Official Innovative Marine Owners Thread

[willfromct]

Hey gang
Just got a new nuvo 40 , kessil 160 sky blue
L.E.D. with goose neck , 150 watt heater ,
Hydor 425's , 30 lbs of pukani ( Wong be putting all in this set-up)
Ocean direct sand....any thoughts on my choices ?
Open to suggestion and critiisim.

 

[willfromct]

Thinking of using an sheik 2000 on return too bulkhead . it's a spare and
I was that it can fit . into e tried this with success?

 

[fishaholic911]

Innovative Marine AUQA Gadget Ghost Protein Skimmer - FullSize.

Paid $300 about 4 months ago, will take $200 shipped


Unit is in great used condition but does not come with original box.

 

[Kman237]

Hello everyone, Quick question about the innovative marine nuvo fusion 30 long. I am considering picking this tank up today at a LFS. I've been doing a ton of reading over the last week. I'm worried about the bowing problems I've read about. Anyone here know if this problem has been fixed by now? Should I go with the 40 gallon instead? They have both in stock. I really like the look of the 30 long though. I haven't seen any post about this bowing problem this year. Most everything I read is from 2014.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

-Kman.

 

[Orbela]

I'm going to replace my two factory pumps on my innovative marine SR 60. The factory pumps are rated at 317 gph. I have two pumps that are split off to 4 returns. These pumps are a bit on the loud side so I'm wanting to replace them with some Sicce Syncra pumps. What do you think my best option would be:
Option 1: 2 Sicce Syncra 1.5 (357 gph) 1 pump per 2 returns as the stock setup is.
Option 2: 1 Sicce Syncra 3.0 (714 gph) 1 pump for all 4 returns

Get 2 sicce 3.0

 

[mygsris2slo4u]

IM Nuvo 4 owner here. The tank has been up for about a year but I just recently added sand.

Here are the equipment specs:
Eheim jäger heater
Eheim compact 600 return pump
Nuvo Skye light 4w upgraded to 10w by replacing the 1w diodes with 3w.
Smart ATO

Here is a recent pic:

 

[mygsris2slo4u]

And another: I think I need to take some new pics to add.

 

[Pspellmanjr]

Getting Started

Getting Started

I am thinking about purchasing a 20G Nuvo starter kit from brs (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/nuvo-fusion-20-gallon-starter-tank-kit.html) and wanted to know if it is a good deal and if I should consider some other components like a skimmer. I already have about 15 pounds of live rock to add to the 20 pounds that comes with the kit.

 

[luis99]

i lost my main light led driver. can you tell me the volts and ma's on it please.

 

[aaronz23]

All the Nuvo tanks look great.. I have a new Nuvo 40 I'm setting up and hope to get all of your feedback soon!

 

[hernandeze1204]

Anybody having "low flow" into one of the overflows? I have a ghost skimmer on my nuvo and the its installed next to that "low flow" side of my overflow. Any advice?

 

[weiser5150]

My Fusion 20
AI Prime LED
cobalt 1200 pump
vortech MP10qdw set on reef crest
Floss,Chemipure Blue and Purigen in left media basket
Floss,Chemipure Blue and Phosguard in right media basket
Puratek ALC for ATO with 5 gallon container in stand.
RO/DI water change station in garage.

 

[Jgoal55]

My Fusion 20
AI Prime LED
cobalt 1200 pump
vortech MP10qdw set on reef crest
Floss,Chemipure Blue and Purigen in left media basket
Floss,Chemipure Blue and Phosguard in right media basket
Puratek ALC for ATO with 5 gallon container in stand.
RO/DI water change station in garage.

How do you like your AI Prime? Thinking of getting one for a small nano I am setting up in the office.

And also, how often do you change out those chemipure blue's? Do you just have it floating in the chamber or did you place in a media basket?

 

[Jgoal55]

I've had my IM 38 for about 3 years now and have been struggling with nitrates for about 2 of those years. I posted on another thread that discusses Marine Pure ceramic spheres (which I use) and the general consensus is that they are trapping too much detritus with how I have them placed in my back chamber.

While I've always been disciplined with WCs, and that has kept my tank mostly healthy, I've been a bit busier lately and haven't had as much time. My nitrates have crept up to unacceptable/toxic levels (100+ppm last check). Mind you, I haven't done a WC in about 6 weeks, but even then, these nitrates are climbing way too fast and I think the pics below show why.

