IM 25 Lagoon build!

[zchauvin]

Finally managed to get a new place, but can only have a tank so large. Decided on the lagoon because of the dimensions and the fact that I didn't want to deal with all the filtration requirements of large systems. My fiancé likes corals that move, I myself like sticks so this will be a mixed reef. Idea is to cover every inch of rock with coral to have the look of a mature reef, instead of a collection of frags.

So far I have purchased the following -

33lbs of Walt smith 2.1 rock
100w neotherm heater
Master reef test kit
25 lagoon - obviously
Kessil 360we with controller
20 lbs Fiji pink
Sicce 1.5

Built my own custom stand for around $100 after seeing build quality of IM stand at the price. Removed the pump that came with tank and replaced with the sicce, and still having rattling/noise issues so that's pretty irritating. Right now the tank is just water and a pile of rock. Put enough rock to give plenty of space for tons of corals while trying to keep it low enough to fit stuff towards the back of tank. Any suggestions ( especially on the noisy pump) or anything else for that matter are welcome.

I am in the process of finding a RODI unit as I will be doing 5g water changes per week and don't want to constantly be at lfs. Also plan to get a mp10 soon as well as dosing pump if needed. Will see if water changes are sufficient or maybe manual dosing if I can get by.

Have no idea what I want for stock as of yet, just want to have a lot of movement. Thanks for looking.

Sorry for crappy pics, I use an IPhone and it does terrible when it comes to blue in a photo.

 

[zchauvin]

With door on, and a few pictures so you guys can get the idea of what a pile of rocks looks like lol.

 

[Bogue Chitto]

You have a real nice setup there. It will be fun filling it up, just go slow and enjoy.

 

[zchauvin]

You have a real nice setup there. It will be fun filling it up, just go slow and enjoy.

Thank you, I have ordered a few more things. Refractometer, mp10, and ATO will be here Friday. Hoping to get the pump issues sorted out as right now it is very loud. Just need RO system and for my salt to arrive.

 

[lilphil26]

Looks good. I just set mine up a few weeks ago. Love the tank so far. My pump was terribly loud when i first fired it up. I felt like firing it out the window actually! It has quieted down considerably now though

 

[zchauvin]

Yeah mine would not stop the noise, went to lfs today and got another 1.5 so that's fine now. Mp10, refractometer, and ATO will be here Tuesday. What kind of stocking for a tank this size? I really like the movement in the tank I've linked. Obviously I wouldn't put angels but I would prefer many fish and thinking the 5g water changes every weekend will allow it. The tank held three five gallon jugs of water so that will put me changing 20-25g a month on a 15g tank.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GkaRgdnI40k

 

[doradosteve]

I love the dimensions of these tanks. Good luck with it.

 

[zchauvin]

I love the dimensions of these tanks. Good luck with it.

Thank you

 

[stevem650]

Was the Sicce 1.5 pump easy to swap out. Was the tubing the same size? How is the flow? Sorry for all the questions. I'm getting my Lagoon 25 tomorrow and I also want to upgrade to the Sicce.

 

[zchauvin]

Was the Sicce 1.5 pump easy to swap out. Was the tubing the same size? How is the flow? Sorry for all the questions. I'm getting my Lagoon 25 tomorrow and I also want to upgrade to the Sicce.

Yep same size tubing, and fits perfectly. Flow is 100gph more and you can tell once in.

 

[zchauvin]

I suggest an ATO as soon as you can get one, quite a bit of evaporation and a small pump chamber. Causes micro bubbles quickly.

 

[stevem650]

I have a Tunze nano osmolator on its way. I use the Tunze 3155 on my reefer 450 and it works great.
I am putting a Hydra 26 HD over the Lagoon 25. How high above the water should it be? I was thinking 10 to 12"

 

[BigRick08]

Get an IM nano reactor on that bad boy with an IM skimmer. With that and ro/di water you'll be looking crystal clear!
Thought about running some media in a bag like chemi pure blue?

 

[Aggiefish12]

IM 25 Lagoon build!

I wouldn't get a skimmer for this tank. I don't use one on mine and my tank is going awesome. I use chaeto in one of the back compartments. It's stuffed iwth amphipods and Copepods etc

 

[zchauvin]

IM 25 Lagoon build!

Probably 10" just turn down the intensity. My kessil about 10" above and highest is 50%. And I won't be using a skimmer, just large frequent water changes. If you do get a skimmer make sure to read up on the ghost skimmer as all I've heard is negative reports.

I will only be using purigen and maybe chemi pure. The only other filtration I've seen that I would actually consider are the drop in algae turf scrubber.

 

[zchauvin]

Ordered 200g worth of Reef Crystals today as well as SpectraPure 90 Gpd unit. Do you think a 5g weekly change will keep levels stable for sps and clams or will a doser be needed? Thanks

 

[zchauvin]

Ok, got the salinity up to 1.026 today. Hooked up the mp10 and battery backup, ATO is all installed, and took about 80% of the rock out. Once cycle is finished I plan to add an Apex as well.

 

[zchauvin]

How the tank sits today.

I won the battle and having sps with only a few lps. I wanted more sand showing and I only plan to get a stag and table for each pile and letting them grow out. Simple.

As of today -
Nitrate - 5
Kh - 9
Calcium - 440
Salinity - 1.026.

Purchasing and setting up apex tomorrow once I know all what I need.

 

[zchauvin]

IM 25 Lagoon build!

Apex install went smooth other than that I cannot find a netgear adapter anywhere... Any ideas on a comparable adapter would be greatly appreciated. All I have functioning as of now are the probes..

 

[coral102]

I use NETGEAR WNCE2001 adapter. It works well.

Do you try Amazon if you are in states???