Owners Thread: Innovative Marine Fusion 40

[chagovatoloco]

Thanks guys!
Brooklyn reefer: I looked at the im stand, but hatted the dividers in it and wood is better.

Reduck: yes it must stay in that corner, and I'm not going to upgrade.......too many tanks........and it was a fight to get this one in........ so the xr15pro should suit my for a while. I'm thinking I can use a rubbermaid recycling container for an ato tank, 15 gallons or so.

 

[Reduck]

Thanks guys!
Reduck: yes it must stay in that corner, and I'm not going to upgrade.......too many tanks........and it was a fight to get this one in........ so the xr15pro should suit my for a while. I'm thinking I can use a rubbermaid recycling container for an ato tank, 15 gallons or so.

Not worried about the light. Depending on your plans for the sump area, getting to that back right corner will be a drag. Unless you work that out with a ladder or something. Even with 3 side access I still use one to get a look into the bottom of the sump on occasion. Not all of us are giants...

 

[bizacon]

I have decided to move into more natural filtration... I feel that I am running too much filtration.

Reduck what are you running and anyone else. Give me the break down please.

 

[Reduck]

Floss, chamber rubble, skimmer, small amount of Phosban when needed. Been judging amount by growth on glass and sand bed. Right now I'm scraping the glass every three days. If it gets worse, I change it out. If my bed starts getting lumpy, I know it's time to change the Phosban to the higher amount...1/4 to 1/2 cup, usually 3 weeks or more...floss gets changed every 4th day.
Besides the floss and Phosban, nothing else.

 

[cmperry]

Left the hobby for about a month and well, I'm back! Decided on the IM 40 Gallon Fusion as an all anemone-clownfish set up. Planning on Picasso Clowns with a bunch of bubble tips. Realistically, how many of these ocellaris clownfish can I put in this size tank? Planning on putting them all in at the same time as juveniles. Only other things I would have in the tank is a fire shrimp and clean up crew.

BRS has a nice video series on their clownfish harem tank. They put 30 snowflake clowns in a Vertex 120.

 

[bizacon]

Floss, chamber rubble, skimmer, small amount of Phosban when needed. Been judging amount by growth on glass and sand bed. Right now I'm scraping the glass every three days. If it gets worse, I change it out. If my bed starts getting lumpy, I know it's time to change the Phosban to the higher amount...1/4 to 1/2 cup, usually 3 weeks or more...floss gets changed every 4th day.
Besides the floss and Phosban, nothing else.

you running the phosban in the IM reactor?

 

[Reduck]

you running the phosban in the IM reactor?

Yessir. It's kind of a waste. I prob could get by with a bag of cpe or cpb once a month, but it's much cheaper media in bulk and I'm only trying to mildly control my phosphates. The tank seems happy with a little nitrates and a little phosphates. I stopped freaking out over zero this and zero that.

I'm watching my conductivity, orp, and ph, and obviously the tank. That should tell me when stuff needs my attention. So far, it's working. Only schedules I stick to are wc every two weeks (10g) floss every 4th day, and feeding tank twice a week. I test water maybe every two weeks and only cal and alk. Nitrates and mag, once a month..skimmer cup gets dumped when needed and cleaned when needed.

Oh yea, checking for dead snails daily. Damn shrimp keep eating them...

 

[bizacon]

I was playing around with the tank last night, and I have cpb, phosguard, purigen, and carbon and thinking to myself this is really a waste. I also have rock rubble and chaeto.... I feel i just have super clean water and not really helping my tank

I think I will ditch everyhing except for the chaeto, cpb, rock rubble and see where that takes me... thoughts?

Yessir. It's kind of a waste. I prob could get by with a bag of cpe or cpb once a month, but it's much cheaper media in bulk and I'm only trying to mildly control my phosphates. The tank seems happy with a little nitrates and a little phosphates. I stopped freaking out over zero this and zero that.

I'm watching my conductivity, orp, and ph, and obviously the tank. That should tell me when stuff needs my attention. So far, it's working. Only schedules I stick to are wc every two weeks (10g) floss every 4th day, and feeding tank twice a week. I test water maybe every two weeks and only cal and alk. Nitrates and mag, once a month..skimmer cup gets dumped when needed and cleaned when needed.

Oh yea, checking for dead snails daily. Damn shrimp keep eating them...

 

[chagovatoloco]

From what I have read chemical filtration is not needed, though many on here are spending some serious money on it. I am new to salt water but in most of my freshwater tanks I use only mechanical filtration. This is going to be quiet an interesting transition.

 

[chagovatoloco]

How many of you guys are running a refugium?

 

[bizacon]

With these smaller tanks IMO you will need some type of chemical filtration in case of a spike from the big 3, which can come pretty quickly.

I am running a fuge right now. I like it..

From what I have read chemical filtration is not needed, though many on here are spending some serious money on it. I am new to salt water but in most of my freshwater tanks I use only mechanical filtration. This is going to be quiet an interesting transition.

 

[Reduck]

I would try it. If you see bad things start to happen you'll know what to do. Purigen is prob starving the chaeto somewhat. Phosguard and cpb are almost redundant.
I'd ditch the cpb and just run small amounts of phosguard especially if you are buying it bulk.

Yes small tanks are susceptible to sudden changes but with a well running system, it should be fine. Just knowing what to look for will help reduce the chances of issues.
Like I mentioned earlier..dead snails..if they don't move for a couple days, they need to be yanked. Feeding needs to be enough to thrive, but it's a balance to keep phosphates and nitrates in check. I think these tanks run on a fine edge. As long as you can balance on it, you'll be ok.
Just be prepared for occasional slips....it's going to happen...otherwise EVEYONE would own a reef tank..

