NISMO703'S IM Fusion 40

[NISMO703]

What's up guys! I've been a member for a little over a year and I've just been a sponge sucking in all the inforation on this site. I used to have a 75 gallon reef and broke it down several months ago (girlfriend constantly complaining, evil eyes, attitude, etc. lol that i'm spending too much time/money on this hobby). The bug bit me again and I picked up this IM Fusion 40 and I love it. The weekly 5 gallon water changes, ease of changing out the media, etc. make this a lot easier to manage.

 

Anyways, I've been having patches of cyano and hair algae and I've been contemplating buying the IM midsize reactor. Is anyone running these and how did you help with your phosphates? What media were you running? Thanks guys.

[LongDoggy]

I think the algae outbreak you have going on is probably normal and just needs to run its course. Keep up on water changes. Try to keep you filtration chambers clear (detritus might be piling up back there is you have a lot of fish), try to intreat water circulation, try to decrease your photo period, try to run Chemipure Elite and Purigen, and last just be patient. My tank has gone through so much and so many changes. I am sure it will eventually even out and clear up if you keep up your maintenance.

I sure hope your gf is accepting of your new tank.

[Chief Reefer]

I recently asked a similar question as my phosphates were a little high compared to the hobby standard.

 

I was told to up my water changes from 5 gal a week to 10 (IM 30 long), and to toss a few Tbs of GFO in my reactor along with carbon (carbon first, GFO on top, adjust flow slowly so gfo tumbles). I went from .24ppm to .04ppm phosphate in like 2-3 days with what I described above.

 

Having had a hair algae bloom in the past, that I would say is on par with the worst I have seen on this board, I would not let it get any worse than it is. Brush it off and siphon it out, along with everything longdoggy said above, and you should tackle it pretty quickly.

[NISMO703]

I think the algae outbreak you have going on is probably normal and just needs to run its course. Keep up on water changes. Try to keep you filtration chambers clear (detritus might be piling up back there is you have a lot of fish), try to intreat water circulation, try to decrease your photo period, try to run Chemipure Elite and Purigen, and last just be patient. My tank has gone through so much and so many changes. I am sure it will eventually even out and clear up if you keep up your maintenance.

I sure hope your gf is accepting of your new tank.

Thanks, I'm definetely going to take your advice. I change the filter floss every week when I'm doing water changes but I do believe I run my lights too long (Kessil A360 ). As far as fish, I have a pair of clowns, mystery wrasse, and a baby hippo tang (about 1 1/4 inch long). I run the lights from about 8:30 am to about 10 pm. I like to leave the lights on longer since I don't get to enjoy the tank during the day since I'm at work. I just bought a timer so I will put that to use today or tomorrow, what light schedule do you run your tank on? Also, I'm going to buy the IM midsize reactor and start running Purigen. My girlfriend doesn't mind this tank as much because it's just a "20 gallon nano" lol but in all honesty, it is A LOT easier to maintain this than a 75 gallon. Thanks again for your input!

[NISMO703]

I recently asked a similar question as my phosphates were a little high compared to the hobby standard.

 

I was told to up my water changes from 5 gal a week to 10 (IM 30 long), and to toss a few Tbs of GFO in my reactor along with carbon (carbon first, GFO on top, adjust flow slowly so gfo tumbles). I went from .24ppm to .04ppm phosphate in like 2-3 days with what I described above.

 

Having had a hair algae bloom in the past, that I would say is on par with the worst I have seen on this board, I would not let it get any worse than it is. Brush it off and siphon it out, along with everything longdoggy said above, and you should tackle it pretty quickly.

How do you like the IM reactor? I've been researching and it seems like it gets so/so reviews. Some people like it, some don't. I am currently running carbon in the custom caddy and have the IM ghost midsize but never tried GFO. Going off your results, once I get the reactor, I'm going to give GFO a try. Have you tried any other media or the GFO/carbon combo was the best in your experience? Were the IM sponges able to contain the GFO? Thanks!

[LongDoggy]

Yikes, I just reread my post and realized how many typos I had! Sorry about that, I usually proof myself.

Well first off, I am really glad your gf likes your "20g nano". LOL

 

I run my lights from 1230pm to 1030pm. There is a 90 minute sunrise/sunset ramp time so there is only about 7hrs of full power lighting (which is controlled with my Storm Controller to be about 35% whites and 70% UV/Royal Blue). I also run very low lighting on a moon phase so that is only on about half of the month. I love the Storm Controller btw.

 

I too get home too late and thats why I programmed my lights as described above which has seemed to work.

 

Sounds to me like you may need to cut back on photo period. Also, your bioload may be high, or it will be. Thought a tang may be a bit overkill for your tank? At least he may outgrow your tank before long.

