Daasmo's IM 200EXT

Daasmo · 2026-06-03T10:31:37-0400

I'm upgrading from my Tideline 62g AIO and I knew if I was going big I wanted to go as big as I could. I'm a buy once, cry once kind of guy once I decide I want something. So after doing some research I decided on the IM 200 EXT. I ordered late December fully comfortable with the listed lead time since it would give me time to prepare. Instead I got contacted a couple weeks later by IM to setup a delivery date. So first job was making enough room in the garage to accommodate the pallet. The only issue with delivery was they came a day earlier than they were supposed to do while I was at work. Thankfully someone was at the house so they dropped it in my parking spot.

I managed to get it on some Harbor Freight dollys so I could maneuver it out of my spot and there it sat for several months while I went through my list of preparations.

Gumbies R Us · 2026-06-03T10:34:12-0400

Following along!

Daasmo · 2026-06-03T10:45:58-0400

Thankfully my wife has just let me do my thing on this slow process. First order of business was a complete rearrangement of our living room. Then I needed to touch up some paint and place a new outlet from the circuit on the other side of the wall. I also put the stand together which my 4 year old thought was a fantastic play house.

The big question was how to support the floor in the crawl space. The floor joists are parallel with the tank so I knew it needed some support. I worked with my dad who has more construction knowledge than me to come up with a plan and then waited on him to get me some lumber. He had a guy.

Skibi · 2026-06-03T10:57:37-0400

Nice cant wait to see the progress!

Daasmo · 2026-06-03T11:00:27-0400

So while I waited I bought some rock and started working on the aquascape. I used the Reef Dude method of Nyos Reef cement and BRS general bonding glue. I definitely recommend doing this outside because the fumes are terrible. I really just wanted a lot of overhangs and some caves so I just started putting stuff together.

I'll be adding rock from my existing tank as well. I'm not certain if this will be the final look but I have these rocks in a stock tank seasoning.

Daasmo · 2026-06-03T11:12:32-0400

Now to the present. My dad came and helped me add floor support. Getting everything to the front of the crawl space was a process. We used an under bed storage container to load things in then pushed them under the plumbing and duct work that we had to crawl around. I didn't get great pictures because I was just glad to be done but we placed 2 beams covering 4 joists. 2 that were directly under the tank then one on either side. We ended up using 6 construction blocks, 6 floor jacks and 2 treated 3x5 beams.

Finally I called a moving company to move the tank. I was able to move the sump myself using a hand truck and a ratchet strap. But the tank is an absolute unit. The moving company sent 4 big guys but I had to pitch in as well to get it on to the stand. I definitely recommend at least 5 people and preferably 6. That was yesterday so I'm excited to work on plumbing this weekend.

I'll post an equipment list soon.

Daasmo · 2026-06-04T11:11:40-0400

Newly purchased equipment list:

Return pump: Mighty Jet DC XL
Heater: BRS 600w x2
Skimmer: Simplicity 320DC
Lights: Reef Breeders Meridian 63 edge bundle with Reef 14k edge lights.

Equipment being used from previous tank.

Controller: Hydros Launch with XP8
Flow: Mp40 x2

I still need to figure out a lid situation due to the light mounts and an ATO container. I'll probably start with an IM 15g hydrofill next to the tank.
Plumbing is done now i need to start filling it.

Skibi · 2026-06-04T13:25:03-0400

Nice big progress! Where were you thinking to put the mp40s?

Daasmo · 2026-06-04T16:40:17-0400

Got the light up but I'm not sure I'm happy with the BOT mounts. Not really the mounts fault but the light is pretty heavy and it looks like the Euro brace is flexing. I emailed IM who called me pretty quickly. The euro brace isn't really made to support this much weight. So I'm back to drawing board. I can't do ceiling mount but i could possibly add a shelf to the wall and hang it from that.

The only benefit is i shouldn't need a custom lid now.

Daasmo · 2026-06-04T16:42:35-0400

Skibi said:
Nice big progress! Where were you thinking to put the mp40s?

I'm thinking on the back just for esthetics.

Skibi · 2026-06-04T18:20:45-0400

So I tried the back and they wouldn’t stay I think because there’s 1/8 piece of plastic on top of the 3/4 of glass mine just spun and eventually slid down let me know if you have any luck with yours though!