Aquascape feedback (25g IM lagoon)

[hbubley]

Hey guys! Hoping to get feedback on my proposed aquascape for my aquarium coming soon. It’s an IM lagoon fusion pro 2.
I wanted 3 islands - one small one on the left for a zoa island, one center for the bulk of my coral (mushrooms low down on the main island, a Duncan, and a frogspawn, potentially more but that’s my starting plan) and then on the right an anemone.
Also hoping to place a couple chalice on the sand in the open spaces (does that sound okay?)

Here’s what I’m thinking, want public feedback before I glue anything

 

[Marinus]

It looks fine for corals. Are you planning on having fish?

 

[Marinus]

Also, is your tank the size of the wooden board or the cardboard?

 

[hbubley]

Also, is your tank the size of the wooden board or the cardboard?

The cardboard- sorry should have been more clear.
Yes to fish. At this point I’m thinking a pair of clowns, a dragonette in the future when the copepods are prevalent enough, and a goby. Potentially a wrasse.

 

[SpyC]

You're going to want to create some hiding spots. bust up the rock then recreate the three structures with caves and tunnels in them

 

[jabberwock]

Ditch those fake purple rocks and go with live ocean rock. I used TBS and love it going on 2 years now.

 

[hbubley]

Something more like this? And can add a different rock later for the third island and leave it unattached for zoas?
Also going to split up the main clump a little more so there is space between the large middle island. So fish can go in the main island

 

[hbubley]

Ditch those fake purple rocks and go with live ocean rock. I used TBS and love it going on 2 years now.

Is there a way to do both? Don’t want the rock I bought to go to waste. Like the third standalone island can be tbs live rock

It’s an aio. But what if I got the rubble live rock and also put that in the “sump”? It's still challenging- TBS requires a 20lb minimum order and the rubble is $18 a lb

 

[Marinus]

I would recommend to keep some space between the rock and the glass to fit your algae scraper in

 

[Marinus]

Breaking rocks isn't that scary lol. Remember your safety glasses

 

[hbubley]

Could someone with better live rock knowledge let me know if this makes sense to get? I would put the nano and rubble in the back "sump" area and then the base live rock in the display? is 12lbs too much to fit in the "sump" of the 25g lagoon? I need 20lbs total so would love some help figuring out how much of what to get- Would love the majority to be in the back sump area.

 

[ShaunMc]

I setup a IM15 in Dec ‘22 with AF Rock. Not live rock. How many pounds do you have cause it seems like enough. I would not order more. I get you get the “bio diversity”. But you get any hitchhikers, etc too. Anyway you can add bacteria, and do a fishless fuel.

I did fishless cycle. I added copepods after getting some diatoms and stuff. So you can add the bio-diversity.

I think you just need to consider breaking down the biggest rock into pieces like Marinus suggests. Especially if you have enough pounds already.


{Edit: I just looked at this tank and man it makes me wish I had the IM25 instead of the IM15. Moving my tank into it would give me like 2x the sq inches, lol.}

 

[hbubley]

Thank you for the feedback! I’m hoping not to have to spend another 200$ on rock tbh. I’ll get better pics momentarily but this is my rework.

 

[ShaunMc]

What is your light?

One thing I would do is consider the light and how it will hit the tank as well. Then I’d make notes. Like this (sorry I was bored)

I would not buy more rock. Use the money elsewhere. I’d recommend this tank get a Bubble Magnus MiniQ. I really like the inTank filter floss. You can set that up opposite side of the wave maker. Use the filter socks they give you for now on 1 side so that you can rotate them. Or just buy a few more so you have some to clean. But I enjoy not having to clean socks and just pitch the used floss. To each their own.

For me, On the side with the filter floss, I put my bag of marine pure bio balls.

Pretty jealous of the space in this IM25 given I’ve had a IM15 for three years. Just started it over.

But all that said it looks like your water will only be about 10-10 3/4” high. So I do think mapping it out, knowing what light would help. Because you might fine that the par puts your zoa island out in front.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Thank you for the feedback! I’m hoping not to have to spend another 200$ on rock tbh. I’ll get better pics momentarily but this is my rework.

That is similar to how my aquascape looks, just a little taller haha.

 

[hbubley]

What is your light?

One thing I would do is consider the light and how it will hit the tank as well. Then I’d make notes. Like this (sorry I was bored)

I would not buy more rock. Use the money elsewhere. I’d recommend this tank get a Bubble Magnus MiniQ. I really like the inTank filter floss. You can set that up opposite side of the wave maker. Use the filter socks they give you for now on 1 side so that you can rotate them. Or just buy a few more so you have some to clean. But I enjoy not having to clean socks and just pitch the used floss. To each their own.

For me, On the side with the filter floss, I put my bag of marine pure bio balls.

Pretty jealous of the space in this IM25 given I’ve had a IM15 for three years. Just started it over.

But all that said it looks like your water will only be about 10-10 3/4” high. So I do think mapping it out, knowing what light would help. Because you might fine that the par puts your zoa island out in front.

This is actually so helpful thank you! I realize now my current design is 10in tall which is way to close to the water line- like .5in of clearance. I’m going to plan better so I can have more coral spots. Looks like I’m going to have to break some rocks after all. How much clearance should I leave from the highest rock to the water line for coral if I’m running an AI Blade Grow light? 21in

 

[ShaunMc]

Depends on what you want to keep, etc. I think that you'd want to vary up to 6"-8" inches max. But yes, busting up that rock and creating this structure and caves, etc to the other's recommendations would likely be best.

Maybe someone with an AI Blade Grow and shallow tank can chime in on their thoughts. You can use this BRS Video to help. They test with a 24" deep tank, and I don't know the "recommended mounting" height, but I think you could use the 6" and 12" (floor) numbers and you would be in that range. Also found one post.

Tested: The Distribution of Reef Tank Lighting to Maximize Coral Health.

Aqua Illumination Blade par readings

Hope these help. Sorry if it is a lot of info or overwhelming. :)

 

[BryanM]

When keeping fish, the general idea is to create swim lanes and hiding spaces... Doesn't matter much how you get there, you just need these characteristics for the fish....

Live rock is the undisputed king, but it is by no means the only way to get things done. The ugly phases are just more prevalent when using dry rock.

Breaking it up would work, or adding 2-3 more rocks so you can create an arch and a cave, etc.

 

[hbubley]

Depends on what you want to keep, etc. I think that you'd want to vary up to 6"-8" inches max. But yes, busting up that rock and creating this structure and caves, etc to the other's recommendations would likely be best.

Maybe someone with an AI Blade Grow and shallow tank can chime in on their thoughts. You can use this BRS Video to help. They test with a 24" deep tank, and I don't know the "recommended mounting" height, but I think you could use the 6" and 12" (floor) numbers and you would be in that range. Also found one post.

Tested: The Distribution of Reef Tank Lighting to Maximize Coral Health.

Aqua Illumination Blade par readings

Hope these help. Sorry if it is a lot of info or overwhelming. :)

I super appreciate all the information!! It is a lot but luckily I have some time before my aquarium arrives and even more before the tank is cycled and I can add things- better more info than less :)

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Is there a way to do both? Don’t want the rock I bought to go to waste. Like the third standalone island can be tbs live rock

It’s an aio. But what if I got the rubble live rock and also put that in the “sump”? It's still challenging- TBS requires a 20lb minimum order and the rubble is $18 a lb

You can totally do both! Marcos live rock is only $100 shipped for 5lbs. They usually give you a bit more though. Comes with life. Pods, feather dusters, sponges, bristles. Even at 5lbs!

Check out my build. I used a mixture of both.