Father & Son IM 25 Lagoon Build

[Cascadian Corals]

Hi everyone,

New to the hobby and new to the forum. My son and I are setting up an IM NUVO Fusion Pro 2 25 Lagoon, and we're already plotting out subsequent tanks and projects for years down the road.

We're working through the shopping list slowly. So far we've got the APS stand and tank set up, and this week we started curing 10 lb of medium pukani from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Bleach soak going now, then a lanthanum chloride leach phase before it goes in the display. For anyone who's cured pukani, curious how long yours took to stop leaching?

Our TBS live sand and some base and premium nano rock land in mid-October, when the tank officially goes "live".

Attached are a few shots of the tank (with a 9gal Ikea HÅLLBAR recycling bin for an ATO reservoir) and the pukani bleach soak. The rocks are really amazing- plenty of structure to work with.

I'll post updates and pictures as we go. Looking forward to learning from everyone here.

 

[Fish Fan]

The 25 lagoon is a great tank!

Good luck with your build!

 

[Tahoe61]

Congratulations! You will find quite a few IM 25 on R2R, my self included.

Welcome to R2R.

 

[kevgib67]

What a great thing for a father and son to do together!

 

[NeMoo]

Agreed they’re fun little tanks!

 

[Ethan789987]

The setup looks slick so far! I was looking at the 25 Lagoon a while back, but the APS stand was never in stock. Looks like they are back now, so may have to get one!

 

[NCsalt]

Congrats! Yall are going to have fun. My little boy has been pretty involved with our tank and loves to go to aquarium expos with me.

 

[Cascadian Corals]

Congrats! Yall are going to have fun. My little boy has been pretty involved with our tank and loves to go to aquarium expos with me.

My son is already asking when we can go to some expos! Also he's hoping I retire soon and we open up an LFS or coral farm together - the kid's got big plans

 

[bristleworm]

I'm just getting my IM 25 lagoon going myself. And my adult son talked me into it!
Just a word of caution, if you use that 9gal can for ATO reservoir when the ATO fails to shut off you will get 9gal of water on your floor.
AND coming from 50 years aquarium experience it's not if the ATO fails, it's when.

 

[Cascadian Corals]

I'm just getting my IM 25 lagoon going myself. And my adult son talked me into it!
Just a word of caution, if you use that 9gal can for ATO reservoir when the ATO fails to shut off you will get 9gal of water on your floor.
AND coming from 50 years aquarium experience it's not if the ATO fails, it's when.

I've been deliberating over the ATO choice in hopes of avoiding that very scenario. I'm looking at either Nature Dimensions N-Fill or a Tunze Osmolator Nano. Also, I'll have leak detection in and under the cabinet to help me respond quickly if/when things go south. Any advice on best practices to stay dry?

 

[Delly]

Wow !! Love the new build super cool to bring the little guy in !! I can’t wait to do this myself.

Following along !


If you have any questions post post !! We love to help. I have learned a lot in just 4 months !


Delly

 

[bristleworm]

I've been deliberating over the ATO choice in hopes of avoiding that very scenario. I'm looking at either Nature Dimensions N-Fill or a Tunze Osmolator Nano. Also, I'll have leak detection in and under the cabinet to help me respond quickly if/when things go south. Any advice on best practices to stay dry?

It's just me but I have an ATO with float switches that has not failed me yet. My optical one has overrun the tank several times. I'm a little old school and like the mechanical float switches.

 

[MKEnovice]

I've been deliberating over the ATO choice in hopes of avoiding that very scenario. I'm looking at either Nature Dimensions N-Fill or a Tunze Osmolator Nano. Also, I'll have leak detection in and under the cabinet to help me respond quickly if/when things go south. Any advice on best practices to stay dry?

Easiest thing would be to plug in the ATO to a smart switch and turn it on for 2 minutes twice a day. No chance for a 5 gallon spill this way.