Back To It- IM 25 Lagoon

[nlastner]

Introduction​

Hey Yall, this will be my third tank, first one in 6 years. In the past I had a Biocube 16, Red Sea Reefer 700. I loved these, but went off to college and never kept another tank due to dorm rules. This tank is something I plan to do with my seven year old little sister. She loves the water and I think she would love something like this as she is not old enough to remember when we had a tank.

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Why This Tank and Not something Bigger​

I wanted to start small for several reasons:

1. Maintenance: Yes yes I know smaller tank harder to care for but I have had lots of luck with 10 percent water changes weekly. I wanted to make maintenance something I could teach my sister and make it simple, teach her a little discipline about how things you take care of can end up very nice.
2. Lagoon: My dream was either a big lagoon or big peninsula, so I plan on getting both in the next year and see which ones I like more.
3. Portability: I only have about 6 months left at home before I move so if she does not like it I can bring it with me easily.

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What Are My Expectations for This Tank?​

Creating something simple and stable. Automation will be the goal but not right from the start. Something slow and steady.

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Tank and Equipment​

Tank:​

• IM Fusion 25 lagoon

Equipment:​

Pumps: 2 x 130 GPH return pumps (want to upgrade to a single larger return and do a t connection in the future)
Lights: AI Blade 21" Grow (This should be enough at first but might add a glow in the future)
Powerhead: Either a MP10 or a gyre not sure yet
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3 Nano

*If in bold I have it

Salt:​

• Not sure yet, been seeing iffy reviews on red sea lately

Substrate and Aquascape:​

• Marco Rock
• Going for NSA

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Filtration​

Man the lagoon is awesome for an AIO, tons of chambers and room to work with. I bought an In Tank media basket

1. In Tank Media Basket: Just filter floss for now, will decide how to proceed once i get a better feel for the tank.
2. Center Chamber: Just Return Pumps, could add the intank fuge down the line
3. Left Chamber: Just Bio Balls for some more surface area

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Goal is to start everything presidents day weekend. Still have to get an RODI system, any recommendations? The ones on amazon don't seem that bad.

 

[Tahoe61]

If I were going to get another tank it would be the IM 25 gallon lagoon. It's a nice looking tank and I like the dimensions.

The Tunze Nano has worked very well for me.

I will be following along

Welcome to R2R. :)

 

[beardedman11]

You really can’t go wrong with the IM 25g. Setting up a 20g and wish I got the extra 4” of depth of the 25 has. Seems we’ve got the same method of running the tank and keep it simple. Following along.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

IM 25 is a fantastic tank. Hard to find tanks with these dimensions for a cheap price!

As someone who currently has one:

• I would save some money and get the Jecod-DMP-20 instead of MP-10. There is a 3d prints by TurbulentFlowDesign that really makes these wavemakers shine.
• I use the intank media baskets myself. They work great. I am using a single 266 mighty-jet with y split on spinstream nozzles. Space becomes pretty limited with 2 pumps.
• I am running skimmerless right now.

 

[nlastner]

Update 2/12/2025
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Recent Arrivals:

• ATO Nano 3.
• 30 lbs of marco rock
• 3 foundation rock pieces
• 10 lbs of shelf rock
• Glue Masters Glue
• Went with Carib Sea Black sand- this is a first for me going with black
• Algae Barn Cycle Kit
• 100 Watt IM Helios Heater
• 100GPD RODI System

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Plan:
On Friday I plan on Running to LFS and getting Salt. Friday night I plan on getting the scape done and in the tank. I have to set up my RODI system and start making water. Plan is to having everything ready on Saturday to put water in and get the cycle started. Excited to share pictures soon.

