Nuvo 20 Reef Tank Build: The Saltwater

I purchased a used Nuvo Fusion 20 Pro setup and we're building a reef tank! I've tested the equipment. Organized cords, setup all the reef apps and now it's finally time to add saltwater to the reef!
Part 1: The Equipment • Nuvo 20 Reef Tank Buil...
The Equipment
- Innovative Marine Fusion 20 Pro Aquarium
- Ecotech Marine Radion XR30 Blue Gen5
- Icecap 2k Gyre Flow Pump
- Icecap K1 Nano Protein Skimmer
- Red Sea Reef Dose 4
- Auto Aqua Smart AWC Duo (Automatic water changes!)
If you've ever been curious about setting up your own reef tank or want to learn first hand how it's done. You're in the right place, so stop reading the description and enjoy this salty new reefkeeping series 🐡

[@werqeful]

if I were you I'd run that xr30 at 25% with such a tiny tank. The Lamp is ooooveeerkill for this tank size

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

Thanks. I'll try it. This was a used setup so I purchased everything together. I probably wouldn't have spent a grand on a light for this tank either. If I do a mixed reef with some zoas and things, but also some acros and higher light demanding sps...you think even then 25% or so will be enough?

[@Nemisis2099]

I agree, I have a 75gal and mine are set to 30% with great results.

[@CGKFPV]

pretty much everything about this tank is overkill lol hope the corals look nice

[@CarelessPapo]

@@CGKFPVngl clicked on the video for ideas on my side 20 build, & yeah agreed. Everything is overkill, really no need for any of this lol

[@autoaqua]

Really love your tank assembly and appreciate you love our product! There is a little thing would like to remind : for our optical sensor, the triangle part should touch the water to detect the water level~ It seems that the magnet touch the water in your video. 🙂

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

I fixed it a few moments later in the vid :) I love your product and thank you.

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

Shocking how complicated this is for such a small tank

[@xisotopex]

what is the fan you are using to cool?

[@Cgraseck]

I don't know if you realize but black sand often has magnetic components that are very hard. If you get them between your magnetic cleaner and the glass you will scratch the hell out of your glass. Also that grain size is going to get blown all over the place with that gyre. One more recommendation; If you have difficulty with that ATO, I highly recommend the Tunze Osimiator Nano. Oh, and not doing water changes in a 20 gallon tank is going to be very difficult to do well. I would do 10% or more per week once your cycle in done. I'm excited to see how this goes for you. As others have noted that is one hell of a light for a 20 gallon tank! Cheers, Chris Teaching kids about climate change and ocean acidification with corals in the classroom.

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

Thanks Chris! The grain size is actually a little closer to gravel so I think it might do ok with heavy flow but ya I've heard of the magnetic 🧲 thing. I just couldn't resist...I've got a thing for black. I'm excited to keep sharing and please help...especially when I start getting into corals!

[@Cgraseck]

@@TinyWorldLaboratory cool. Good luck

[@Nemisis2099]

I highly recommend replacing the sand bed with a smaller grain size, preferably Carib sea’s special grade, that is a detritus trap and the black sand will eventually fade a bit and it will start to look dull. Also if I remember right special grade comes with beneficial bacteria directly from the sea.

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

This one came with the fancy bacteria too. Thanks for the advice. It's in there now though so I guess I'll have to see how it goes. I can always change down the road. Any suggestions you got for a cleanup crew for sand this grain size?

[@jodanlalala]

Could provide a link of where I can get that fan as well? I was looking for a similar solution that looks as discrete as possible

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

If you go to Amazon and search for JEREPOND Aquarium Chillers youll find it. I think it looks pretty bad ass. I don't know about how well it works but on this one I chose on looks alone haha.

[@user-xe3en2kf3l]

You have no corals, why worry about dosing now? Not to mention your tanks is only 20 gallons. A five gallon water changee is probaly all you will need to keep your paramaters unless your tank is overloaded with SPS corals.

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

Ya I stopped dosing and honestly the corals I had haven't done well. I'm embarrassed to say I've let the reef go a bit, but I'll get back on it soon!

[@queencityreefs]

Looks good 👌🏻👋🏻✌🏻

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

Will be even better with some life.bim so excited to be back into this stuff. Are you in Charlotte?

[@queencityreefs]

@@TinyWorldLaboratory yes. Where are you?

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

In Waxhaw right outside of Charlotte. Nice to meet a neighbor!

[@jjmccloud]

Dang you got fancy ATO and probably don't even know it lol, it's the 2 in 1 ato and auto water changer! Very nice piece and not that cheap either

[@jjmccloud]

Well you probably know now, 8 months later 😆

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

8 months later and I still havent used the water change feature lol. I got the whole setup from a dude that worked at a fish store so its a little overkill but I do always like to go for the good stuff when I can. Even if I don't use it haha.

[@jjmccloud]

@@TinyWorldLaboratory haha ya I'm the same way

[@albertmaya6882]

11:50 you do know your ATO sensors are backwards, you have the sensor sitting outside the tank

[@TinyWorldLaboratory]

Haha yes I figured that out and fixed it towards the end of the vid.