So, all that said, in addition to getting back to regular water changes I think some changes to my filtration chamber are in order. Here is what I currently have:

Diagram:

Left chamber which holds cheato and a reverse cycle LED along with carbon in a media bag that just floats on top of cheato. You can also see the chamber just to the right of the "fuge" that is stuffed to the brim with spheres and the detritus that is collecting every where:

Right Skimmer Chamber:

Chamber next to skimmer also loaded with spheres. And yes, more detritus.

On another note, but probably related, I also often get this white film (see image) in my back chamber and I have to imagine that's not good. My return pump is an upgraded tunze that pushes 798gph so I don't think flow is an issue, but then again, maybe the spheres are blocking some of that flow and not allowing a fast enough exchange?

If I was going to completely redo my filtration chamber (while maintaining my skimmer and GFO reactor), what would you guys recommend?

Thanks!

 

[rvlcf]

I would get rid of the spheres and use some filter floss on top and carbon bag in middle chamber on one of the sides. Skimmer on other side. I would move the cheato to the larger middle chamber.Heater in thin middle chamber. Change the floss every other day. I think you need some mechanical filtration.In order left to right:
Skimmer/cheato/gfo reactor and main pump/heater/ floss on top, carbon underneath.
Make sense?
That's how i run mine.
I would remove the spheres in slow increments, not all at once.

 

[Jgoal55]

Thanks for the feedback. I like the idea of placing the cheato in the left-center chamber. I'll have to see how I move my light over.

Since my post, I actually went ahead and took out all the spheres and siphoned my entire filtration chamber. I kid you not, there was a solid inch of sludge/detritus at the bottom and a pistol shrimp I bought two years ago that I thought was dead. It wasn't. Little trooper that one.

I completely removed about 1/4 of the spheres and managed to place the rest of them in the plastic cartridges that came with the tank. I put a bunch more in a media bag and the last bit I placed in a QT container in the main tank (which is the next batch I'll remove).

Overall, these changes tremendously improved the flow through the chamber and also will allow me to pull the spheres out easily so I can "wash" them in my waste water and siphon the chamber bottom.

And to your point, in the top section of one of the plastic cartridges, I added a pad and placed the carbon underneath. So far working very well but not sure I'll remember to always stay on top of that pad. It clogs rather quickly.

 

[rvlcf]

Try to change the pad frequently. I found it easier to buy bags of filter floss and just pull a baseball size piece out and put it beneath the overflow. I toss it every couple of days and add a new ball.

 

[Jgoal55]

Try to change the pad frequently. I found it easier to buy bags of filter floss and just pull a baseball size piece out and put it beneath the overflow. I toss it every couple of days and add a new ball.

We literally have an identical setup. Down to every last piece of equipment. I have the marine magic doser and the osmolator as well. Pretty funny.

I have been changing the pad frequently (weekly). Not sure it's having any effect on the tank really but I guess it's catching some things.

I moved everything around per your suggestions except the cheato so far because I have to move the fuge light which I need some time for.

Once I do that however, the left overflow chamber will be completely empty. I'm thinking I may put one of these in there: http://www.shop.mediabaskets.com/Innovative-Marine-30-38-Media-Basket-IM30MR.htm

Or, my other thought, was to put one of these and add floss, carbon, and ceramic media. - http://www.marinedepot.com/Tunze_Co...er_100_Gallons-Tunze-TZ73162-FIFRCFOH-vi.html

Thoughts?

 

[kozmic]

I wouldn't ditch the marine pure... it's good stuff IMO, but you need to clean them off in a bucket of clean saltwater (they should not be covered in detritus). I would definitely put a filter sock at your DT water out-flow before it ever hits your sump area(s) or the marine pure balls (I actually believe the thick brick is better than the balls, but YMMV). Then you can just swap/clean the filter sock at each water change and export any detritus that is leaving your DT. I keep 3-4 socks so it is the quickest part of my scheduled husbandry.

 

[Jgoal55]

I wouldn't ditch the marine pure... it's good stuff IMO, but you need to clean them off in a bucket of clean saltwater (they should not be covered in detritus). I would definitely put a filter sock at your DT water out-flow before it ever hits your sump area(s) or the marine pure balls (I actually believe the thick brick is better than the balls, but YMMV). Then you can just swap/clean the filter sock at each water change and export any detritus that is leaving your DT. I keep 3-4 socks so it is the quickest part of my scheduled husbandry.

Thanks. I didn't remove all the spheres, just a enough to allow for more adequate flow through the filter compartment of the Nuvo. I also placed them in such a way that I can "wash" them to get the detritus off.

Since I did have to remove a few, I'm wondering if I should try and fit a block, or a couple of the "rocks" they make, in my center chamber.

Any thoughts on using the media basket or the Tunze filter?