Hi All,
The time has come, well soon anyway, to finally upgrade my IM nuvo 20. We recently purchased a house and will no longer be renting. This means....bigger reef!
I wanted to reach out and get everyone's advice and see what they think of the build plan. Nothing is set in stone and nothing has been purchased yet.
The system:
- Fiji Cube 76 EXT package with upgraded 30 sump. Will do the 108 EXT if I can swing the added cost.
- Reefbreeders Nautilus 1100gph return. With head loss hoping for 300-400gph through the sump.
- 2x Reef Octopus Octopulse 2 with Hydros Wave Engine LE
- Aquaticlife 48" hybrid with 2x AI Prime 16HD
- ATO. Reefbreeders Prism
- BRS media reactor for carbon.
- Skimmer is undecided but likely will follow later.
I plan to buy dry Marco rock from BRS, or local if I can score a good deal. We move next month so the plan would be to buy then and start curing the rock in a Brute in the basement with some bio media from my 20 while the rest comes together.
I plan to use Caribsea Ocean Direct sand - about 60lbs. Or maybe 20lbs of the direct and 40lbs special grade to save a few bucks.
For fish I want a melenurus wrasse, yellow coris wrass, magnificent fox face, tang (yellow, bristletooth, scopas, etc. - open to suggestions) and maybe some chromis. Leaving the angry clows behind in the 20.
Looking for advice on:
- Skimmer. I run and Ice Cap K1 nano on my 20, but I've never used a big in-sump skimmer. Reliable brands, but not top of the line?
- Lighting. I plan to go mixed reef. SPS top and LPS, rock flowers bottom. I plan to do away with the leathers. I know a 36" fixture would work, but would I be struggling for PAR with the shorter fixture? 48" isn't much more expensive, so should I just go that route? Not planning a hood so also concerned about light spill.
- Fish. This this light, heavy, just right stock? Recommended substitutions?
- anything else you want to chime in on!
This is my fist big build....small compared to many, but big for me. Appreciate any and all advice. Suggestions on substitutions or removal of equipment or fish. I'm all ears!
Thanks everyone!
The time has come, well soon anyway, to finally upgrade my IM nuvo 20. We recently purchased a house and will no longer be renting. This means....bigger reef!
I wanted to reach out and get everyone's advice and see what they think of the build plan. Nothing is set in stone and nothing has been purchased yet.
The system:
- Fiji Cube 76 EXT package with upgraded 30 sump. Will do the 108 EXT if I can swing the added cost.
- Reefbreeders Nautilus 1100gph return. With head loss hoping for 300-400gph through the sump.
- 2x Reef Octopus Octopulse 2 with Hydros Wave Engine LE
- Aquaticlife 48" hybrid with 2x AI Prime 16HD
- ATO. Reefbreeders Prism
- BRS media reactor for carbon.
- Skimmer is undecided but likely will follow later.
I plan to buy dry Marco rock from BRS, or local if I can score a good deal. We move next month so the plan would be to buy then and start curing the rock in a Brute in the basement with some bio media from my 20 while the rest comes together.
I plan to use Caribsea Ocean Direct sand - about 60lbs. Or maybe 20lbs of the direct and 40lbs special grade to save a few bucks.
For fish I want a melenurus wrasse, yellow coris wrass, magnificent fox face, tang (yellow, bristletooth, scopas, etc. - open to suggestions) and maybe some chromis. Leaving the angry clows behind in the 20.
Looking for advice on:
- Skimmer. I run and Ice Cap K1 nano on my 20, but I've never used a big in-sump skimmer. Reliable brands, but not top of the line?
- Lighting. I plan to go mixed reef. SPS top and LPS, rock flowers bottom. I plan to do away with the leathers. I know a 36" fixture would work, but would I be struggling for PAR with the shorter fixture? 48" isn't much more expensive, so should I just go that route? Not planning a hood so also concerned about light spill.
- Fish. This this light, heavy, just right stock? Recommended substitutions?
- anything else you want to chime in on!
This is my fist big build....small compared to many, but big for me. Appreciate any and all advice. Suggestions on substitutions or removal of equipment or fish. I'm all ears!
Thanks everyone!