After a long break were back!

Caleb M · Jul 25, 2026

Hello Everyone!

I had moved places a while ago and had to tear down my old Innovative Marine 25 gallon Lagoon All in One tank.........................Sadly it broke when I took it off the stand and cracked the corner. I didn't trust it so I ended up throwing it away. After that it took me some time to buy another tank and try again. The reefing hobby took a step back while I was getting setup again.

Fast forward 2 years and I got another IM 25 Gal Lagoon tank with the pedestal and its been running ever since!

Now I have had some hiccups with this setup when it first was running.

I had an algae problem grow that took over the tank and had to start over because I couldn't control it and that is what I get for using city tap water.
After I got the algae under control I started with some fish and small corals.

2 X Clownfish and 1 x duncan coral

Everything was going great until I had a work trip and left for a week. Then of course Murphy's law kicked in and the circuit breaker tripped. Tank had no power for about a week and nothing survived. After that I gave it a break for about 6 months but kept the tank running and topping it off with ro-di water over time.

I recently just started getting the tank prepped again for livestock I have some crabs in there just eating whatever and a couple snails.

Currently the only problem I have with it now is high nitrates and plan to do about a 50% water change to get it lower and will monitor it over the next couple of days.

Its been a roller coaster but excited to get back here and posting tank updates!

Reef Jedi · Jul 25, 2026

Welcome back to the salty side! Looks like you’re off to a great start! Curious what is your nitrate levels?

Caleb M · Jul 25, 2026

Reef Jedi said:
Welcome back to the salty side! Looks like you’re off to a great start! Curious what is your nitrate levels?

Im excited! The levels pretty much max out my Hanna checker High range. Minimum 75ppm I have diluted the sample and think that at one point it was 350 ppm but I may have done that wrong. Current levels across the board are pretty good ammonia is a smidge higher then id like but that's coming down as well over time.

When the tank sat running for as long as it did I am sure that the waste and gunk that accumulated in the back of the tank probably saturated the whole water column. I didn't do water changes because there was no livestock in the tank for a long time. So I am paying for that for right now.

fishface NJ · Jul 25, 2026

Welcome back!

Caleb M · Jul 25, 2026

fishface NJ said:
Welcome back!

I'm definitely excited!

kevgib67 · Jul 25, 2026

Welcome back, glad you are here!

KrisReef · Jul 25, 2026

For nitrates with no fish or coral present a 90 % water change is the most effective solution for diluting the elevated parameter.

Consider 50% reduces levels of nitrate from
~300 /2 to 150ppm,

But a 90% change leaves the nitrate at -30ppm.

The difference will save a lot of salt expenditure and reduce the amount of extra water needed.

Caleb M · Jul 25, 2026

KrisReef said:
For nitrates with no fish or coral present a 90 % water change is the most effective solution for diluting the elevated parameter.

Consider 50% reduces levels of nitrate from
~300 /2 to 150ppm,

But a 90% change leaves the nitrate at -30ppm.

The difference will save a lot of salt expenditure and reduce the amount of extra water needed.

I like that and it makes sense because there's barley anything in the tank so hit it hard and get it fixed up! It also kindof makes sense that the 5 gallon water changes I've been doing twice a week really havent done anything to help it.