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Opinions on the IM 30G NUVO Fusion 30L?


Patrick G.

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After 15 years out of the hobby, my 8-year-old son and daughter's desire to have an aquarium have spurred my interest again. I think I've decided to get an Innovative Marine 30 Gallon NUVO Fusion 30L. Is there a better all-in-one nano option? Opinions on this tank?


Questions:


1. What's the best lighting option? If it's the Maxspect Razor R420R, what specific model do I want?


2. What would be the height of this setup, including the tank, factory stand, and Maxspect Razor R420R light kit?


3. What additional equipment would you recommend I order the same day as the tank, stand, and light kit?


Thanks in advance!

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StrainedSky

After 15 years out of the hobby, my 8-year-old son and daughter's desire to have an aquarium have spurred my interest again. I think I've decided to get an Innovative Marine 30 Gallon NUVO Fusion 30L. Is there a better all-in-one nano option? Opinions on this tank?

 

Questions:

 

1. What's the best lighting option? If it's the Maxspect Razor R420R, what specific model do I want?

 

I'm going with Radion 2x xr15w's

 

2. What would be the height of this setup, including the tank, factory stand, and Maxspect Razor R420R light kit?

 

Skip the IM stand and get something nicer.

 

3. What additional equipment would you recommend I order the same day as the tank, stand, and light kit?

 

Skimmer and maybe some vortechs :-)

 

Thanks in advance!

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Why the 30? And not the 40?

 

Both have a lot of water behind that black wall.

 

 

A LOT more that the stock photos show.

They make the back sections bigger now because of thier bigger skimmers(meaning your display space is much smaller). Make sure you see a real one before you buy.

 

I would wait ubtil the Maxspect Gyres are out before buying powerheads (MP10s whatever).

 

Do NOT buy a curved corner glass tank. That slosh slosh your feet make at 3AM going to the bathroom is not from your incontinent bladder.

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We have a 24 Nuvo which is now discontinued but is similar to the 30L. I like the 30L a lot as an AIO. There have been some complaints that the media baskets don't fit properly so that the water has too much space to go around your media. We have the Razor and really like it. A LOT of people go with NanoBox custom lights and seem to be really pleased. Steen has one for sale on the hardware classifieds if you are open to getting a used one at a good price. Also Tunze's 9001 just came out and appears to be a candidate for best nano skimmer.

 

You definitely want an Auto Top Off when you order. We have the Tunze and it works great. Get a good heater as well.

 

Cameron has built a thread with all the different equipment people are running in their tanks: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/348524-the-aio-equipment-thread-a-work-in-progress/#entry4778827

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Other considerations when choosing between the 30L and the 40? I honestly hadn't considered the 40 because the 30L was the first I saw and continued to be focused on it. However, I do like the more vertical real estate in the 40.

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If you're simply choosing between the 30L and the 40, it's really about what you want to do and what you like looking at. The 30L has a larger footprint, so you may need a different fixture to cover that area vs the 40. Also, the bigger footprint allows you to 'space out' your corals instead of stacking them in the 40. Plus, there's nice swim room given the length. But the trade off is the height of the tank, it's only 12 inches tall. I don't think you'll go wrong with either.

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Cameron6796
We have a 24 Nuvo which is now discontinued but is similar to the 30L. I like the 30L a lot as an AIO. There have been some complaints that the media baskets don't fit properly so that the water has too much space to go around your media. We have the Razor and really like it. A LOT of people go with NanoBox custom lights and seem to be really pleased. Steen has one for sale on the hardware classifieds if you are open to getting a used one at a good price. Also Tunze's 9001 just came out and appears to be a candidate for best nano skimmer. You definitely want an Auto Top Off when you order. We have the Tunze and it works great. Get a good heater as well. Cameron has built a thread with all the different equipment people are running in their tanks: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/348524-the-aio-equipment-thread-a-work-in-progress/#entry4778827'>http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/348524-the-aio-equipment-thread-a-work-in-progress/#entry4778827
Hey thanks man for linking that hasn't gotten much attention but if ppl want more tanks I'll gladly do it its not hard just take some time. Thinking of doing the evolves and rsms and that should about cover the most poplular. Don't even want to start with fluvel specs and stuff lol

 

Edit: omg my grammar was horrible sorry lol :P

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Cameron6796

Uhm that's weird it worked before... I swear if I have to redo all the links lol. I'll figure it out and replace them I guess -_-

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Oh, and Admonition, would you mind showing me a closeup of what others have mentioned about the returns being above the water line?

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No, I would not get the stand if I could go back. Click my signature and you can read my detailed account, but long story short, it's not worth $300. If you can find/build your own wood stand, do it.

