IM Micro NUVO 30 BTA system

[Mr Cob]

IM (Innovative Marine) Micro Nuvo 30 gallon

Skimmer: Reef Octopus BH1000 HOB (with external pump)

Flow: K3 for now and stock return pump

Fuge: First chamber (added a plastic stand to keep everything off the bottom)

Liverock: Rubble added to 2nd chamber (added a plastic stand to keep everything off the bottom)

Substrate: DSB 3-7" (deepest in the back left corner..controlled by rock in the sand)

Livestock plans: RBTA and GBTA along with a pair of clownfish (I will also add anything that I feel grows too fast in my biocube reef)

Lighting: K2 Viper 150 w HQI (picking this up from Ben on a trade)

Additional filtration: Stock media basket in the last section, this tank has 2 drains, one on each end chamber. I removed the first one and made that one the fuge. I'm keeping the second one which is in the last chamber or the drain on the left. It will run a piece of foam, activated carbon and phosphate remover.

Temp: Added a fan to the back, hoping to have pretty stable temps since it's open top

So, I picked this up on a trade this weekend and I'm really liking this tank. I'm not sure the rimless will work for me though...I like canopies but we'll see. I just feel so exposed in a rimless tank. lol

I wasted no time setting it up utilizing rock that I have been cycling and seeded rock/water from my 29g biocube system....

A little short on water...return pump not running at the moment:

Still need to make the sand "high to low" more dramatic and probably take one of the tonga branches out:

Skimmer and fan:

First chamber on the right (converted to fuge):

Middle chambers (3 of them, the outer two are bubble traps and the center is the return):

Final chamber with stock media basket. Since I did not run the second I will always have a spare for quick clean basket swaps.

In comparison to my BioCube...there is none, aside from my BioCube as a complete system with the custom mods and canopy stand sump etc. But straight up tank to tank this IM Nuvo kills the BioCube. The rear built in sump area is HUGE...so much room to do so many mods. The dual drains are an added bonus. Really love the attention to detail they put into this tank, definitely a plus for advanced reefers.

[jestep]

Looks great. I'm completely sold on the rimless at this point. I love the clean look and easy access. I haven't had a problem with jumpers, but you definitely lose a lot more water to evaporation.

[Mr Cob]

thx jestep

Took the tonga branch rock out, the front rock on the right has large holes in it that I selected for the RBTA's...impossible to see in the pic. Also have a couple of deep sand bed areas in the middle there.

From the right

7" deep sand bed on the back left corner

Added a little LED fuge light and the skimmer is jamming. Also wanted to show the dual drains..

And a rimless shot because it's so cool looking

FTS

[bige]

That's looks great. I like the sand layout too.

[Mr Cob]

thx bige

The tank is coming along well. I will start adding the RBTA's over the next couple of weeks. Here are some recent pics of progress.

Picked up a 150w MH clamp fixture in a trade (14k bulb)

Unfortunately I had to switch the octo hob skimmer out with the bakpak 2 in order for the light to fit. BakPaks run great with Rio 600 pumps..so I picked one up and it's skimming like a champ.

I removed the k3..it was too bulky and the stock flow seems to be great:

Some cable management and the bottom area of the stand will be for auto top-off:

Added some razor caulerpa to help keep my DSB stacked up, and added a couple test corals + my darwin clown

from the left

from the right (also have razor caulerpa on the back right side as well to keep DSB stacked up, it roots really well and should help)