Fusion Nuvo 20 build

R

reeftrinh

Member
Just started the cycle on 3/20 on a tank and a bunch of stuff i got from [MENTION=3453]Naturalreef[/MENTION]. I haven't checked the parameters yet but i'm sure its going through the nitrogen cycle. I have about 10lbs of carribreef black reef sand & maybe 10lbs of dry marco reef rock. I think i need some live rock or a seed from an established tank to help my cycle along. I have a frag plug i took from an established tank but i'm not sure if it is enough.

I have a few questions.

1). What is the general consensus on using marine pure bio filter media? I have very little rock, so i would assume it would be beneficial to add these to the media baskets.

2). Media basket fuge or Bio pellets or Both? I'm planning on having a mixed reef tank, I am not sure if i should go with some macro algae in a media basket or bio pellets. If i go with macro algae with chaeto, i can have an opposite light cycle to keep my PH stable. If i go with bio pellets, I can keep a low nutrient tank. I'm not sure if i can do both.

3). Do I need more of a seed? I have a small frag plug from an established tank, Do I need more???





Equipment list:
Nuvo Fusion 20
2x Custom Caddy Media Baskets
Desktop Ghost Skimmer
Ecotech MP10 Es
Reef Keeper Lite
Nanobox Duo M
Smart ATO

Filtration list:
Purigen
Chemipure elite
Marine Pure balls?
Bio Pellets?
Macro algae basket?
 
Here's a pic
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Honestly, on mine I ended up removing the chemical media. Maybe some carbon once in a while but that was it. I put filter floss on top of the basket and used the skimmer and called it a day. Regular water changes should be enough as long as you use a good salt.
 
If you want to run bio pellets you should get the IM mini reactor, and go conservative with the pellets at first.
 
Looks great! I exclusively used bio-spira and seachem stability to start the process. The rock is extremely porous and i purchased tetra 6 in 1 strip tests to keep an eye on the cycle and to know when it was finished. I didn't rush anything so I had a solid bacteria filter established and my tank always flourished when I added fish slowly.
 
I got my nanobox duo m light. It's pretty sweet! I'm loving it and can't wait to stock the tank with some corals.
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. As you can see it's not ready yet.


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my light

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. What's in the stand. I got a 4gallon jug off amazon with a wide mouth opening. Works great.


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15 days into my cycle and my nitrite and nitrates are both registering 0. Is that toooo soon? I used rods food to kick start he cycle. About a dime size amount.
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I also got some diatoms, gonna do a water change. I think I'm close to adding some fun stuff!

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Tank looks great man! I'd wait another week or two after your water change to make sure the parameters stay consistent. Also I'd like to know your thoughts on the Nanobox light. It looks pretty sweet


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ajreefer721 said:
Tank looks great man! I'd wait another week or two after your water change to make sure the parameters stay consistent. Also I'd like to know your thoughts on the Nanobox light. It looks pretty sweet


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Click to expand...

I've only used the stock lighting parameters provided the bluefish app. it looks great now! i'm not sure how SPS will look under the lights. I'm sure LPS & paly's will look wonderful, but the key test imo are SPS.

I had a diy LED when cree & meanwell drivers were the rage. So the nanobox is like a ferarri to me. I have to say I'm impressed by the workmanship of the nanobox, wires are hidden in the gooseneck, the quality of the build and its made in the USA.
 
Your just seeing a mini-cycle. The big cycle comes in around the 5th week by as much as 40ppm nitrates. You may want to consider purigen to make up for not having a lot of live rock. Put it in after the cycle is complete. So you will have maximum bacteria on your rocks & sand.

You might have been better served with the Reef Master kit. It has calcium, alkalinity, and phosphate. The nitrogen cycle was a certainty, so I didn't bother with that test.

Some of my notes:

You are better served by the Reef Master Kit, but it is not that effective.
1) Your calcium demands aren't high. Once a month testing is sufficient. But by then, the WC would have brought you back to almost even.
2) The phosphate test is not that precise. You can tell if you are .25ppm or above. But what you really wan't to know is if it is that magic range of .02-.04 ppm for SPS. Softies, you'll be fine with "dirty water".
3) Alkalinity - this is a test I would buy by itself. It is very economical, quick and simple compared to using a Hannah checker. I don't need that precision.

I highly recommend you buy a huge rock with coralline from the LFS. You are going to obsess about this for a few months. I worry more about this than the livestock. You only get full coverage on very mature tanks, I am wondering how to accelerate the process other than low nutrients, stable water parameters and occasionally scrubbing the coralline with a toothbrush (crazy!). I am also delaying adding fish for a year to provide just enough food for my softies.

2 months ago, I started with almost 50% liverock. The rest cooked in muriatic acid. It is only now that GHA can't get a foothold. Maybe the emerald crab helped. But, I am seriously thinking of giving away my 2 large turbo snails. I am feeding corals once a week and bringing my lighting cycle back to 12 hrs to produce food for my hard working crab.
 
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I had my diatom bloom and it seemed to max out. I hired some trochus snails (6) to help with the clean up effort.
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Almost ready for a fish!
My skimmer is tuned in and is pulling out thicker gunk.

Thinking about putting a small gsp island in and a fish or pair of clowns... To early for sps?


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