Ky's Nuvo 30 Build

After throwing the shrimp in I startd testing for ammonia each day. After day two I saw a very short spike in ammonia and then the next day it was gone. I didn't test for nitrite because I assumed the ammonia would have spiked higher. I waited an additional day and tested for ammonia and nitrite and both read zero. Could the cycle have really finished that quickly? Was the bacteria keeping up with the slow rotting of the shrimp already?

Seeing that the levels were staying at zero and I didn't really feel like letting the entire shrimp rot in the tank I decided to take the next step. We went to the LFS and picked out a really pretty snowflake clown. Since I was still worried about the new tank not being fully cycled I dumped in a bottle of Bio-Spira. Based on a reviews and the claims from the company I thought the bacteria in there could at least support this little clown. I will continue testing the water daily for ammonia and nitrite.

I also added 2 lbs of pretty purple live rock from the LFS to get the dry rock seeded. I haven't attempted to scrape the coroline from the rock yet and will do so when the lights come in.

I also added some chaeto to the sump and will probably fire up the skimmer tonight.

Pardon the horrible pictures. I was in a hurry when I took them.

 

Looks like the lights will arrive tonight. I will post some pictures after getting them all set up.

 

cute little tank and awesome clown, keep testing. if I'm not mistaken those clowns don't come cheap and it would be a shame to lose one to impatience.

 

Agree on that one, should have waited a few more days, but it is what it is. Are you going to order a cuc? and what kind of lighting did you get?
Looking good by the way, that scape is waaaay nicer than mine lol.

 

Swissswiss-you are probably right on me being a little impatient.... I'm sorry *now sulking*

BrianJ-I am planning on ordering a clean up crew soon I just didn't want them to starve without something to eat. I have noticed a little algae showing up on the two pieces of live rock I purchased so should I order them next week? Thank you for the scape compliment. It took well over three hours and a whole bunch of curse words to get it like that lol.

As far as testing goes I have been testing once a day everyday since I introduced the clown into his new home. All levels have stayed at zero amonia, nitrite and nitrate that is.

 

The lights have finally arrived and have been installed. Thanks to the help of sailorguy, gcarroll and petro2342 I have chosen to go with the sleek and stylish Razor Nano.

I have it installed as close to the water as it can get for now but I am sure I will be moving it up very soon. It is giving a pretty bad spotlight effect and is definately ready to party disco style. I am also noticing that it sags a bit and the light points towards the back wall of the tank a little. Can some other Razor owners help with this problem? Can I just bend the support rods a bit to make up for the sagging?

Other than these two problems a really like this light. I like the programability and the color options I can get. I still need to do some tinkering with it of course so I can get the lighting schedule locked in. Any recomendations?

 

Here are a few pictures out of the box and at different settings.

 

Here is another closer picture.

I am having trouble with the fuge light leaking through the back arylic. I tried moving the light further from the back of the tank but you can still see it through the acrylic. This picture is with the moonlights on and it pretty much lights up the tank. You can still see the square barely with the full lights on too. Any suggestions on a good fuge light that will grow the chaeto without coming through the acrylic?

 

Defiantly need to angle it forward I have no experience with those fixtures, looks really nice though congrats!

 

Looks very cool.