25g Lagoon Build

[cPr]

After going back and forth about not setting up a tank until we have our home purchased, we watched a doc about the ocean, and all 3 of my kiddos started to show interest.....We all know it doesnt take much convincing to get a tank setup, so I was off to the races.

We decided on a small tank, a 25g Lagoon AIO. Here is the equipment list I have -

Tank/Stand
25g Lagoon AIO
IM Old Style Stand

Return
IM Mighty Jet 326 Return

Lighting
Hydra 64 with mount

Flow
MP10 and IM Spin Streams for flow - Thinking about added a Reefwave 25 or Nero, but not needed yet

Filtration
N-Clear Filter Roller
Mini Q skimmer - Removed because theres nothing to skim and im not sure if using the filter roller and skimmer will pull out too many nutrients - Thoughts?
InTank Basket - Empty for now, might add a little live rock rubble to it, not quite sure yet - Thought?

Control
Hydros x3
Hydros XP8
Hydros Blenny
Hydros ATO
PH Probe
Temp Probe

Misc Items
Space Saver Bashsea SS - 5 ATO Container
VOSS bottle holder 800ml Dosing containers - Using Murlock bulkheads, with a couple extra parts to make sure it connects to the Hydros dosing lines
Hanna/Salifert testing
Flipper nano

The tank has been wet for about 4 weeks, and going through the motions now - .25 Ammonia, .5 Nitrite - Hoping in a couple weeks ill be ready for a clean up crew and maybe a fish, but nothing good happens fast, so ill wait as long as needed.

The plan for the tank will be a mixed reef, but it always ends up being filled with sticks.

I know, I know, whats a build thread without pics, so when I get home, ill get some uploaded!

Ill try to keep this one updated so I can track the progress and share my failures, and wins!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[cPr]

 

[cPr]

Under the stand is tight, but I’m working with what I have. Just got the pieces in for the Voss bottle tops to connect, so I’ll be cleaning up those cables this weekend.

 

[Joshainga]

How are you liking the hydros? Wasn’t sure with a smaller tank of a controller was really needed vs just getting smart plugs for the equipment.

 

[steveschuerger]

Following. As a fellow 25er I enjoy seeing others setups. Looks good. Like the scape.

 

[Joshainga]

Following. As a fellow 25er I enjoy seeing others setups. Looks good. Like the scape.

This was my set up the first time before I took it down.

 

[steveschuerger]

This my set up now. Can’t see it in the edited FTS but I have a Meridian 11 for lighting.

 

[Joshainga]

Following. As a fellow 25er I enjoy seeing others setups. Looks good. Like the scape.

You should see my stand now. I completely redid it and added a govee 6ft rope light master I refinished and repainted it. It’s sick now and the LEDs are customizable they even have a cool feature to do like a wave simulation or deep reef which is what I use. It was a nice cheap add on that’ll really bring eye appeal to it when I get it going in the next few weeks.

 

[steveschuerger]

You should see my stand now. I completely redid it and added a govee 6ft rope light master I refinished and repainted it. It’s sick now and the LEDs are customizable they even have a cool feature to do like a wave simulation or deep reef which is what I use. It was a nice cheap add on that’ll really bring eye appeal to it when I get it going in the next few weeks.

I’m cheap. I hit Amazon and found a sturdy reinforced office table. It has a little “shelf” space that I keep the scrapers and aquascaping tools.

 

[Joshainga]

I’m cheap. I hit Amazon and found a sturdy reinforced office table. It has a little “shelf” space that I keep the scrapers and aquascaping tools.

I got mine with the tank like 5 years ago. It just looked like crap so I decided if I was going to put it back on wanted it nice and to match the look of my office downstairs. I’m a Georgia fan so I can set the LEDs to red on gameday and it matches my computer and everything else in my room . I think I spent around 120 with the primer, black paint and LEDs to redo the stand. I wanted an APS but they’re non existent in the wild anymore.

 

[steveschuerger]

I got mine with the tank like 5 years ago. It just looked like crap so I decided if I was going to put it back on wanted it nice and to match the look of my office downstairs. I’m a Georgia fan so I can set the LEDs to red on gameday and it matches my computer and everything else in my room . I think I spent around 120 with the primer, black paint and LEDs to redo the stand. I wanted an APS but they’re non existent in the wild anymore.

I got my first two IM tanks without stands, both AIO a Nuvo Pro 30l and SR60 because I already had a set up.. I personally think it’s kinda off putting that for larger AIO you have no choice but to buy that together now.