeah good question it probably won't last they need massive tanks with good sandbeds for them to thrive Yep, I already knew what their lifespans were prior to purchase... but so far so good.. It's def had plenty to graze on! I'll feel lucky if it lasts me a whole year... we'll see. Link to comment
Illuiix Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Yeah just try not to do too many water changes for the starfish. Link to comment
JMCollins24 Posted May 8, 2014 Author Share Posted May 8, 2014 So I decided that I wanted to build a refugium for my tank, so I figured I'd try the DIY route... I know they're inexpensive, but I figured it would be a simple, fun project... Materials: 2 Sheets Optix Acrylic from Lowes Aqueon aquarium silicone Tools: Tape Measure Simple Kitchen Knife Drill 2 Various Sized Drill Bits Sandpaper Marker Masking Tape Tools: Holes Drilled for flow out of the refugium... I also made a shelf for rubble Measured out the sides, 2.5/8" Cut pieces using sharp knife... After cutting and breaking one piece off, the backing was nice to act like an anti-slip mat One piece didn't "snap" off correctly, so I decided to throw it out since I really didn't need an additional wall since I have the baffle in its place. I sanded all of the edges to ensure they were smooth with wet sandpaper... I drilled holes in the bottom shelf with the two drill bits... I did get some cracking when I was drilling, but I know this is prob due to my novice-ness and not using a little water when I was drilling the acrylic I then used masking tape to secure the structure and to hold the shelf in place Overall.. It turned out to be pretty easy.. I learned that the silicone was a PITA... Even though it's not completely perfect, I will clean up some of the excess tomorrow with a razor blade, once it has cured... For lighting, I have strips of IKEA Dioder LEDs that I've taped onto the back of the tank where I removed the black film... I've read good things about these lights working, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed... After all, I'll only be growing Chaeto in there. I'm also anticipating that I will have a reduction in flow, but with the refugium being right next to the return pump, and it being upgraded to the cobalt MJ900, I'm hoping this won't be too much of an issue... If it is, I guess I can tear it apart and make some mods to it Link to comment
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