 

[nlastner]

Update 2/18/2025
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Scape:

• I spent a few hours trying for the NSA look. However, after lots of trials I decided that it wasn't the best for the coral approach.
• 
  
  

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Cycle Progress:

• Got the tank wet on Saturday (2/15), bumped the temp up to 80 degrees for the cycle and have salinity at 35 PPM.
• Dosed 1 oz of fritzyme turbostart
• Dosed ammonium chloride to 3 PPM Saturday at 6 pm
• On Monday(2/17) at 6 PM my nitrates were reading 1.6 PPM and my Ammonia was reading 1.8 PPM.
• Gonna let it run its course for two weeks. Not in a rush to get anything in it.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Update 2/18/2025
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scape:

• I spent a few hours trying for the NSA look. However, after lots of trials I decided that it wasn't the best for the coral approach.
• 
  
  

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cycle Progress:

• Got the tank wet on Saturday (2/15), bumped the temp up to 80 degrees for the cycle and have salinity at 35 PPM.
• Dosed 1 oz of fritzyme turbostart
• Dosed ammonium chloride to 3 PPM Saturday at 6 pm
• On Monday(2/17) at 6 PM my nitrates were reading 1.6 PPM and my Ammonia was reading 1.8 PPM.
• Gonna let it run its course for two weeks. Not in a rush to get anything in it.

Aquascape looks great!

 

[nlastner]

Aquascape looks great!

Originally I did not want this much rock. However, when you start thinking about the coral you want, especially in something mixed, it gets hard not putting a lot of rock.

 

[nlastner]

Update 2/23/2025
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Cycle:
2/23/25 Test Numbers:

• Ammonia: .5 PPM
• Nitrate: 24.9 PPM
• Phosphate: .04 PPM

Cycle coming along well. Waiting for ammonia to come down a little more then I will do a 8 gallon water change.

Stocklist:
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Planning on doing 2 clowns for now and lots of coral

 

[nlastner]

Got some good stuff arriving next friday:

1. Jason Fox Fairy Tales zoas
2. Playboy Bunny zoas
3. Tequilla Sunrise Monti
4. Blue Comet Monti
5. Green Birdsnest
6. Soloman Hairy Leather
7. Lemonade Galaxea
8. Mayan Orange Favia
9. Digitas Monti<- My Favorite Score
10. Purple breather acro< first acro

 

[nlastner]

Okay guys quick quesiton. I am ordering a new powerhead. I am between: Nero 3 or a Orbit 2. Anyone have any inputs?

 

[nlastner]

Ordered another AI Prime coral Grow. So running two grows on this. Ended up choosing the Orbit 2. Corals come Friday. Also borrowing a local reefers par meter on Friday to dial in the two grows.

 

[nlastner]

Ammonia is at 0.

 

[Clownenome]

Awesome tank and the scape is nicely done. Any cons to the black sand? I've heard that it can be high in iron due to its volcanic origin but I have no personal experience with it.

 

[nlastner]

Awesome tank and the scape is nicely done. Any cons to the black sand? I've heard that it can be high in iron due to its volcanic origin but I have no personal experience with it.

Have not seen any indication of this yet I have an ICP going out.

 

[nlastner]

Currently in a battel. I cannot tell if it is just the uglies or If I have something I need to get rid of. It mostly looks like diatoms. But I do have some GHA. As well as what seems to be some cloudy water. I have Phosphates of .08 and nitrates of .8. I am going to be bolstering my clean up crew and I just threw a UV in.
Besides that the fish are healthy and happy. Some of the corals are not with the algae. Fighting for my life with a chalice right now.

 

[nlastner]

Am I just battling with normal uglies?
Thoughts?

 

[nlastner]

Apologies for the post water change day dirty glass
Params:
Ammonia: 0 (Hanna)
Nitrate: .55 (Hanna)
Phosphate: .08 (Hanna)
Calc: 440 (Red Sea)
Alk: 10.1 DKH
Mag: 1250

 

[nlastner]

Long day yesterday, did a lot of manual removal. Scrubbed all rocks. This week I have a sea hare that the lfs let me borrow.
I rearranged the rock world for better flow.

All filtration (uv) is gone and just using socks floss and rubble rock in chambers.

No growth over night.

Parameters looks good
Phos: .05
Nitrate: 5.3

 

[Rhetoric]

I'm sure the sea hare will clean it up. I found a small urchin to be the best nano algae eater for my tank. I paired with a single emerald crab and Conch for sand.

I like the scape keep it up.

Enjoy the process.