Innovative Marine NUVO Aquarium SR 80 Build

[gsgentry]

That's cool. I've only heard of doing that with used equipment to clean it. Do you just rinse it with RO/DI water after?

[best3175]

That's cool. I've only heard of doing that with used equipment to clean it. Do you just rinse it with RO/DI water after?

 

I'll run them in RO/DI water for a while and then rinse them in RO/DI. Probably an abundance of caution.

[gsgentry]

I'll run them in RO/DI water for a while and then rinse them in RO/DI. Probably an abundance of caution.

 

I'm the same way. My brother jokes about how sterile my tank is because of all the precautions I take. I laugh at him and point to his 100gallond of GHA!!!

[gahumphrey]

The IM Aquagadet Media reactors are one of the best designs out there in my opinion. Very cool that they sent you one for free. I have one in my SR-80 and one in my BioCube.

[Rokiman]

Ahh super excited to see an SR-80 build! mine should be coming in next week sometime I just received my 2 mp10's, marco rocks and 2 ai vegas! Still waiting on the hydrofil setup, reactor, additional reef crystals and several other things. I still cannot decide if I want to go BB... or 1-2 inches of sand. decisions decisions decisions!

[gahumphrey]

Ahh super excited to see an SR-80 build! mine should be coming in next week sometime I just received my 2 mp10's, marco rocks and 2 ai vegas! Still waiting on the hydrofil setup, reactor, additional reef crystals and several other things. I still cannot decide if I want to go BB... or 1-2 inches of sand. decisions decisions decisions!

Hi Rokiman, You'll love it. It really is a high quality build. Just noticed you're using 2 MP10s. the MP10s are rated for glass up to 3/8" or 9.5mm. The glass on the SR-80 is .47" or 12MM so just a little thicker than what an MP10 is supposed to be used for. It may work out for you but just wanted to give ya a heads up. I went with an MP40 on my SR-80. The return pumps are awesome. I thought I would need a second Vortech but turns out I have way more flow than I need. I've had quite a bit of trial and error with my SR-80 so lemme know if you have any questions about what has worked and what hasn't.

 

Enjoy!

[Rokiman]

ah crap! I totally forgot about the thickness on the glass! goddamn it lol I hope it works... I just received mine today!

[best3175]

I bought a MP10 and it works fine on my SR-80. It is more suited for this size aquarium.

 

[Bobyboy]

Looking good, I have to agree with the reactor, I received one with my Fusion 30L and it is amazing, super easy to setup and to add media to.

IMO the MP10 might be a bit on the low end for the 80, but 2 should work. I know the MP10 to hold on 1/2" glass.

[Rokiman]

I bought a MP10 and it works fine on my SR-80. It is more suited for this size aquarium.

 

let us know how it goes! i got too worried and so i sent the 2 mp10's back and went with an mp40 instead

[Liratram76]

I've been eyeing this series with interest. My only hesitation is based on experience with my JBJ 28. HOB skimmer and return pumps are a bit noisy and the collection cup sits there like a cherry on top. What are your experiences regarding noise and management of it?

Love Acans. Gorgeous colonies.

[gahumphrey]

I've been eyeing this series with interest. My only hesitation is based on experience with my JBJ 28. HOB skimmer and return pumps are a bit noisy and the collection cup sits there like a cherry on top. What are your experiences regarding noise and management of it?

Love Acans. Gorgeous colonies.

The return pumps themselves are really quiet. The water flow into the socks is a bit noisy. At first i used Deep Blue Professional cut-to-fit nitrate and phosphate pads and that worked great. Then i realized if you run the water level about 1.5" higher than recommended it also keeps the water flow sound down. I'm using the AquaC Remora Pro-S skimmer. It's dead silent and looks pretty good too. Yeah, acans are awesome. I want to at least double what i have now.

[best3175]

Built a protein skimmer stand for my Tunze. I'm going to set it up with in-sump riser tube outlet. I'm hoping this will eliminate the bubbles. There is no way to secure it at the correct height, hence this stand.

 

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/wYPaHqA.png" alt="Uploaded with Imgupr" />

 

I'm trying to post a picture link from my phone.

 

<a href="http://imgur.com/wYPaHqA"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/wYPaHqA.png" alt="Uploaded with Imgupr" /></a>

 

I don't think this is going to work

 

http://i.imgur.com/wYPaHqA.png

[gahumphrey]

I built a stand like that for my Cadlights PLS100. Never could get rid of the micro bubbles

[best3175]

I forgot to remove the tags from the filter bags. Good thing I was soaking them with the reactor.

 

 

 

 

Finally got everything set-up. Next up is the aquascape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tank does do a good job of hiding the equipment and cords.

 

 

 

 

[r33fswagg3r]

If you have no water in the SR80 yet, word of advice, the glass baffles are too close together and you will get a gurgling or sucking sound because water can't move through them fast enough, I would cut the caulk on the baffles and space them out a half inch to inch more and recaulk them.

[best3175]

If you have no water in the SR80 yet, word of advice, the glass baffles are too close together and you will get a gurgling or sucking sound because water can't move through them fast enough, I would cut the caulk on the baffles and space them out a half inch to inch more and recaulk them.

 

This is the first I have heard of this problem. Did you experience this with a SR-80 or a different Innovative Marine tank?

[r33fswagg3r]

I know from talking with Mario @ Aquatica who I trust with anything related to reefing. He actually called IM about it and told them they need to change that part of it. Over the weekend I was in Sea Escapes talking with the owner and we were discussing the SR-80 and he mentioned the same problem.

[best3175]

This is the aquascape I'm leaning towards.

 

[Admonition]

What's your ratio of water to vinegar ?

[best3175]

My ratio was around 1:10

[best3175]

Ammonia is down to zero and the nitrites are sky high. The cycle should be complete in about week. The uglies have started to grow. I've really cut back the light.

 

 

I am not happy with my protein skimming options. The Fullsize IM Ghost skimmer was really load. It sounds like it needs a gasket around the pump connection. I am going to see what I can find.

 

I'm currently running the Tunze 9011. Nice and quite but the micro bubbles are horrible. I'm going let it run for a while and see if they subside. I recently plumbed the outlet into the skimmer chamber. i'm waiting for the water to evaporate down to see if this eliminated the micro bubbles.

 

 

Man, the Tunze is quite and produces nice bubbles. I bet this thing will produce great skimmate.

[best3175]

Here is a picture of the Tunze Skimmer discharging into the Skimmer compartment of the SR-80.

 

[lilmatty5dimes]

great build so far. love you aquascape.

[best3175]

Holy Micro Bubbles. The tunze 9011 created way to many micro bubbles. Instead of all of water exiting the drain tube, it leaks around the inlet. Since it does not fit in the skimmer chamber of the SR-80, I had to place it in the main pump chamber.

 

So i decided to revisit the Innovative Marine Fullsize Ghost Skimmer. The air inlet made noise but worse was a vibration.

 

The pump and bubble diffusser seated firmly against skimmer chamber.

 

 

 

 

So i created my own gaskets to be placed between the skimmer chamber and both the pump and bubble diffusser.

 

 

I also cut a large piece to sit between the skimmer and the bottom of the tank.

 

 

The result is awesome. This is now a really quite skimmer. For some reason, the air inlet is now silent.

 

Now, i'll wait to see how how this skimmer performs.