IM Fusion 20 Build

[DylansGolden]

This looks awesome. I am thinking about downgrading my [leaky] 120 gallon that isn't even fully cycled yet to an IM fusion 40 gallon. I like the idea of not having a sump and just keeping a large ATO reservoir under the stand. Your success here is making me think the sumpless IM fusion setups are a good idea. Would you still recommend it over a setup that size with a sump?

Have you set up a refugium in any of the back compartments?

I just really like the sleek look of these tanks without pipes coming out all over the back.

Thank you man, it's still new but I like it. I myself am thinking of upgrading to the Fusion 40G in a few months maybe.

I went with the AIO for simplicity, and I don't want a sumpped system again until I can build my dream build with all the equipment I could want. And I don't want to spend the money on it or have the worry of external piping and sumps so I just went with this for now.

I have seen it done, but I think filling it with a reactor and skimmer would be better filtration that a really small fuge just because of how small the fuge would be. But a fuge in a sumpped system is a must in my book.

 

[Gravis]

This looks awesome. I am thinking about downgrading my [leaky] 120 gallon that isn't even fully cycled yet to an IM fusion 40 gallon. I like the idea of not having a sump and just keeping a large ATO reservoir under the stand. Your success here is making me think the sumpless IM fusion setups are a good idea. Would you still recommend it over a setup that size with a sump?

Have you set up a refugium in any of the back compartments?

I just really like the sleek look of these tanks without pipes coming out all over the back.

Not to hijack the thread. But I have run "sump'les" in a few different setups before I finally got my new tank with a sump. And I wold like to say that I'm never going back. Remember, bigger volume means smaller changes in water parameters. Buy dropping the sump you are almost cutting volume in half. I had good success with softies and LPS without a sump and it worked out great. But I think if you want to keep sps you need to be extremely careful like Dylan seems to be.

Not to mention all the room you have for equipment in the sump.

I am no expert. But it's one guys opinion post a link or send me a PM if/when you start a build thread, like to see it

Kristian

 

[HuskerBioProf]

I ended up stumbling upon a 40 breeder + 20 tall sump that was custom drilled/plumbed by a fish store for a client that never picked it up. They had it for basically nothing, so I ended up selling off my 120 to some people who were confident they could fix it and I bought the 40 breeder setup.

I am interested to see how your AIO setup keeps progressing, but I was hesitant of the low water volume. 55 gallons with a 20 gallon sump was the smallest I had ever done before. I am hoping the 40g + 20 sump will be the best of both worlds: manageable water changes without huge fluctuations in parameters due to too small of volume. Plus, equipment for smaller tanks is way cheaper (skimmer, reactors, lights, etc.)! I think I will start a build thread for it soon. Good luck!

 

[DylansGolden]

Smaller tank doesn't necessarily mean lest cost, to a certain extent as far as limited space meaning smaller equipment options which are less. But for instance, my Desktop Ghost skimmer cost as much new as my slightly used Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer on my last build. �� You can always buy the best of what can no matter what size. Like I rock a Radion XR-30 when I could have used something way lest costly.

I recently put together an excel sheet of all the money I've spent on this set up and it's alarming. But yeah 40 Gallon breeders are nice I those aspects for water volume and balance on the maintence and equipment side of things. My last build was a 40G breeder display with a 40G breeder DIY sump I made. Loved that thing.