[ReeferAddict727's] IM 25 Gallon Lagoon Build

[ReeferAddict727]

Hello all!

 

This is my first post here, thought I'd share my build. Don't be too hard on me this is my first attempt at my own reef build. Had a simple biocube as a kid back in the day but my dad took most of the care on that tank.

 

I've had a 120 gallon Freshwater African planted for quite some time now and I got bored and am now ready for new challenge. I'll be selling off my 120 on Saturday to help fund more equipment for this build. I also have a 5 gallon nano planted freshwater that I'll be keeping.

 

Anyway it took quite some time to track down the 25 lagoon, everyone was on back order but I found a place about 45 min from my house that had one in stock so I went and picked it up. I couldn't justify the $300 cost of the stand so I built my own for $12. Going to eventually put some siding on it and a door on the front with a shelf in the middle. It's built to the exact dimensions of the tank so it looks real sharp, happy with how it came out. Anyway, I've got 18 lbs of reefsaver dry rock, and one 20 lb bag Fiji pink which gives me a little less than a 1" sandbed. Next is replacing these cheap Zoomed Aquasuns with an AI prime, replacing the factory return with something a little more powerful and efficent, and deciding which Powerheads to run. No skimmer or Reactor yet, but will likely add one in the future.

 

Now I just have to figure out how to efficiently post pics in here

[reefernanoman]

Hello all!

 

This is my first post here, thought I'd share my build. Don't be too hard on me this is my first attempt at my own reef build. Had a simple biocube as a kid back in the day but my dad took most of the care on that tank.

 

I've had a 120 gallon Freshwater African planted for quite some time now and I got bored and am now ready for new challenge. I'll be selling off my 120 on Saturday to help fund more equipment for this build. I also have a 5 gallon nano planted freshwater that I'll be keeping.

 

Anyway it took quite some time to track down the 25 lagoon, everyone was on back order but I found a place about 45 min from my house that had one in stock so I went and picked it up. I couldn't justify the $300 cost of the stand so I built my own for $12. Going to eventually put some siding on it and a door on the front with a shelf in the middle. It's built to the exact dimensions of the tank so it looks real sharp, happy with how it came out. Anyway, I've got 18 lbs of reefsaver dry rock, and one 20 lb bag Fiji pink which gives me a little less than a 1" sandbed. Next is replacing these cheap Zoomed Aquasuns with an AI prime, replacing the factory return with something a little more powerful and efficent, and deciding which Powerheads to run. No skimmer or Reactor yet, but will likely add one in the future.

 

Now I just have to figure out how to efficiently post pics in here

Good luck! It's easy to post pics here. I use photobucket and just use the "direct" link to put my pictures in here.

[ReeferAddict727]

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj571/dakota_james4/Mobile%20Uploads/20160501_234220_zpskajhr57j.jpg

 

Here is the stand, (I created a drip loop later on don't worry )

 

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj571/dakota_james4/Mobile%20Uploads/20160501_234154_zpsrdyds2zn.jpg

 

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj571/dakota_james4/Mobile%20Uploads/20160501_234211_zpsklicf33j.jpg

 

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj571/dakota_james4/Mobile%20Uploads/20160503_013356_zpsuqabc5ya.jpg

 

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj571/dakota_james4/Mobile%20Uploads/20160503_013356_zpsuqabc5ya.jpg

 

I may change around the rock work a bit, any tips are welcome!

Good luck! It's easy to post pics here. I use photobucket and just use the "direct" link to put my pictures in here.

Thanks! Hopefully that worked

[Viking]

The scape looks good, I like the overhang on the right.

I saw you asked about skimmers for the 25 Lagoon in TMR's thread, so I thought I would add a suggestion or two.

PGRVII used a Reef Octopus (NS80) in his build The Goon http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/368426-the-goon-daily-fts-113/and seems to have been having really good luck with it. I went a littel different as I had a Hydor SlimSkim Nano. Mine wont fit in the back chamber like his did, but since it is sheathed in Black/ Smoked Polyacryilic, it blends onto the back wall nicely. I have had no microbubble isses withj mine, either when I set it up on the old tank or after I cleaned it an added it to my Lagoon.

Like you mentioned, I really haven't heard much positive regarding the IM Ghost series skimmers.

Hope the info can help you decide.

[ReeferAddict727]

The scape looks good, I like the overhang on the right.

I saw you asked about skimmers for the 25 Lagoon in TMR's thread, so I thought I would add a suggestion or two.