[Chief Reefer]

How do you like the IM reactor? I've been researching and it seems like it gets so/so reviews. Some people like it, some don't. I am currently running carbon in the custom caddy and have the IM ghost midsize but never tried GFO. Going off your results, once I get the reactor, I'm going to give GFO a try. Have you tried any other media or the GFO/carbon combo was the best in your experience? Were the IM sponges able to contain the GFO? Thanks!

 

So far, im really liking the IM reactor. I have had a 2 little fishes 150 reactor before, and this IM design is way easier to maintain, and perfect size imo for our nanos. If you are referring to the sponges in the reactor holding the GFO, yes it does contain it, but you have to slowly turn the flow up so that the GFO slowly tumbles, not a crazy whirlwind haha. I have only been running the carbon/gfo combo for about a week, so my experience is very short. I have seen others do the same exact thing with great success though. I also run chemipure in one of the stock IM media baskets.

 

Longdoggy is right though, 8:30am to 10pm is a bit too long. My lights turn on at 3pm and go off at 12:30am.

[reefernanoman]

Nice tank! You WILL spend time on a small tank too! It comes with the territory of the reef addiction.

[NISMO703]

Yikes, I just reread my post and realized how many typos I had! Sorry about that, I usually proof myself.

Well first off, I am really glad your gf likes your "20g nano". LOL

 

I run my lights from 1230pm to 1030pm. There is a 90 minute sunrise/sunset ramp time so there is only about 7hrs of full power lighting (which is controlled with my Storm Controller to be about 35% whites and 70% UV/Royal Blue). I also run very low lighting on a moon phase so that is only on about half of the month. I love the Storm Controller btw.

 

I too get home too late and thats why I programmed my lights as described above which has seemed to work.

 

Sounds to me like you may need to cut back on photo period. Also, your bioload may be high, or it will be. Thought a tang may be a bit overkill for your tank? At least he may outgrow your tank before long.

No worries on the typos, we all make em! lol I'm definetely cutting back on my photo period starting today and think I'm going to copy your schedule of 12:30 to 10:30.

 

With the bioload, you really think that's too many fish (pair of clowns, mystery wrasse, and baby hippo)? I was going to sell the mystery wrasse last week but wasn't able to catch him. Once I figure out a way to catch him without tearing the tank apart, he'll be the one to go.

 

The baby hippo tang is small and my son's favorite fish. Once he grows to 3" inches or so I'm going to give him away. The CEO at my office is a saltwater enthusiast also and has 2 150 gallon mixed reef tanks in the office where he'll have plenty of room to swim in.

[NISMO703]

So far, im really liking the IM reactor. I have had a 2 little fishes 150 reactor before, and this IM design is way easier to maintain, and perfect size imo for our nanos. If you are referring to the sponges in the reactor holding the GFO, yes it does contain it, but you have to slowly turn the flow up so that the GFO slowly tumbles, not a crazy whirlwind haha. I have only been running the carbon/gfo combo for about a week, so my experience is very short. I have seen others do the same exact thing with great success though. I also run chemipure in one of the stock IM media baskets.

 

Longdoggy is right though, 8:30am to 10pm is a bit too long. My lights turn on at 3pm and go off at 12:30am.

Ok, I'm going to order the reactor today if I get a chance. What brand carbon and gfo do you use? I went out last night and bought some chemi pure elite but the bag was huge and wouldn't fit in my custom caddy so I put it in the return chamber. Am I able to cut the chemi pure bag and distribute the contents in two different media bags on each side?

 

With your lights turning on at 3pm, is the tank in a room with no natural sunlight?

 

Thanks!

[NISMO703]

Nice tank! You WILL spend time on a small tank too! It comes with the territory of the reef addiction.

 

Thanks! For the past 2 months, I've been spending a little too much time lol. I'm definetely hooked, I'm currently searching the internet for a decent sized purple green tipped torch.

[LongDoggy]

No worries on the typos, we all make em! lol I'm definetely cutting back on my photo period starting today and think I'm going to copy your schedule of 12:30 to 10:30.

 

With the bioload, you really think that's too many fish (pair of clowns, mystery wrasse, and baby hippo)? I was going to sell the mystery wrasse last week but wasn't able to catch him. Once I figure out a way to catch him without tearing the tank apart, he'll be the one to go.

 

The baby hippo tang is small and my son's favorite fish. Once he grows to 3" inches or so I'm going to give him away. The CEO at my office is a saltwater enthusiast also and has 2 150 gallon mixed reef tanks in the office where he'll have plenty of room to swim in.

 

I think you will be fine with the wrasse and clowns. You can probably add a goby/firefish also an be ok.

