Where do I go from here - upgrade or not?

[Starfire]

I am so embarrassed about this - I've been reading here for a while but nervous about posting. About 18m ago, the boutique pet store where I buy my dog's food opened a small aquarium department (had previous been dog and cat things ONLY). I like the owner, who is an aquarium hobbyist. After many many conversations, I bought a small AIO setup from him. I like to think I'm someone who researches thoroughly and makes good choices, and I thought I was getting good advice from him. I was not. I think started going to a LFS who were super high pressure, it has since closed. Am now going to another LFS - I really like them but want some outside opinions.

 

My system is an Aquatop Nano Sky 7 gallon. I have added a powerhead (a Hydor) and upgraded the filter medium (Chemipure Elite).

 

The good news is that my water is doing well, my clowns are doing well, I have a good cleanup crew and a few frags. Levels are good and I am feeling pretty confident.

 

I know I need to upgrade my light - it is bad. I'm wondering if it's worth it to do that for this setup OR if I am betting switching to a better AIO. I want to stay under 10g. I really like the size/shape of my current setup - I just feel like everything about it is crappy and by the time I upgrade everything, could I have just bought a better AIO?

 

So, i'm looking for any light or AIO advice you can give me. Thank you!

[HarryPotter]

Haha you didn't tell us what light or AIO you have!

 

The Nuvo 10 is an unbelievable AIO for the price- and a sponsor here, NanoBox, makes unbelievable custom lights that can grow anything

[stefalopod]

It sounds like things are going pretty well for you! So, I'm I right in think that you're ok with the size of your tank, you're just unhappy with the build quality? If that's so, you can't go wrong with HarryJs suggestion of the Nuvo 10 - it seems like everyone has one (including me).

 

I've never kept any challenging corals, so I'm not very well educated on lighting. Everyone here seems o really love the NanoBox lights though.

[reefernanoman]

Haha you didn't tell us what light or AIO you have!

The Nuvo 10 is an unbelievable AIO for the price- and a sponsor here, NanoBox, makes unbelievable custom lights that can grow anything

Yup, I have a fusion 10G too and it's an unbeatable price at $100! The only few things that you would need are a light(like nanobox, AI prime, Kessil A160we or something in those lines), intank media basket and an RW4 or MP10, an ATO like the tunze nano, chemipure blue nano and filter floss. That would put you on a road of awesomeness! Good luck and check out the many fusion 10G threads in the AIO forums.

I was in a similar situation when I went from my 7.5G non AIO to my fusion AIO 10G. By the time I did everything on my previous tank, I had spent more then the $100 to make my 7.5 a good tank, when I should have gotten my good AIO in the first place.

[Starfire]

Sorry - should have included a link - my AIO is the Aquatop Nano Sky 7g, the light is whatever light it came with - http://www.aquatop.com/nano-sky-glass-aquarium-ns-7g.html

 

And yes, Stefalopod, that is exactly it. I'm not UNHAPPY the actual setup, but I think the quality isn't great and I don't know if it's worth tossing more money into.

 

I had actually looked at the Nuvo 10s. So I'm better off doing just the $100 tank and buying the other pieces individually instead of doing their $200 premium kit, right?

 

(And thank you for being so nice!)

[RJWalters]

Sorry - should have included a link - my AIO is the Aquatop Nano Sky 7g, the light is whatever light it came with - http://www.aquatop.com/nano-sky-glass-aquarium-ns-7g.html

 

And yes, Stefalopod, that is exactly it. I'm not UNHAPPY the actual setup, but I think the quality isn't great and I don't know if it's worth tossing more money into.

 

I had actually looked at the Nuvo 10s. So I'm better off doing just the $100 tank and buying the other pieces individually instead of doing their $200 premium kit, right?

 

(And thank you for being so nice!)

From what everyone says the lights you get with the $200 kit suck and you will want to replace them so you should just go ahead and get a good light to start with. I have the NanoBox Tide over a standard 10 gallon and I love it. And to NR

[ScubaJ]

I bought my dad a IM Nuvo Fusion 10 for father's day for his office desk. For $99, I was very surprised on how nice it is. My goal is to set up a complete system requiring minimal maintenance.

 

I would not go with the IM Nuvo light. My two recommendations would be a NanoBox Mini Tide ($299) or AI Prime ($229) with it.

 

An idea of the set up I putting together for him...

• IM Fusion 10
• AI Prime
• NanoStream
• Tunze Nano ATO
• MJ1200 Return Pump Upgrade (Hope it fits...)
• ChemiPure Blue Nano

 

Plus miscellaneous accessories... about $650 in total. All for a pair of Clownfish and keeping mostly mushrooms and zoanthids. Nothing fancy, no protein skimmer, just planning on doing 1-2 gallon water changes every other Friday.

 

One recommendation I will make if you plan on staying in the hobby... invest and get yourself an RODI system, even for a small tank it's probably the most valuable accessory you can get. Check out www.bulkreefsupply.com, they have good cost effective units.

[reefernanoman]

From what everyone says the lights you get with the $200 kit suck and you will want to replace them so you should just go ahead and get a good light to start with. I have the NanoBox Tide over a standard 10 gallon and I love it. And to NR

+1. The spectrum of the stock light sucks.

[Starfire]

Thank you!

 

So - it sounds like what I should do NOW is get a light - either the AI Prime or NanoBox will work on my current rimless tank - then I can work on figuring out how I want to configure a Nuvo.