I was playing around with the tank last night, and I have cpb, phosguard, purigen, and carbon and thinking to myself this is really a waste. I also have rock rubble and chaeto.... I feel i just have super clean water and not really helping my tank

I think I will ditch everyhing except for the chaeto, cpb, rock rubble and see where that takes me... thoughts?

 

[bizacon]

I am just going to run cpb and chaeto and call it a day. The chaeto has always been growing well, I am just tired of buying all this bag crap.

I would try it. If you see bad things start to happen you'll know what to do. Purigen is prob starving the chaeto somewhat. Phosguard and cpb are almost redundant.
I'd ditch the cpb and just run small amounts of phosguard especially if you are buying it bulk.

Yes small tanks are susceptible to sudden changes but with a well running system, it should be fine. Just knowing what to look for will help reduce the chances of issues.
Like I mentioned earlier..dead snails..if they don't move for a couple days, they need to be yanked. Feeding needs to be enough to thrive, but it's a balance to keep phosphates and nitrates in check. I think these tanks run on a fine edge. As long as you can balance on it, you'll be ok.
Just be prepared for occasional slips....it's going to happen...otherwise EVEYONE would own a reef tank..

 

[Reduck]

There ya go...sounds like a plan!

I am just going to run cpb and chaeto and call it a day. The chaeto has always been growing well, I am just tired of buying all this bag crap.

 

[Reduck]

I'd bet as juveniles you could get 10ish in there. But, they will start getting territorial as they mature. If some pair off, all bets are off. Also the ones that decide to own the bta's will defend them.
My two think they own every square inch of the tank.

I love when people see oc's and say oh cute, Nemo. Then I show them the scars on the back of my hand from cute little Nemo..

Sounds like a cool idea. Let us know how you make out!

Left the hobby for about a month and well, I'm back! Decided on the IM 40 Gallon Fusion as an all anemone-clownfish set up. Planning on Picasso Clowns with a bunch of bubble tips. Realistically, how many of these ocellaris clownfish can I put in this size tank? Planning on putting them all in at the same time as juveniles. Only other things I would have in the tank is a fire shrimp and clean up crew.

 

[bizacon]

Some plans end badly, ask the Romans...

Went ahead and took everything out. While I was in there I went ahead and redid my rocks.. Since I am now going to do mostly lps/softies I wanted to tweak a few things..aka 2 hrs of work.

Had to keep my mind off my 80 lb puppy getting his manhood removed for his 1st birthday . Yes, 80 lbs

There ya go...sounds like a plan!

 

[Reduck]

Those two sentences should never be spoken together..
All the men in the room can now uncross their legs.....

Some plans end badly, ask the Romans..
Had to keep my mind off my 80 lb puppy getting his manhood removed for his 1st birthday . Yes, 80 lbs

 

[bizacon]

Ha.. you are right...Ase is doing well and recovering.

Spent time today redoing the mesh top on my tank. The screen mesh was blocking too much light so I went ahead and did something similar to BRS, just in black. I like the black on top.

My Ph has been dropping due to the A/C running in the house and really not getting the air exchange. I went a head and ran an air house out my window for the skimmer, so we will see if that works. If that is does not bring it up, I guess i shall have to start messing with kalk and baking soda, which I really do not want to do.

 

[Reduck]

Really? You must have a real tight house.
Glad the monster pup is ok.
Ours is also recovering ok. It's going to take time since she's so old..but she is moving around now and standing on occasion. Walking with the help of a harness.

We just finished our mega project last week at work so I need to get our guys working on this tank stuff. Especially the canopy. Mrs asks about it at least once a week...

Starting to see some gunk on the bed. So I upped the Phosban to 1/2 cup. Frank II is busy cleaning up all he can find and we have a new addition. Don't all freak out, but I got a baby yellow tang. I'm figuring by time he needs more room, he will have it. He's been quite happy. Gets along fine and grazes on the bed and rocks...

I know this tank is too small for a tang so no need to remind me. it was thought out with plans of upgrading the tank in the next year, or it will be rehomed when needed if it grows too fast.

Ha.. you are right...Ase is doing well and recovering.

Spent time today redoing the mesh top on my tank. The screen mesh was blocking too much light so I went ahead and did something similar to BRS, just in black. I like the black on top.

My Ph has been dropping due to the A/C running in the house and really not getting the air exchange. I went a head and ran an air house out my window for the skimmer, so we will see if that works. If that is does not bring it up, I guess i shall have to start messing with kalk and baking soda, which I really do not want to do.

 

[bizacon]

Yep we do.. It is a bad thing now though . I even had the whole basement done in spray insulation too. Like my utility bills low!

Nice.. Love the tang, and smart man. Let the wife fall in love with it, and when it gets larger...oh honey we need a new tank. So smart

I keep going back and forth what I want to do next, I was thinking about putting the new one down in the basement and doing a peninsula. Or just replacing one upstairs with the reefer 450. Tank Is going down list. Another kid and addition I think beats it out.

Really? You must have a real tight house.
Glad the monster pup is ok.
Ours is also recovering ok. It's going to take time since she's so old..but she is moving around now and standing on occasion. Walking with the help of a harness.

We just finished our mega project last week at work so I need to get our guys working on this tank stuff. Especially the canopy. Mrs asks about it at least once a week...

Starting to see some gunk on the bed. So I upped the Phosban to 1/2 cup. Frank II is busy cleaning up all he can find and we have a new addition. Don't all freak out, but I got a baby yellow tang. I'm figuring by time he needs more room, he will have it. He's been quite happy. Gets along fine and grazes on the bed and rocks...

I know this tank is too small for a tang so no need to remind me. it was thought out with plans of upgrading the tank in the next year, or it will be rehomed when needed if it grows too fast.