MikeMc Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 After about 10 years of being out of the hobby I am finally getting back into reef. I present to you my 10* gal Nuvo 10 office tank. It has just finished its initial cycling and added the first few corals to the tank. The goal is an SPS dominated Nano. LIST LAST UPDATED: 8.12.2019 Equipment IM Nuvo 10 IM APS Stand - Added 8.8.19 AI Prime HD with mounting bracket CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Sand 10 lbs AquaMaxx Dry Live Rock by Marco Rocks - 10 6 lbs 100W Aquatop heater MP10 WD Corals Green Montiporia/Birdnest combo Frag Yellow/Green Montipora Cap Blue with Orange mouth Zoa's Hammer Frag FIsh "Platinum" Clownfish Invertebrates 3 - Blue Legged Hermit crabs I am looking at adding a Candy Cane Pistol and goby combo as soon as my LFS gets some in stock. In the mean time, enjoy the first few photos. These photo were immediatly after putting the corals in the tank, thats why they don't appear too happy! 3 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 1, 2019 Author Share Posted August 1, 2019 I won a good deal through eBay for a EcoTech Marine Vortech MP10WQD and will be adding this next week as the requirement for the high flow necessary for the SPS. Looking forward to getting that installed next week. More updates to come... 1 Quote Link to comment
Grimm_Medic Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Clean setup, gonna look great filled with SPS! 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 2, 2019 Author Share Posted August 2, 2019 My MP10 cam a day early - love great eBay sellers! It is now installed running on the office tank. This my first ever vortech experience and I can say I am impressed with the flow. I am curious what others are using for the settings and will do some research on that, I am leaning toward Nutrient Transport mode and will be trying that first. Attached are some new photos, showing slightly happier coral frags! 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Update. 8.12.2019 - Tank is approximately 7 weeks old. Since the last post I have added a few major things to the tank. First I scored great deal on a local used Innovative Marine APS Aluminum stand, the designed for this very tank. That allowed me to relocate the tank from my desk to to a nicer location in my office. During the move I also took the time to re-aquascape and removed about 2/5s of the rock that was in the tank. This really opened up the aquascape and will allow future additions as well. I have spent a little time experimenting with the MP10 locations and settings. I would like to get more current in the tank that I am getting right now but I am struggling with blowing too much sand around.The current setting and placement only allows me to get the pump at about 30%, so I still have a bunch of headroom! I will continue changing placement and wave settings until i find something that is more akin to my liking 🙂 Lastly I got my first fish, a little "platinum" clown, a small hammer frag and 3 small blue-legged hermit crabs to deal with any missed food from the the clown. Currently the clown is happily eating some office friendly pellet food 🙂 Next on the list is an auto-top off, and a new caddy for the rear chambers to replace the stock filter sock. 5 Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 16 minutes ago, MikeMc said: Update. 8.12.2019 - Tank is approximately 7 weeks old. Since the last post I have added a few major things to the tank. First I scored great deal on a local used Innovative Marine APS Aluminum stand, the designed for this very tank. That allowed me to relocate the tank from my desk to to a nicer location in my office. During the move I also took the time to re-aquascape and removed about 2/5s of the rock that was in the tank. This really opened up the aquascape and will allow future additions as well. I have spent a little time experimenting with the MP10 locations and settings. I would like to get more current in the tank that I am getting right now but I am struggling with blowing too much sand around.The current setting and placement only allows me to get the pump at about 30%, so I still have a bunch of headroom! I will continue changing placement and wave settings until i find something that is more akin to my liking 🙂 Lastly I got my first fish, a little "platinum" clown, a small hammer frag and 3 small blue-legged hermit crabs to deal with any missed food from the the clown. Currently the clown is happily eating some office friendly pellet food 🙂 Next on the list is an auto-top off, and a new caddy for the rear chambers to replace the stock filter sock. Welcome back to the hobby! 😊 Things look great so far. 3 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 55 minutes ago, WV Reefer said: Welcome back to the hobby! 😊 Things look great so far. It's interesting to see how much things have changed in the last 10 years, the equipment is so much better and easier to work with. So far so good - just need to be patient with this little tank. 3 Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Welcome back @MikeMc, that’s a great setup! 1 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 42 minutes ago, Christopher Marks said: Welcome back @MikeMc, that’s a great setup! Thanks, its nice to be back to this community and back into the hobby - nice to see an admin shout-out too! 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Here are a few updated photos - still haven't captured a good photo of the Clown 😕 The birdnest/digitata has lightened up considerably! The monti cap has turned a much more vibrant green/yellow as well, which I am happy to see. The zoas are not extending like I would like,, they are probably to high in the tank and likely too much flow. Only the 5th day for the hammer, it does not have the same extension that it had in the store, again likely from increased flow. 2 Quote Link to comment
TatorTaco Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 I’m curious as to how your hammer will do in such a high flow tank. Since you’re back in the hobby, what are your thoughts on the stand? It’s quite pricey (new), but I’ve been considering the purchase of one. Not that it’s a bug deal, but I’m incredibly disappointed in the lack of foresight on IM’s part of either not making a smaller ATO container, or making a stand big enough to accommodate the 5G ATO they do sell. Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 @TatorTaco That stand is not wide at all, I included a few photos of the mess I have below, with a photo of the MP10 controller for reference on size. While I really like the stand, i'm not sure i could suggest it at it's retail price of $250 USD. I scored this used for $75. I am going to have to get creative with the ATO reservoir as it is indeed tight. When purchasing the ATO I looked at the IM containers and was also perplexed at the lack of thought/compatibility for this.Curiously the stand does have notches in the extruded aluminum which I will see if i can figure out a secure way to mount a few shelves to accommodate equipment and the ATO reservoir. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment
billygoat Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Dang, that stand doesn't even come with shelves inside? Seems like an awfully curious design. 🤔 Cool tank though! Dialing in the proper flow for a mixed reef is one challenge that hasn't gotten any easier over the years, but I imagine you will strike a good balance before long. ☺️ 1 Quote Link to comment
TatorTaco Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Thanks for taking special pics for me @MikeMc! Get creative with an ATO though. Check into plastic cookie jars and plastic pantry containers at Walmart. I think IM sells the shelves separately. 1 Quote Link to comment
TatorTaco Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Picked this up at Walmart and went a different direction. Looks like this might work for you, and I can’t imagine it not lasting at least a week. 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted August 13, 2019 Author Share Posted August 13, 2019 @TatorTaco - Nice. I actually used these very containers for Betta's for a quite a while when I was breeding. Not the most cost effective we need a lot but the rounded corners were perfect for cleaning. Once I get my ATO i will check the pump size and see if that will fit in the cabinet door. Thanks for sharing! 2 Quote Link to comment
MikeMc Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 It has been a while but the Office Nuvo is doing well! I'm at a point now that I need to let things grow out a bit and see how it fills in. Additions: 2- Zoa Colonies 2 - Acro frags 10 Head Duncan Colony Unknown Orange SPS Frag 4 astrea Snails Some notes: The Monitpora lightened up do to the lights being too bright for the tanks, I lowered them to about 50% of what it had previously been. I has a pretty bad out break of cyanobacteria, i used Chemiclean to address it. What a great product! 3 Quote Link to comment
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