(free) IM 20 AIO build.

[chillout-reefer-dave]

I have a little bit of SW experience at this point. Going fairly well. Lo and behold I came into possession of a Innovative marine 20 Long aio with many extras including a noopsyche k7 mini, multiple extra pumps, screen lid, ATO, doser. It's crazy how lucky I got here.

I can go any direction. I just have to chose. Help me chose oh magnificent reef2reef

Open to comment,discussion, ridicule, and otherwise any news.

Imma be cleaning for a while.

I'll get better pictures when I have a chance. I'm putting my daughter to bed now and well yeah...


Sorry for crap posting I am just so excited for this. I never would have been able to swing this. I am living proof this doesn't have to be an expensive hobby iff you are willing to be patient.

 

[tbrown]

@Reefer Matt looks like a similar project to yours?

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

Huzzah I can't believe I'm here. Im only 38 and finally allowed myself to be a grown up. I have very fond memories of seeing reef tanks in the late 90s. Maybe that's why I love my Windex blue?

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

@Reefer Matt looks like a similar project to yours?

Matt seems a little "ahead" of me rofl

The stage I'm at is basically "when your dad met your mom at the hooters she worked at" . Btw true story

 

[tbrown]

Matt seems a little "ahead" of me rofl

The stage I'm at is basically "when your dad met your mom at the hooters she worked at" . Btw true story

Yes, but his most recent project is basically what you've got there.

My first reef tank was around 15 years ago now I believe. It all started at a thrift shop on my way home from work and a $5 75 gallon aquarium that I had no clue if it even held water.

 

[Reefara]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

 

[code4]

vinegar in a spray bottle with a plastic scraper will make the glass sparkle in no time!

Great luck!
Shelley

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

I feel like a kid on Christmas morning mixed with winning the lottery

...I noticed the included osmolator 3 nano, wavelink DC aio powerhead , and 2 extra sicce syncra pumps sorry I used stock photos my camera skills are non existent.

So far this is at least $600 worth of gear. I have various heaters kicking around already. I haven't looked at what's going on in the sump. I think the factory default IM filter is just a sock? I'm very new to AIO.

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

I have plans for my lunch break today...supposed to be nice outside. I left everything in my trunk and grabbed my jug of vinegar and scrub brush on my way out the door this morning; juggling coffee, laptop and 2 kids.I'm gonna go over everything and clean her real good by the light of day and examine seals etc.

The tank still has the sand a half inch of water in it ; the odor accumulated over night in my car. I have a very very sensitive nose but for some reason ocean smell doesn't bother me like mammal odors. Upon entering the car my 7 year old daughter declared "Daddy, it uh smells like water in here."

P.S. It is barely a 2 minute drive to daycare, I wouldn't make my kids feel uncomfortable for any serious duration.

I'm tempted to re-use the sand... <<- Just kidding that is rage bait right there

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

 

[Reefara]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

I always thought a macro tank or a bta works best for tanks your size honestly.

Been dying to build an acro tank

That maroon prob gonna be a bully?

 

[Reefing addict Clay]

In those small IM all in one tanks I always like seeing a lps set up. Get you a zoa garden going and some torch’s for movement and to please your kids a nem and pair of clowns also of course some exotic shrooms like jawbreakers and eclectic and bounces you can truly have 5k worth of coral in there lol

 

[Reefara]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

I believe for your tank size, an acro or bta tank works best IMO

Maybe just because I’ve been dying to have both but always end up buying fat tanks

That maroon prob gonna be a bully to anything else you put in there no?
Never had any luck with maroons.

 

[Reefing addict Clay]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

Maroons are some nasty guys when you have to clean the tank the hand in the water. I mean all clowns will bite you when your near there home but I’ve just noticed maroons a lil more frisky and stronger bite

 

[Reefara]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

Maroons are some nasty guys when you have to clean the tank the hand in the water. I mean all clowns will bite you when your near there home but I’ve just noticed maroons a lil more frisky and stronger bite

Bro since what I’ve learned they are the biggest and most aggressive clown species.

I don’t want nothing to do with them
My previous guy killed almost all my community fishes.

Took him and donated him, couldn’t handle it.

I know some fish are compatible but to much of a risk with those guys.

Also had a white Wyoming that I would loved when he bit my hand cause it felt like those fishes that eat dead skin. It was some sort of message parlor I had going on. LOL

 

[Gumbies R Us]

In my 20g I had a BTA, two clowns, a watchman, and a firefish. Felt perfectly stocked imo

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

Maroons are some nasty guys when you have to clean the tank the hand in the water. I mean all clowns will bite you when your near there home but I’ve just noticed maroons a lil more frisky and stronger bite

He is the only clown that can stand up to Toby puffer and niger trigger. They are all jerks.

 

[Reefara]

honestly bada**.. i wish i can get my first tank again or starting out tank. and for free... what you thinking about putting in there ?

I'm not really sure open to ideas.
initially to save cash I could use some critters I already have like a big BTA and it's bonded maroon clown.
I have a healthy bangaii cardinal too still in QT.
When I'm ready to buy I want to research clams. Even if they outgrow this tank I will have more by the time that happens due to my worsening sprawling tank syndrome.

The BTA and clown would take up the entire tank pretty much though. I need it to be cool enough for my kids and wife since it's going in the living room and will directly compete with the TV for viewing pleasure.

the k7 mini should be able to grow anything afaik? spread might be suboptimal but I could always toss a cheapo t5 across.

I used to work in hydroponics industry and have piles of t5 fixtures. I would just need bulbs.
They (gardeners) literally throw away t5 fixtures. Just to compare scale of crop growing vs coral growing...The gold standard for us was 1000w DE HPS lights that put out 2,000 PAR. 4 of those per room. You get the idea.

Maroons are some nasty guys when you have to clean the tank the hand in the water. I mean all clowns will bite you when your near there home but I’ve just noticed maroons a lil more frisky and stronger bite

He is the only clown that can stand up to Toby puffer and niger trigger. They are all jerks.

I don’t understand their purpose Lololol

It’s like having a lionfish… only thing you can keep

 

[Reefer Matt]

Matt seems a little "ahead" of me rofl

The stage I'm at is basically "when your dad met your mom at the hooters she worked at" . Btw true story

This is my new build. I’m $9 into it so far.

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

Matt seems a little "ahead" of me rofl

The stage I'm at is basically "when your dad met your mom at the hooters she worked at" . Btw true story

This is my new build. I’m $9 into it so far.

We should be friends