ScurvyFrog
Community Member
Hello all!
Getting back into the hobby after about 20 years - (I last maintained a tank for a marine biology class back in high school).
Picked up the IM 15 Cube (basic package with the filer sock and tiny pump) and added a few upgrades to my set up.
- Built a home water station for RODI and Salt mixes (2 - Brute 20 gallon cans with RODI on top and salt mix on the bottom). RODI is plumbed from a nearby laundry room slop sink w/ float and auto cutoff (although I am not relying on it).
- Added IM filter caddie (not yet installed) / dual return jets / rock rubble to void under second chamber / Jerepet 800gph adjustable pump / Hygger 100w thermometer
Inside the tank:
- Liferock dry rock
- CaribSea special grade sand
- Added IM filter caddie (not yet installed) / dual return jets / rock rubble into void under second chamber / Jerepet 800gph adjustable pump / Hygger 100w thermometer
-Jerepet 800 seems like it may be too strong, so I ordered their 520gph version and will likely throw the 800gph as the recirc pump in my water station. They adjust from 100% down to 30%, but even on the lowest setting the 800gph is humming a ~240gph and the rear chamber seems like it is pumping out faster than it can flow back in
- Not sure what to do what that second (middle) chamber right now - park some additional rubble in there maybe?
Stand:
- Amazon special (hat tip to @doubleshot00 for the tip) -
- I sawed some holes in the back of this and added rubber grommets so that I could feed the power strip / pump & heater control boxes inside and Velcro them to the inside bulkhead.
Lighting:
- Seems like I have a month or two before I need to worry about that, but I am starting with the NooPsyche K7 Mini: seems like there is a fan base on here and it wasnt cost prohibitive. My initial thought was an AI Prime 16 all the way, but I am reading wayyy too many cases of the lenses and diodes melting.
Plan:
- Right now working on a fishless cycle with Turbostart/ Dr Tims OaO
- Start with a pair of clowns. I have a 3 and 6 year old (who this tank is actually for) that adore them. Will allow that to stabilize for a month or so before deciding on what is next. The idea of a Gobi/Shrimp pair sounds kind of cool, but I'm open to suggestions - looking for things the kids will thing is cool. Will likely have a CUC in time with some snails and hermits if/when needed. As for corals - I want to keep it basic as I'd rather start with easier species and graduate over time. So over the summer maybe some zoas (you'll see I left two islands on purpose for these guys - planning ahead!!) and if I get a feeling I am halfway decent at maintaining this nano reef - I may venture into a torch or frogspawn for the movement and colors. I say all this now knowing that the things I will learn over the next few months/ years will likely be having me change my mind 100 times over
Always love the feedback / tutelage / wisdom of those who know more (which is literally all of you right now.)
Thanks all!
Getting back into the hobby after about 20 years - (I last maintained a tank for a marine biology class back in high school).
Picked up the IM 15 Cube (basic package with the filer sock and tiny pump) and added a few upgrades to my set up.
- Built a home water station for RODI and Salt mixes (2 - Brute 20 gallon cans with RODI on top and salt mix on the bottom). RODI is plumbed from a nearby laundry room slop sink w/ float and auto cutoff (although I am not relying on it).
- Added IM filter caddie (not yet installed) / dual return jets / rock rubble to void under second chamber / Jerepet 800gph adjustable pump / Hygger 100w thermometer
Inside the tank:
- Liferock dry rock
- CaribSea special grade sand
- Added IM filter caddie (not yet installed) / dual return jets / rock rubble into void under second chamber / Jerepet 800gph adjustable pump / Hygger 100w thermometer
-Jerepet 800 seems like it may be too strong, so I ordered their 520gph version and will likely throw the 800gph as the recirc pump in my water station. They adjust from 100% down to 30%, but even on the lowest setting the 800gph is humming a ~240gph and the rear chamber seems like it is pumping out faster than it can flow back in
- Not sure what to do what that second (middle) chamber right now - park some additional rubble in there maybe?
Stand:
- Amazon special (hat tip to @doubleshot00 for the tip) -
- I sawed some holes in the back of this and added rubber grommets so that I could feed the power strip / pump & heater control boxes inside and Velcro them to the inside bulkhead.
Lighting:
- Seems like I have a month or two before I need to worry about that, but I am starting with the NooPsyche K7 Mini: seems like there is a fan base on here and it wasnt cost prohibitive. My initial thought was an AI Prime 16 all the way, but I am reading wayyy too many cases of the lenses and diodes melting.
Plan:
- Right now working on a fishless cycle with Turbostart/ Dr Tims OaO
- Start with a pair of clowns. I have a 3 and 6 year old (who this tank is actually for) that adore them. Will allow that to stabilize for a month or so before deciding on what is next. The idea of a Gobi/Shrimp pair sounds kind of cool, but I'm open to suggestions - looking for things the kids will thing is cool. Will likely have a CUC in time with some snails and hermits if/when needed. As for corals - I want to keep it basic as I'd rather start with easier species and graduate over time. So over the summer maybe some zoas (you'll see I left two islands on purpose for these guys - planning ahead!!) and if I get a feeling I am halfway decent at maintaining this nano reef - I may venture into a torch or frogspawn for the movement and colors. I say all this now knowing that the things I will learn over the next few months/ years will likely be having me change my mind 100 times over
Always love the feedback / tutelage / wisdom of those who know more (which is literally all of you right now.)
Thanks all!
