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Gen's Nuvo 20 peninsula


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After several weeks trying to find a tank that would suit my needs, I finally went with a IM Nuvo 20 peninsula. My main concerns being :

  • Enough volume to welcome my current rocks, corals and other inhabitants
  • Having an AIO system to hide equipment (didn't want to go with a sump)
  • Something that would fit the space I have (aka the top of the ikea kallax shelf)

 

I must admit I was really impressed with the design of the tank when I first saw it. That thing is really nice. Took me around 4 hours to switch everything (from the 16g and the pico), to rockscape a bit and some corals here and there. I still have to move some things around, to take care of the terrible cable management and to customize something in the filter chamber but overall I'm really happy with the results so far.

I really don't regret changing for this tank, I love how it looks, especially with a white wall behind.

 

IMG_20200521_101755.thumb.jpg.a659dbffdbcfc64841d0e27e607a7382.jpg

 

IMG_20200521_090351.thumb.jpg.85fea41d7a5eccb3da96250afd4e3894.jpg

 

 

IMG_20200521_094800.thumb.jpg.5e032c19d7f55d7b52bf2a88789552f4.jpg

 

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Thanks, the dimensions really help for displaying everything I wanted.

 

I find bare bottom easier for maintenance and esthetically I kinda like too (at the moment) so I m gonna keep it that way. 

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Once the bare bottom is covered in coralline and or corals it'll look fine.  I keep my tanks bare bottom as well and definitely enjoy the maintenance aspect.

 

Tank is looking good.

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My last two days were productive (meaning I did not procrastinate as usual). 

  • I took some time to untangle and manage all the wires. I must admit my motivation came from the senile/blind cat walking around all day, trying to sneak behind the stand, through the cables. He tends to bump or stumble on things.

IMG_20200522_151822.thumb.jpg.67add6ab5d1e09ecc2b0590cf00d738a.jpg  IMG_20200522_170452.thumb.jpg.a1f91c943e9f66c7b94c39eee7fd173e.jpg

 

  • I build some kind of thing...for the filter chamber. It's more robust than it looks and currently holds filter floss and carbon (I run it only when I mess with many things in the tank). I'm gonna keep the filter sock for "hard" cleaning maintenance. 

IMG_20200522_172208.thumb.jpg.9d1b290914c9c9a91e30d6f5c033799b.jpg

 

Most corals seem happy, shrimps and clam too. The gobiodon is testing different spots to keep an eye on us.

The nem decided to split, hope it will go ok, she was still small.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Everything was thriving so far... Until yesterday. 

  • My clam is dying : For the first time in months it looked a less happy, not as much extension as usual. I watched it for some time and noticed the Thor shrimps picking at the mantle. I managed (after 2h of hunting) to take the shrimps out in an emergency pico tank. But I think it's already too late, this morning I spotted a worm in it. Can't take it out of the tank easily as it has a nem and some Zoanthids growing on the shell) 

It's really breaking my heart. 

IMG_20200609_070922.thumb.jpg.84e820d798805f2d5dee81c755659b38.jpg

 

  • One of my euphyllia decided that the toadstool sitting underneath was a nuisance... It developed long tentacules to settle the matter all by itself. 

So at the moment I have a nice toadstool and 5 Thor shrimps living in the pico, while the clam is slowly but surely dying. And I won't be able to monitor / help it today since I have to go to the office. 

  • Sad 3
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So the clam died, I did put an end to the "being eaten alive" process that was too hard to watch. I acted once I saw worms, starfish and snails on it. 

 

On the bright side it helped me making some space. I also sold the toadstool and some corals yesterday. Not sure what I m gonna get now. 

 

Now I m gonna keep two things in mind :

  • Always keep some saltwater (around 1g) ready if anything was to happen. 
  • Not spending more than 30€ for a coral or a fish. 

Anyway here are some shots (night time) 

IMG_20200611_210523.thumb.jpg.84756783c85c01ebd8a77170be376277.jpg

 

IMG_20200611_210432.thumb.jpg.fa7d9848c654a1446ff9a22e1566541c.jpg

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More shots :

  • Lots of reflection... Need to work on that

IMG_20200613_170628.thumb.jpg.f2dc6f17aa2af96894762617223ade40.jpg

  • Wanted to add some perspective, need to work on that too

IMG_20200613_170648.thumb.jpg.afec3ebf94f24211340b2c82382914e1.jpg

  • Current state of the zoa garden

IMG_20200613_170703.thumb.jpg.d7202a3441acc997f80332395d5f3b91.jpg

 

 

  • After many thoughts I added some smaller rocks and chaetomorpha in the middle chamber. Everything is stocked between 2 sections of eggcrate so that it doesn't fall off or go in the return chamber. 
  • I ordered some more zoas to add colors. I might also propagate the garden on the arch. 
  • I will wait for the nems to settle before working on the rest. One of them tends to explore the rockscape. 

Wanted to add a fish. I considered a 6 lines wrasse, then I realized it would very much enjoy my sexy shrimps as dinner...

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Tank is looking very nice. Are you running this tank with out a lid? If so I would spend some time researching. Any fish can jump but some are absolutely known jumpers, clowns, wrasse, fire fish too many to name them all. Also does your light ramp up or just go from off to on. Mine goes from off to on and some times I have seen it spooks my clowns. I have a DYI screen lid. Maybe a clown goby, or a few green stripe gobies or masked gobies.