 

I can post up a picture when I get home sure. The problem isn't that the whole return is below the water line, at least not mine. The issue is that the returns aren't completly submerged. The top portion of the tube of the return (not the flat nozzle portion) is out of the water. Personally I would have liked them to have been completly submerged. If it really bothers you, a piece of acrylic and be placed behind the intake grates, which will raise the water level easily.

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As you can hopefully see in the photo, the water line is right at the returns, and subsequently leaves a small portion of the returns' top out of water.

 

Edit: idk why the photo uploaded on it's side lol

post-69238-0-59240700-1406564832_thumb.jpg

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Thank you for taking the time to do this. Any chance you can get a standard daylight shot with the tank lights off (or with only white light)? I can't quite make it out due to the color in the photo.

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I wanted to post here to let everyone know that One XR30W or Pro will cover the entire Fusion 30L without any shadows, issues or dim spots. I've had one over my tank for almost the entire time I have had it and I won't go back. Honestly the only other thing I would even look at is a nanobox fixture. I just wanted the Radion for ecosmart live.

 

I don't want to threadjack, but if you have any other questions, PM me or check out my thread.

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Now that my 180g build is all done I've been dying to set up another tabk. Can't decide on a 30G or 40G fusion. Seems like there's a lot of 30G tabk owners on here.

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And one Hydra 52 will do the same :) here's that picture, hopefully it's better than the other. You can see in the picture how the water line bearly arches the top of the return, exposing a small portion of the top.

post-69238-0-53203300-1406726869_thumb.jpg

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I have a 30L & I like it. Does it have issues yes but things can be tweaked to fix them if your are handy.

 

I added small acrylic pieces to the overflow grates to raise the water level about 1.2 " which fixed the unnecessary low water level. Did I have to do this no. It was a personal choice.

 

Now for the crappy media baskets you will need to do something if you want crystal clear water with no particulate matter floating around. I have been using filter floss & filter sponge to plug all the ways the water can bypass the basket. This makes sure all the water at least goes threw filter floss. I plan to get ether the Nuvo upgraded baskets or get some custom ones made. I think it is complete BS that they do not come with proper fit media baskets.

 

I have been using the Current Orbit marine led & it works great for lps & zoas but may not be enough light for sps. I am at 90% blue & 35% white. I plan to work up to 100% blue & 35% to 40% white. I bought a maspec razor but returned it because it made the tank look like a disco teck & I hate having a light hanging 12" over tank spilling light into the room. You milage may differ.

 

I am using the Tunze nano sized skimmer it works well & is quite. but you have to give up one of the media basket areas to use it. That is the only place it will fit. The plastic case/ body sucks but it seems to be working well.

 

With any All AIO tanks you give up display room. With that said the 30L is the only all in one I would buy because I prefer longer tanks over cube style tanks.

 

Joe

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Man, that is still so weird to me how people have had issues with low water levels, cloudy water, noise.etc. I've been running the 30L for three months without any issues. I did replace the factory media baskets with the upgraded ones, but honestly both of them did the job just fine. My water has been crystal clear from day one. Water level in my eyes is perfect and my tank is dead silent (even with my ghost skimmer) which has 0 microbubbles and is quiet as well. The only issues I have had with my tank is my cobalt neotherm exploded and my pls-50 spit out microbubbles like it was made to only do that.

 

For reference also, I am using the stock pump. Stock return nozzles and have filter sponges in my media basket.

 

Overall, after having multiple tanks including biocubes, solana, red sea max, 40 breeder with sump, 65g with sump I would give this tank a 9/10 with the only point missing from wanting a cover for the back chambers. Which I will make out of black acrylic whenever I actually get to it.

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Ahanix I went & looked at your thread & it appears you do not have any power heads for added flow.

 

If this is true I would assume the added flow from my power heads two WP10 (turned down of course) keeps my detritus stirred up & yours just settles to the bottom of the tank. That or your media baskets fixed it.

 

I am happy to hear the tank is working out so well for you. I will try to start a build thread for mine tomorrow.

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Ahanix I went & looked at your thread & it appears you do not have any power heads for added flow.

 

If this is true I would assume the added flow from my power heads two MP10 (turned down of course) keeps my detritus stirred up & yours just settles to the bottom of the tank. That or your media baskets fixed it.

 

I am happy to hear the tank is working out so well for you. I will try to start a build thread for mine tomorrow.

 

I actually have an MP10 as well set at 50% on reef crest (left side of the tank) Eventually I'll add another, but I don't have any dead spots and my conch stirs up everything else.

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