Back To It- IM 25 Lagoon

[Fish Fan]

Your tank looks great, nice start, and sounds like a fun project for you and your sister!

I've had several small IM AIO tanks, all have been great, and I just set up the 25 lagoon myself. The dimensions of the 25 are great, the front-to-back depth is really nice.

I have a single MightJet 538 with a Y spliter driving both returns, and I am also considering adding some random flow generators. The fit with the larger return pump is tight, but it seems to be working. I originally wanted to go with two MightJet 326's, but the two pumps really didn't fit.

Having had both the name brand MightJet's and the less expensive Jecod/Jebao pumps, I'd say just get the Jebao, I don't notice any difference in use.

My tank will be a fish-free coral and invert tank, so not a heavy bioload, but I am running one IM media basket with a little filter floss, the IM 9 watt UV sanitizer (which I have yet to turn on), and an InTank 'fuge basket loaded with live rock rubble (trying for a "cryptic 'fuge" here). I have on deck if needed the IM NuvoSkim protein skimmer and their LED 'fuge light if I want to do a lighted 'fuge as well.

I would welcome it if you posted your ICP test result, specifically about the black sand you used. I really wanted to use that black sand in my 25, I even have four bags of it that I bought like 7 years ago but have never used yet. I opted against it as many reefers suggested that it was causing problems for them. At the least, it's magnetic and can get caught in your magnetic algae scrapper, and you can really scratch the glass badly if you're not careful. It can also damage pump impellers. I asked about this sand specifically before I started my tank, here's that thread if you'd like to look through it:

Is there a Coral/Motile Invert Safe Black Sand? CaribbSea Hawaiian, Yes Or No?

Hey all! I'm posting this question here in the Chem section to get hopefully some real science and more than just anecdotal observation. RHF, please feel free to move this to the Aquascaping section or wherever it's more appropriate if needed :-) I have always liked the look of black sand, and...

www.reef2reef.com

As well as this thread that prompted a lot of my concern about the black sand:

CaribSea Hawaiian Black Sand Can Poison Your Tank

So I've seen a couple posts about this, but I felt the need to share my experience with this sand and my strong opinion towards it. I waited about 3/4 weeks to verify if the actual problem stemmed from the sand or something else. I did no other changes with my tank in terms of flow, filtration...

www.reef2reef.com

Following!

Good luck with your tank!

 

[nlastner]

The tank is doing great. As of right now only doing biological filtration and some floss.
Some dinos on the sand bed that I am constantly blowing off but I have a feeling this will correct itself.

Phosphate is .05 and nitrate at 3.1. I am happy with this number but increasing nitrate would be nice. All corals are doing great except acro, which I suspect does not have enough light.
I went ahead and caved in and ordered a ITC parwise since I am setting up another tank here shortly.

 

[nlastner]

Just ordered 5 lbs live rock from TBS to try it out as I am about to set up an 85 gallon acrylic tank. The live rock should definitely give the tank a boost in stability, and increase biodiversity.
The shipment should be here may 14th.
After that a battlebox should be coming in as my acros and montis seem to be doing great. I am increasing light slowly and alk consumption is increasing with the increase in light.
Might get to bright that I will have to rehome my other corals.

 

[nlastner]

Question for everyone as I have never used live rock before.

Should I be concerned with die off crashing my tank? I am only adding 5 pounds? Any procedures I should follow. Thanks.

 

[backbayreef]

Question for everyone as I have never used live rock before.

Should I be concerned with die off crashing my tank? I am only adding 5 pounds? Any procedures I should follow. Thanks.

Following your progress. I've just started an IM25 EXT (no sump) over the weekend and took all the live rocks from another tank, which is 15 feet away - shouldn't be any die-off for me. However, in your case, there will be some die-offs from shipping so I would remove some dead organics/hitchhikers and rinse with saltwater before introducing into your DT.

Good luck with the build!

 

[nlastner]

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Following your progress. I've just started an IM25 EXT (no sump) over the weekend and took all the live rocks from another tank, which is 15 feet away - shouldn't be any die-off for me. However, in your case, there will be some die-offs from shipping so I would remove some dead organics/hitchhikers and rinse with saltwater before introducing into your DT.

Good luck with the build!

I can only speak from my experience. But I have done 3 orders of Marco's live rock now in the 5lb category. I just plop and go with the rock. Never had any issues.

I actually just got a new order in yesterday as I decided to add more to my IM 25. I threw them all in. Maybe with larger amounts of rock I'd be more cautious. But with 5lbs. Not so much.

 

[nlastner]

I can only speak from my experience. But I have done 3 orders of Marco's live rock now in the 5lb category. I just plop and go with the rock. Never had any issues.

I actually just got a new order in yesterday as I decided to add more to my IM 25. I threw them all in. Maybe with larger amounts of rock I'd be more cautious. But with 5lbs. Not so much.

Thanks for the input!

 

[EliMelly]

Following

 

[nlastner]

Here are the ATI results. My ratio of phos to nitrate is eh. Need to get my nitrates up. This was taken a week after fixing GHA and now Cyano is starting to show up.
Have a feeling my zinc issue may be from the sand, but I had read the sand would show high iron. Thoughts?