Dria
New member
Hello! I've been lurking for a few weeks and now I've finally gotten up my nerve to post!
I am semi-experienced experience running a freshwater tank. I had a 30 gallon long up and running well for 4ish years before I had to move, and then the tank broke in transit (thankfully I had given all my fish away already) so now I get to start all over! I decided that this time I'm going to try out saltwater so I've been reading on up on forums and trying to get my footing.
I've decided (probably) on the IM Nuvo Fusion 40 as my tank choice and I'm trying to find the best options for what accessories I should get to go with it. I've combed through the posts here and a couple of other forums, but most of the information I've found is a bit outdated and some of the suggested items are no longer available, so I thought I'd ask here all in one thread just to make sure I get the right stuff.
Specs
40 gallons
DIMS (24" x 20" x 19")
Display DIMS (24" x 16" x 19")
Filtration
Do folks who have this tank like the standard filter boxes that come with it? They also have the custom caddy available that looks a bit more beefy, is that worth getting? I know some people like the InTank baskets. Is there a compelling reason to get those instead? I don't know much about the filtration requirements for salt water tanks. In my freshwater I relied mostly on sponges and Seachem Matrix but it seems like that's not the case for saltwater? What kind of media should I run in there?
Lighting
Will the EcoTech Marine Radion XR15w Pro be enough light for this tank at 85W? On a video review they mentioned that it should light a 24" cube which seems like it should be enough, but I didn't see anyone mention that light in connection with this tank so I wanted to be sure I was going to have enough light.
Powerhead
I'm completely lost with powerheads. No idea what I should get. Any advice welcome.
Heater
Will the Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 100W be enough? I live in the Pacific NW so our winters are cool but not frigid, we keep our house around 65F.
Refugium
I'd really like to have a refugium in this tank because my ultimate goal would be a mandarin (way far down the road). Any advice for which chamber I should use for that and will I need a separate light even though the back of the tank is open at the top and I'll have a light above? I know chaeto goes in there, and some people use rubble at the bottom. Anything else I should know?
Protein Skimmer
I know there is a lot of yeah/nay on this topic. Let's assume I want to try one out, which one should I get for a tank this size and will I be able to fit one and still have a refugium?
Other
Does anyone know if it's safe to dispose of saltwater water change waste in a gravity septic system? This is a big one for me and I haven't seen it addressed anywhere. If not I'll have to figure out what to do with all my waste water which I need to consider well in advance of even getting a tank.
Am I forgetting something important? What is it? Please share!
Thanks so much for reading over this wall-o-questions. Don't feel like you have to know all the answers to respond, I'll take any and all advice at this point. Just trying to get my ducks in a row before I head out on my mad shopping spree.
I am semi-experienced experience running a freshwater tank. I had a 30 gallon long up and running well for 4ish years before I had to move, and then the tank broke in transit (thankfully I had given all my fish away already) so now I get to start all over! I decided that this time I'm going to try out saltwater so I've been reading on up on forums and trying to get my footing.
I've decided (probably) on the IM Nuvo Fusion 40 as my tank choice and I'm trying to find the best options for what accessories I should get to go with it. I've combed through the posts here and a couple of other forums, but most of the information I've found is a bit outdated and some of the suggested items are no longer available, so I thought I'd ask here all in one thread just to make sure I get the right stuff.
Specs
40 gallons
DIMS (24" x 20" x 19")
Display DIMS (24" x 16" x 19")
Filtration
Do folks who have this tank like the standard filter boxes that come with it? They also have the custom caddy available that looks a bit more beefy, is that worth getting? I know some people like the InTank baskets. Is there a compelling reason to get those instead? I don't know much about the filtration requirements for salt water tanks. In my freshwater I relied mostly on sponges and Seachem Matrix but it seems like that's not the case for saltwater? What kind of media should I run in there?
Lighting
Will the EcoTech Marine Radion XR15w Pro be enough light for this tank at 85W? On a video review they mentioned that it should light a 24" cube which seems like it should be enough, but I didn't see anyone mention that light in connection with this tank so I wanted to be sure I was going to have enough light.
Powerhead
I'm completely lost with powerheads. No idea what I should get. Any advice welcome.
Heater
Will the Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 100W be enough? I live in the Pacific NW so our winters are cool but not frigid, we keep our house around 65F.
Refugium
I'd really like to have a refugium in this tank because my ultimate goal would be a mandarin (way far down the road). Any advice for which chamber I should use for that and will I need a separate light even though the back of the tank is open at the top and I'll have a light above? I know chaeto goes in there, and some people use rubble at the bottom. Anything else I should know?
Protein Skimmer
I know there is a lot of yeah/nay on this topic. Let's assume I want to try one out, which one should I get for a tank this size and will I be able to fit one and still have a refugium?
Other
Does anyone know if it's safe to dispose of saltwater water change waste in a gravity septic system? This is a big one for me and I haven't seen it addressed anywhere. If not I'll have to figure out what to do with all my waste water which I need to consider well in advance of even getting a tank.
Am I forgetting something important? What is it? Please share!
Thanks so much for reading over this wall-o-questions. Don't feel like you have to know all the answers to respond, I'll take any and all advice at this point. Just trying to get my ducks in a row before I head out on my mad shopping spree.
