Nuvo 16g Build. Need help lots of questions.

[Dapozer]

I got surprised yesterday and found out that my parents ordered a nuvo 16G for me as a x-mas gift, should be here mid to late next week. I have been talking about a reef only tank for a while but now I guess I will actually have to figure this stuff out. I am not new to saltwater and have a 75G fish only tank that is doing well and I have dabbled in fish and corals while in school 20 some year ago. So I am going to need alot of help along the way to do this right. I also have a house based ro/di system.

Here are a few questions and thoughts regarding setup, I could be way off so let me know your thoughts.
1.Use 10 gal of cleanup water from 75g and use fresh ro/di saltwater to complete fill.
2.buy live sand and try to get depth of 2 inches for floor

Questions
1. I have a magnum 350 running on the 75g and thinking of switching it to the nuvo for a month or so to for filtration= no cycle period (right?)
2.use eggcrate under the sand for the rocks to sit on, help keep rock from moving. needed or not?
3.Rock the big debate, live or dead or mix? thinking live rock might allow intruders and unwanted beasts but I would have growth right away, dead would be clean but I would have to promote growth. right now leaning towards dead but looking for opinions.
4. a skimmer will be purchase and a mp10. what other upgrades should I look into? Don't want to go crazy with this just a reliable fun micro reef.
Thanks

 

[09bumblebee]

I have the nuvo 30 and love it. Don't bother on putting your magnum on the nuvo. Just put a small rock from that tank in the 16. Use live sand. In my opinion I wouldn't go 2" for a sand bed its not necessary unless you want a goby or jewfish that lives in the sand so to say. Egg crate is fine it's really up to you. If you use dead rock you will have a cycle. If you use live you may see a mini cycle.
Mp10 may be way to much

 

[kmellon]

I have a Nuvo 16.
Yes, the 10 gals from the 75 will be helpful with fresh top off salt water to fill. Live sand and at least one live rock will also help quickly cycle your tank, but you will still have a small cycle to deal with. I'm not sure how much sand i have on the bottom.

The magnum 350 might help with the cycle as it is already running on a larger tank, but the internal biological might diminish due to the lack of bio load that it will find in the 16 during the start up. I will say that i am not thrilled by the media shelves that come with the nuvo. Here is a link to some nice replacements that i plan on picking up when i have some extra money.
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/IM-Nuvo-16_c63.htm

Along with the baskets, the single pump leaves a lot to be desired for turnover. Someone posted that they ended up using two small pumps instead of just te one. I would agree with that unless you add the fuge basket and want the water in that chamber longer. I have used an MP10 on a very low setting and i think the tank did much better when it was in place. I just need to get another screen for it and i'll have it back in the system.

I didnt' use egg crate. you won't be putting that much rock in the tank to begin with. You will see what i mean when you start rock scaping. I have one large rock that has loads of holes and area to it and a couple of small rock in there as well. The display area really isn't that deep to allow for too much rock unless you build it right up the wall. if you use all live rock, your cycle will be smaller, however there is still the possibility of bad hitchikers. I've noticed a few small aptasia so i plan on adding a pepermint shrimp to see if that will take care of it.

Lastly. the rear chambers are thin. I'm thinking about trying a remora -c protien skimmer, but again i need to find one cheap.

Best of luck. I do like my nuvo and hope that a few more mods will really help it out. I have an extra light that i might be adding and the swirling water jets to move things around a little.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

I have the 16g as well and I love my swirling return nozzles! Create a nice flow in the tank...but I still want to add either an MP10 or a second pump to get more from the nozzles. I don't see eggcrate being a positive unless you're doing large tanks with heavy, tall rock-scapes. Personally, I love going the liverock direction. I use my liverock as I have never seen a pest. Just took a small amount to fill such a small tank anyhow. OR, you could get some aquacultured rock from Elite or Aquamart that is almost guaranteed to be pest free and would get you started nicely as well. I like to go with new sand in my builds, so liverock is a must for me. You'll definitely love it!

 

[Dapozer]

Thanks. It should be here on Wednesday and if all shipping goes well I will have the initial water test going that night. Hoping to get the sand, rock and saltwater in it Friday or Saturday. Stopped by and talked with Dave at Aquamart and I am super excited for this thing. Now just looking at what options of mods I need to do right off. Skimmer is a must and thinking of adding a max jet 900 and having dual returns. suggestions always welcome. Thanks.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

Thanks. It should be here on Wednesday and if all shipping goes well I will have the initial water test going that night. Hoping to get the sand, rock and saltwater in it Friday or Saturday. Stopped by and talked with Dave at Aquamart and I am super excited for this thing. Now just looking at what options of mods I need to do right off. Skimmer is a must and thinking of adding a max jet 900 and having dual returns. suggestions always welcome. Thanks.

Awesome...I was super stoked as well. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't say a skimmer is a must. Reason: It's a very small tank, so most likely your bioload isn't going to be very high. I don't have a skimmer on any of the 3 nanos (two 28g and the 16g) in my house, and they have done better than my big tanks, with skimmers! lol If you want a skimmer, I have a Tunze I believe that the previous owner had in the back chamber. Let me know if you're interested.