PGRVII used a Reef Octopus (NS80) in his build The Goon http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/368426-the-goon-daily-fts-113/and seems to have been having really good luck with it. I went a littel different as I had a Hydor SlimSkim Nano. Mine wont fit in the back chamber like his did, but since it is sheathed in Black/ Smoked Polyacryilic, it blends onto the back wall nicely. I have had no microbubble isses withj mine, either when I set it up on the old tank or after I cleaned it an added it to my Lagoon.

Like you mentioned, I really haven't heard much positive regarding the IM Ghost series skimmers.

Hope the info can help you decide.

 

 

Thanks for the input Viking! I will definitely look into this skimmer. I know reef octo makes some good stuff and wow the price is right on that skimmer!

[Finding Paulo]

Hey congrats!!! I just started mine this month too! I also started off with freshwater... reef is as fun if not funner for me.

 

Anyways great choice on FIJI pink .. i always used it and love it. For the return pump alot of people suggest the sicce 1.5 for the IM 20 Fusion not sure about the 25 galllon. I went with 2 Tunze 1073.008 becuase of the dead spots in the filter and love it! Also skimmer i hear great things about the Tunze 9001 .. im using the desktop and still not sure if i have made a mistake or not.. we'll see. For powerheads.. MP10 for life(you can find a used one for a good price on here or craiglsit! cant wait to see your progress

 

 

also i dont know if its just me but i have to click to see your pictures.

 

on photo bucket copy the image link that you see. (its the last one)

[reefhound]

i'm extremely happy with my pumps and skimmer!

you can see them in my build (signature)

I went with 2 Eheim 600's and have them set at 1/2 flow each with a Tunze 9001 in the middle chamber.. takes a slight MOD to make it fit "right", but it's an easy deal and it is also on my build. I will be adding spin streams to hit the nooks and crannies, but I have PLENTY of flow

 

Also, I have an autoaqua smart ATO which works perfectly and is very accurate.. it's a mandatory item,, the tank footprint leads to a healthy water evap

 

added two floss media baskets and i'm pretty happy with the setup.

I also have 20lb of Fiji pink.. happy with it.

 

I really, really like the scape setup you have! don't change it IMO

 

following..

[ReeferAddict727]

Thanks for the tips Nano, and reefhound I changed the scape one last time, let me know what you think of this one.

 

Picked up a powerhead, salt, refractometer, AI Prime, 18" bendable mounting arm, Filter Caddy, carbon and a couple other odds and ends today. Still deciding on the spinstreams, and what pump to replace the original with.

 

Wow this mount is great if you have an AI prime I recommend getting this mount over the old metal bracket style. Totally worth $29.99 looks and works great... Still playing with the height, and light settings...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[iceman001]

Nice scape lots of room for coral to grow and space for fish to hide and swim.

The stand for the prime is great.

[ReeferAddict727]

Thanks Iceman, hoping the scape will keep me happy, I think this is how it's going to stay.

 

I'm running one filter sock and one Caddy for the best of both worlds. Hope it goes well.

[reefhound]

ok, ok.. I like that scape 2

the filter socks worked good for cycling the tank.. but other than that, they can get expensive with cheaper options for the same results...

 

also running chemipure-blue just dropped in one chamber

[ReeferAddict727]

Reefhound let me know what you think of the chemipure, may try it out after the cycle is done.

[reefhound]

I really liked it to start with, but think I may discontinue and see what happens... tank is really where I want it.. but I think it's all the smaller organisms I have that keep it clean. I feed the tank copepods and phyto

and spot feet the firefish and flametail

I have about a billion micro brittle stars that just crawl all over when something drops in.. snails reproducing like crazy

the algae I have growing is starting to decline a bit.. I've lowered the lights a little earlier and fed a little less.. (tank is finally balancing out and it's about time to replace the chemi bag)

 

we shall see...

 

just don't chase parameters.. let the tank break in and make adjustments slowly

that's what ive tried my best to do anyway

[ReeferAddict727]

I really liked it to start with, but think I may discontinue and see what happens... tank is really where I want it.. but I think it's all the smaller organisms I have that keep it clean. I feed the tank copepods and phyto

and spot feet the firefish and flametail

I have about a billion micro brittle stars that just crawl all over when something drops in.. snails reproducing like crazy

the algae I have growing is starting to decline a bit.. I've lowered the lights a little earlier and fed a little less.. (tank is finally balancing out and it's about time to replace the chemi bag)

 

we shall see...

 

just don't chase parameters.. let the tank break in and make adjustments slowly

that's what ive tried my best to do anyway

 

That's going to be the hard part for me is not chasing parameters... My OCD kicks in and I want perfect levels....