Bioload seems to be something we each need to figure out and play with. There are guidelines, but the real stock depends on what works for you.

The tang may be overkill though and your plan to give him a new home in your CEO's tank sounds great! I am glad you found him his next residence.

Jeez, I sound like the tang-police. lol! I never owned a tang and never thought I would be a tang-policeman! But I think a 40 is not suitable for him (solely based on current available information on them).

[reefernanoman]

Thanks! For the past 2 months, I've been spending a little too much time lol. I'm definetely hooked, I'm currently searching the internet for a decent sized purple green tipped torch.

Good luck with a torch. I could never keep one alive for some reason when I was starting in the hobby. I'm more into montiporas now.

[NISMO703]

I think you will be fine with the wrasse and clowns. You can probably add a goby/firefish also an be ok.

Bioload seems to be something we each need to figure out and play with. There are guidelines, but the real stock depends on what works for you.

The tang may be overkill though and your plan to give him a new home in your CEO's tank sounds great! I am glad you found him his next residence.

Jeez, I sound like the tang-police. lol! I never owned a tang and never thought I would be a tang-policeman! But I think a 40 is not suitable for him (solely based on current available information on them).

 

Once I'm able to get the mystery wrasse out, I'll be replacing him with a royal gramma or maybe a yellow watchman goby. Anything but the Tang Police! Lol I'll be letting the baby hippo tang go to my CEO's 150 once he gets a little bigger. For now, he is doing well and eats any and everything that hits the water. My son is interested in saltwater and enjoys going to the LFS' in the area with me. He would be crushed if I got rid of him without replacing him with something so we'll hopefully be able to enjoy the baby hippo for a couple more months.

[NISMO703]

Good luck with a torch. I could never keep one alive for some reason when I was starting in the hobby. I'm more into montiporas now.

 

I'm a fan of montiporas myself. Quick question, I have two red/brown montiporas in my tank now as you can see in the pics. The larger one on the left has a real smooth surface and have to really get close to see the polyps (this one seems to grow faster) The other one in the middle has a real textured/rough looking surface and the polyps are larger/easier to see. They are the same color but do you think these are two difference species of montipora?

[CronicReefer]

I'm a fan of montiporas myself. Quick question, I have two red/brown montiporas in my tank now as you can see in the pics. The larger one on the left has a real smooth surface and have to really get close to see the polyps (this one seems to grow faster) The other one in the middle has a real textured/rough looking surface and the polyps are larger/easier to see. They are the same color but do you think these are two difference species of montipora?

Yes they are different types of montipora. My encrusting montipora both have much larger polyps than my plating montipora does. It looks like you have one of each from the pictures, the encrusting montipora is in the middle and almost looks like a poker star monti but its hard to tell from the blue hue of the pictures.

[reefernanoman]

Yes they are different types of montipora. My encrusting montipora both have much larger polyps than my plating montipora does. It looks like you have one of each from the pictures, the encrusting montipora is in the middle and almost looks like a poker star monti but its hard to tell from the blue hue of the pictures.

+1

[NISMO703]

Yes they are different types of montipora. My encrusting montipora both have much larger polyps than my plating montipora does. It looks like you have one of each from the pictures, the encrusting montipora is in the middle and almost looks like a poker star monti but its hard to tell from the blue hue of the pictures.

 

Thanksfor clarifying that, you learn something new everyday. I think the plating monti looks better than the encrusting, I likle the shelves. I'll get some better pics, iPhone cam sucks and they don't look so washed/blue when I'm viewing them on my phone.

[LongDoggy]

^getting good photos of our tanks is no easy task.

I found I need to really dial in my LEDs and the blue/white balance in addition to using my non iPhone camera with white balance tweaking.

Even then, it does not look as good as it does to my eyea.

[NISMO703]

Just a couple updates on the tank. I finally got the IM midsize reactir and its been running for about 2 weeks. Ive noticed no difference in the green hair algae so far. Im running bio pelletes and might have to try gfo soon. I cut my light period to 7 hours a day and siphon as much out when I do my weekly waterchange. Im running chemi pure elite in the return chamber. All my corals are doing great, growing new heads/splitting.

 

 

 

 

[LongDoggy]

Looks good. Nice frogspawn colony.

[NISMO703]

Looks good. Nice frogspawn colony.

 

Thank you sir!

[jc2014]

Nice tank!

[Lawnman]

So did you get rid of the girlfriend ?

[NISMO703]

 

Nice tank!

Thanks!

 

 

So did you get rid of the girlfriend ?

Of course not! lol She actually went with me on my last craigslist expedition to buy a green torch from a local guy and ended up buying me a RBTA! I went to buy a green torch and ended up buying 2 red rock anemones instead. I'll post pictures in a bit.