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Thanks! 

 

Indeed that's something I thought about. I'm not running a lid currently because of the look. We see the tank from below most of the time, since it sits in "japanese" living room. 

Light ramps up, that was one of the reason I got it. It's easier on livestock and sight. 

 

I'm still not sure about a fish, main reason I want a new one is to add movement in the tank. But I might find another way to catch the eye. 

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Got my tank some new zoas. The polyps are really small compared to the ones already thriving, but they should add some nice color. 

 

Just need some patience now. 

IMG_20200617_204733.thumb.jpg.002b427d07fcdf714a927634bc7d1455.jpg

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I m wondering how large it will grow until it splits again, it's around 15cm large when fully extended. 

IMG_20200627_125841.thumb.jpg.d00e8bdb235c24890d2f0d5a5d3db3b1.jpg

 

Anyway, I really like how things are going, everyone seems happy and growing. Maintenance is relatively easy as I just siphon out detritus along water changes. 

 

I finally got a new fish to add movement and color. I went with a yellowtail damselfish. She is supposed to be compatible with everything I have. 

Also got a small blue euphyllia to complete the garden. IMG_20200708_132421.thumb.jpg.24ae97f5bf033da72ccca10418d99499.jpg

IMG_20200708_081159.thumb.jpg.c9ac18e89fb0487c9adbc5d2a359398b.jpg

 

After discussing the plus and cons with my imaginary friend (at least I can discuss whenever I want and we usually manage to agree), I'm going to grow a GSP carpet. Should fit the rockscape nicely and boost the contrast with other corals. 

 

And now, patience while everything grows...

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hey, things are pretty good. 

I m trying different foods at the moment to see how the corals react. I did overfeed a bit in the process...but they also seem to like it dirty. 

Some zoas (espacially the Johnny's pumpkin) are multiplying like crazy. 

 

I m using an AI prime HD. I really like it even if it's a bit small to light all the tank as I would like. But I would rather rethink the scape than changing light. 

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With some time on my hands during holidays, I moved some things in the tank. 

The arch moved to the left a bit more, allowing some space for another rock (it was cycling in a small tank in the basement). 

I am also messing with the flow to have a better surface agitation. 

 

IMG_20200806_181258.thumb.jpg.86326ad20310e5303d746872c6682f60.jpgIMG_20200806_181314.thumb.jpg.736111d1c42b26e59fff5cc53d4bfd0a.jpg

 

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Thanks, top down gives the impression the tank is full. Reflection helps too. 

 

Finally managed to find a spot for the wavemaker where everyone seems happy and fluffy, especially Euphyllias. 

Speaking of which, my last visit at the LFS was motivated by this guy :

IMG_20200807_125826.thumb.jpg.72ca72454384950e243cd43b50e2db28.jpg

 

Now I need to find a nice place for him to grow. I do have an idea, but I m going to have to move some things around. 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Left the tank on autopilot for 5 days while being away. 

Things looks pretty healthy except for the wall hammer...it's not dead yet but it stays retracted. Will try a different flow pattern to see if it helps, if not I will move it (other euphyllias seem happy) elsewhere.

 

If you guys have other ideas to make it better, I will gladly consider them. 

 

IMG_20200816_134313.thumb.jpg.c31224f009c4e25be58c32133f3228e1.jpg

IMG_20200816_134347.thumb.jpg.840a1c9b076ff09d87d17a328df27d2e.jpg

 

I'm leaving again for 3 days tomorrow so I won't bother with cleaning the glass, especially since a lot of little guys are mowing algae for me. 

IMG_20200816_134226.thumb.jpg.ad5fb974f64ecb38efbc0dcdf402be68.jpg

IMG_20200816_134514.thumb.jpg.7a884325b7ffd86b673ddfef3286b056.jpg

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Yep, visiting family and farniente. 

 

Anyway I am back and as expected my wall hammer melted. It gave sings of unhappiness but I couldn't figure what was really bothering it. 

On the bright side everything else is good and thriving (especially the zoas frags I bought with the hammer) 

 

I consider this as the proof I needed to confirm my theory : expensive beings don't last long in my tank (some did thrive before collapsing without notice, adding mystery in the process). 

 

I need to do some cleaning before gluing the remaining frags. Will post new photos once it's done. 

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So I’m stuck in the neverending process of remodelling my tank and coral placement. This is motivated both by the fact that some corals don’t look as happy as they could and by the overall look (neither natural, nor esthetic). I won’t try moving things around, I usually end up with something worse.

I will be using this journal to compile my thoughts so far. Tried to do it on paper, but I’m not dedicated enough : I ended up with a page full of gibberish and ugly drawings.

 

I moved some zoas this morning, they were stretching for light and remained a bit closed. 

A few hours later, they are opening again. 

IMG_20200826_150914.thumb.jpg.8e2dff8b304dbbce6e3e4596ac280774.jpg

 

Meanwhile the cualstreas seem ready to blow up. 

IMG_20200826_150759.thumb.jpg.77a33c4aee135f92a258c21f2a73466e.jpg

IMG_20200826_150818.thumb.jpg.e58c026814fb6f1800618a7d40854f1c.jpg

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The tank looks good. My Zoanthids are absolutely the most frustrating coral I have. Some look good and grow. Some are closed since I got them. Others close for no apparent reason. I decided last night I am not buying any more for awhile. 

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