On a side note, I mixxed up 25 gallons of salt water 9 days ago before I started up this tank... I tested all the water at 35 PPT/1.028 d before I put it in the tank. I thoroughly rinsed my dry reef saver rock in RO water and let it sit out on a towel for about 15-20 mins before i put it in the tank. I've done daily manual top offs with RO only and kept the water level perfect per IM standards... When I checked my salinity 2 days ago it was at 30 PPM/1.023 d

 

It had to be the Dry Rock soaked in RO and not let sit out long enough to dry right?

 

Anyway, I started topping off with salt rather than RO and checking salinity daily to get it back to 35 PPT / 1.028 d.... I am at 33 PPT/1.024 d now.

 

Got a good front pic of the rockscape... you guys don't think this is too symmetrical do you? I like the look but I don't want it to look too man-made..

[iceman001]

The rock work look perfect to me.

BTW what u intend to keep?

[ReeferAddict727]

The rock work look perfect to me.

BTW what u intend to keep?

 

Mainly softies and LPS, with a frag or 2 of SPS WAY down the road once I get a handle on everything.

 

Main corals I am wanting are:

- Torch (not sure of type yet)

- Frogspawn

- Small Pulsing Xenia for Movement

- Couple mushrooms

- A Scoly or 2

- a Small Colorful clam (Maybe a maxima)

- A few different Zoas

- Duncan

- For SPS later on probably something easy like a Birdsnest

 

Going really light on fish, maybe just a firefish, clown, and /or goby/pistol shrimp combo.

 

Also wanting to grow a mangrove out of the top, not sure how that is going to work yet after I get a screen top to keep the fish in. May have to design a cutout for the tree....

[iceman001]

The list look great. Happy reefing

[ReeferAddict727]

The list look great. Happy reefing

 

 

Thanks Ice, will continue to update!

[ReeferAddict727]

The list look great. Happy reefing

 

Iceman what heater are your running on your 25 Lagoon? And where do you have it placed?

[reefhound]

not too symmetrical, the rock looks great!

 

your OCD is going to drive u nuts unless you get an ATO

[iceman001]

Iceman what heater are your running on your 25 Lagoon? And where do you have it placed?

 

I don't need a heater. I'm living in Singapore, it kinda hot every single day throughout the year.

 

Actually u can place the heater at the 2nd compartment or in the return compartment.

[reefhound]

 

cobalt 100 watt.. second chamber.. water line is 1.25in below display rim

just needs to be submerged past the dial

[ReeferAddict727]

Ahhh ok thanks reefhound that's what I was looking for! I'll pick one up tomorrow.

[ReeferAddict727]

Alright guys here's an update on my build!

 

I picked up the Reef Octopus NS80 Skimmer for $45. It has been installed for 1 week today, and just started to break in yesterday. For the first week it did nothing but collect water, but each day the performance seems to improve. It does indeed fit inside the skimmer chamber of the IM 25 Lagoon, quite nicely actually. The suction cups on the pump are the only means of mounting it, it will not fit with the included bracket.

I chose to place a small piece of filter floss under the outflow to reduce microbubbles. To be honest the microbubbles were bad for the first 3 days but as the skimmer breaks in I've noticed the microbubbles decreasing. In combination with a piece of filter floss acting as a bubble trap it seems to be doing well. I'll update you on the skimmer as it breaks in further and becones more fine tuned.

 

9 days ago my tank cycled through the aerobic phase and began to show small signs of diatoms. After waiting 4 days to see consistent 0 readings of nitrite and ammonia I placed in a firefish and a black clownfish. Yesterday I added a small clean up Crew consisting of 2 nassarious snails, 2 blue legged hermits, 1 trochus snail, and 1 Scarlett Shrimp. I chose a small CUC for now and I will add critters to the system as the system grows.

 

Once my nitrates reached 10 ppm I performed my first 15% water change. I also recieved a few small frags from a friends tank. 1 gsp colony, 1 green zoa colony, and 1 Pulsing Xenia colony. I chose to use these corals to test the still immature system as they are relatively hardy and easy to care for along with being easy to read.

 

I am experiencing a slight bacterial bloom in the water column which is not suprising. It is giving the water a slightly cloudy look that has been improving over the last 24 hours.

 

So far everything is doing very well, the fish and cuc all seem very happy, the xenia, gsp, and zoas are thriving and already showing signs of early growth. If everything goes well over the next week I will be picking up a small LPS frag and continuously testing and monitoring the system.

 

I am debating what to do as far as an ATO and a wave maker. If I were to add up the cost of both of these, I could purchase an aquarium controller for just a bit more. What do you guys recommend I do? Is it relatively easy to set up a controller as an ATO?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ReeferAddict727]

Forgot to post a couple pics of the skimmer so here are those.