IM 150 EXT Shallow Lagoon

[bpawl]

Let’s go on a journey taking down my 80 gallon tank from 2017 and replacing it with an Innovative Marine 150 ext.

With a new baby on the way, we wanted to redo our downstairs space which involved getting new couches and new carpet. The old tank needed to be moved to remove the carpet so I worked some magic and got to upgrade tanks in the process.

Tank & Equipment

• Display Tank: IM 150EXT w/ IM APS Stand and RFS39 Sump
• Lighting: 48” Aquaticlife t5 and 3 gen5 xr15
• Skimmer: bubble magus curve 7
• Wavemaker: Vortech MP 40 and an icecap gyre 4k with wave engine
• Controller: Neptune Apex, trident
• Dosing: BRS two part with a DOS
• Heater: 2x 150 watt ehim jager with IM Helio universal controller
• Return Pump: Vectra m2
• ATO: Tunze Osmolator
• Rock and Substrate: 30 lbs. of new Marco Rocks, 30 pounds of rock from my old tank and maybe some new live rock

Here’s a spot of the 80 gallon before I had to move it.

It was pretty smooth ordering from Innovative Marine, the tank was in stock so only took around a week to get it. Now to get it in and built.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Your original tank looked great, I can't wait to see what the new one will look like!

 

[jbeanz24]

Ordered the same set up on monday. Ordered through LFS and picking it up there as I dont have a garage for delivery. Have you moved it in house yet? If so how much help did you end up needing.

 

[bpawl]

I did get it into the house the other day!

Here’s the tank in it’s spot .

I had 3 other guys with me. It wasn’t so bad, two on each side and flipping it on its front to get it through the door.

The glass suction cups really helped. These were the ones I bought off Amazon.

 

[tautog83]

Return the suction cups now and you can buy more gear lol

 

[TheLegendaryBarlowe072]

I have the 50 EXT and I love it. But I’m super jealous of all that extra space in your stand. There’s no room for anything but the sump in the 50. Good luck with this build, I’m sure it will be amazing because that 80 was gorgeous.

 

[bpawl]

Return the suction cups now and you can buy more gear lol

That thought crossed my mind a few times but I was too slow. Ah well they were only 20 bucks a pop and I’m sure I’ll get more use out of them whenever we move

 

[bpawl]

I have the 50 EXT and I love it. But I’m super jealous of all that extra space in your stand. There’s no room for anything but the sump in the 50. Good luck with this build, I’m sure it will be amazing because that 80 was gorgeous.

Thanks! This sump is a beast as well. It’s going to be nice having some space in front but I’m used to being constrained

 

[TheLegendaryBarlowe072]

Thanks! This sump is a beast as well. It’s going to be nice having some space in front but I’m used to being constrained

Yeah I believe the features on these sumps are mostly the same except on my smaller one, the fuge and skimmer section is combined. But adjustable baffles, cord clips, dosing line holders barb fittings, heater chamber ect are all the same just scaled down. They are really nice well made sumps. I’m a big fan, but I’d have preferred a clearer option. It can be hard to see things at a glance with all that black (except salt creep lol), makes you really have to get in there to check it out.

 

[buruskeee]

I did get it into the house the other day!

Here’s the tank in it’s spot .

Is there anyway to knock down the left wall or make it a half wall? It would be so sick to be able to see the tank in all its glory from 3 sides.

 

[bpawl]

Is there anyway to knock down the left wall or make it a half wall? It would be so sick to be able to see the tank in all its glory from 3 sides.

Tell me about it. Sadly no that’s an exterior wall unless I get permission for an expansion on the house.

 

[bpawl]

I was able to get some more odds and ends completed on the tank this week.

I laid down some pond liner in the stand and glued it in.

I modified the return plumbing so I could slide the sump over a few inches.

I moved it over so I could have a few more inches on the side for the controller board. I printed a modification on a holder I found on thingiverse to mount the board using the tension locks.

One more thing was I had to take out a board I had on the ceiling that I used to hang the lights on the previous tank. I did too good of a job hanging it and was more of a pain then I thought.

 

[bpawl]

What’s a build thread without some corals.

Here’s a few shots from my frag tank but I’ve been fighting some ulva in it.

BC Honeybee table. I’m pretty excited to grow this one out.

Rainbow sherbet I think

POTO boomerang

Misc zoas

Misc table

UC pink table

 

[bpawl]

The tank has water in it now!!

It took about 3 days but it is finally full and up to temp.

I did have a couple of drips from the overflow pipe gets pushed a little bit. I redid the plumbing and third time was the charm

I also got to build some skis to hang my lights from. This was a fun one because of some wires running around where I wanted it to go. I hung a temp gen 1 Radion over the tank for some light.

Next steps is to move some rock over from my old tank and add in some new live rock from kp aquatics

 

[keelo]

Quick question for you, where do you plan on mounting your controls ? I just ordered an apex and looking for ideas on my build, sadly my 100ext has no side doors

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

great tank and location. similar to my spot.

 

[bpawl]

Quick question for you, where do you plan on mounting your controls ? I just ordered an apex and looking for ideas on my build, sadly my 100ext has no side doors

Really late on this one…

I’m planning on putting most of the equipment on the right side door. I printed some brackets to mount a board on the side. It’s a bit messing now, but I’m waiting to clean it up until I move all the equipment over from my old tank.

 

[Gman83]

Great setup, can't wait to see it finished!

 

[bpawl]

I ordered some live rock from kp aquatics in early December and dropped that in with some established rock from my old tank. I didn’t really see any cycle so I added some test corals and a Bangaii.

I also added two gyre 4ks to the back of the tank. They are mounted to the euro brace and I think that gives them a good hiding spot for now.

I also added some knobs to the doors and made the right door a bifold so I could get more access.

I’ve been working to chop red mushrooms off of my old live rock as that tank was overrun with them. I think I learned my lesson with them. I’m down to one last rock to clean up then I can break that tank down and catch/move my yellow and Kole tang over.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Looking nice.