Ideas for a Nuvo 60?

[gstuman]

So,

I just moved my office to an "artist's studio" which is a great space detached from my home in Austin where I finally got AC so it's useable.

I want to set up a reef tank again. I've had a high tech 250 gal. SPS dominated reef in the past so I can pretty much maintain any sort of tank; I just don't want it to be a full time job. This time I would like a somewhat simpler tank.

Here's what I have lying around:

1. Nuvo 60 Gal All in One Tank
2. Ecotech Radion 30Pro Light and balast
3. Ecotech Vortech 10?
4. Ecotech Reeflink
5. Neptune Apex System with 8 power bar
6. Random calcium reactor, media kits, CO2 regulator and electric valve.
7. Tunze Osmolator
8. Many more parts, odds and ends, test kits, etc.

I don't have a protein skimmer since the old one was a huge Bubble King.

I want a colorful tank with corals that are somewhat hardy but don't create the lps chemical wars.

Water quality has never been a problem for me as I don't stock fish heavily. A SPS island tank might be nice with a sand bed around the island. I'm fine drilling the live rock and using fiberglass rods to hold it all together.

Ideas are welcome.

 

[Reef Frog]

You've put together a list of quality components there. The word "Simplicity" means different things to different people. To me a calcium reactor seems to be a fairly complex machine and may be difficult to deal with in a small volume stand in an AIO system. Having a controller like Apex can provide many valuable functions, especially when away from home, but I'm not sure it fits with the simplicity concept. Just my opinions though - both products can be great choices.

Unless your return pump provided really good circulation, I would consider adding another in tank power head.

You mentioned LPS chemical wars. LPS typically defend territory with stinging tentacles, not chemical secretions like the soft corals so no worries there. If "colorful" is the goal, I think in general that the LPS category has the advantage here. But there are plenty of very colorful SPS varieties of montipora for examples. So I would suggest w mixed hard coral tank. Have fun with your re entry into the hobby!

 

[gstuman]

Thanks Reef Frog. To make it clear. I already own all of the components. They are sitting in boxes next to the fish tank.

As to complexity, I like automation as it works. I find it easier to dial in Ca reactors and other dosing with the Neptune system as I'm better at keeping the equipment working on a weekly basis than doing the job of the equipment on a daily basis.

By simple, I guess I meant that I don't want corals that have to be fed, anemones that move, clams that get eaten by bristle worms, fish that need special diets, etc.

BTW, the Nuvo is an all in one tank so there does not NEED to be a sump but it would be easy to add with a siphon overflow.