waveland Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Hey All, Just getting back into reefing after 20+ years leave. I'm excited with all the changes in the hobby, like the led lights, spinstreams, etc... I scored this IM 30L on Craigslist, with the spinstreams, one upgraded media basket, Colbolt Neo-Therm and Current Marine 36" led light. I painted the mesh screen black with Krylon Fusion. I have 30lbs of Carib Sea live sand for a 1.5-2 inch sand bed I added 30lbs of dry rock from Reef Cleaners. The rock is awesome, with lots of holes and area. I added two small rocks with coraline to help seed the tank I have a small chunk of shrimp in a pantyhose to start the cycle My goal is to create a Caribbean/Atlantic biotope. It's been awhile since I've been into this, so I'm very open to suggestions, thanks! Link to comment
chonathin Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 WOW! I really like what you've got going! Link to comment
TeamIM24 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Really nice scape. Looking forward to seeing you stock it full! Link to comment
kawtipin Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Looks awesome I just bought the same tank a couple weeks ago. I am about to get it wet today!!! Link to comment
LongDoggy Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Very cool. What did you pay? Link to comment
waveland Posted April 3, 2015 Author Share Posted April 3, 2015 Hey All, LongDoggy, I paid $300 for it including the two spinstreams, Colbalt neo-them heater and one upgraded media basket. I got the light from another source. The guy had it for a few months and decided to go bigger. I'm super happy with it! Question....what do you guys put in your media baskets?? There's a bunch of Chemi-pure options, etc......? I'm ordering a Tunze 9001 skimmer today and will possibly add a IM media reactor in the future. I'll also update photos soon! Link to comment
TeamIM24 Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 We run Chem Pure Blue and filter floss from StevieT at inTank. Link to comment
waveland Posted April 3, 2015 Author Share Posted April 3, 2015 I just ordered the filter floss and holder from inTank. Do you run the Chem Pure Blue in BOTH overflows then? Thanks Link to comment
Island Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 I just ordered the filter floss and holder from inTank. Do you run the Chem Pure Blue in BOTH overflows then? Thanks I have the IM custom caddy's in my 30L. I run 2 layers of filter floss in both top chambers, and on the left middle caddy chamber, I run 1 100ml bag of purigen and in the right caddy middle, I run chemipure blue(You only need one of the small bags). I leave the bottom chambers empty as I don't want to impede anymore flow. I also run the midsize skimmer and a minimax reactor running GFO though. hope that helps. Link to comment
TeamIM24 Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 I just ordered the filter floss and holder from inTank. Do you run the Chem Pure Blue in BOTH overflows then? Thanks Chem Pure Blue in just one for us. FF in both. Link to comment
waveland Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 Thanks for the input! Team IM24, do you have a Central Florida Fish/Reef source you recommend? The LFS's I've been to as of late have been a bit limited. I'm starting to look online. Thanks! Link to comment
TeamIM24 Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Thanks for the input! Team IM24, do you have a Central Florida Fish/Reef source you recommend? The LFS's I've been to as of late have been a bit limited. I'm starting to look online. Thanks! As far as LFS we are big fans of Top Shelf Aquatics and Sea in the City. World Wide Corals is really nice as well but their stuff tends to be a bit more pricey. If you are thinking of ordering online we are big fans of Pacific East Aquaculture and SaltCritters. Link to comment
waveland Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Hi All, Just a cycle update. Amonia went to zero yesterday at day 11. I still have high readings on Nitrite and Nitrate. I had a small bloom of brown diatom algea that is now turning green. Nothing major....it actually makes the stark white rock look a little more reefy. I added, in the beginning, a couple of seed live rocks. They came with two blue legged hermits and a six legged briny starfish all of which have handled the amonia part of the cycle well and seem to be thriving. I've left the small chunk of raw shrimp in the tank. My thought is to take it out after nitrites drop, do a 25% water change and add a cleanup crew and maybe a fish. Let me know if you think otherwise. I've found a couple NICE LFS's close to me that I'm excited to work with! It's SOOOOO hard to be patient! Link to comment
waveland Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi All, Update. Day 19, I did my tests and nitrites registered ZERO this morning! Couldn't belive it and tested twice more I went to my LFS, who last week picked up a batch of Caribbean blue chromis and bought two of them. They said they don't get them in that often, so I wanted to jump before they were all gone. My plan is to start adding a clean-up crew next week and monitor levels for awhile and not go crazy. Link to comment
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