IM EXT 50 - Tank restarted 1/1/26

[Arkayology]

I had reef tanks from 2009-2015. I had to take my last tank, 40g SPS dominant, down due to a long research trip. After a 9 year break, I'm back! I'm looking forward to getting back into the SPS game with clams in this tank.

Tank & Equipment
Display Tank: IM Nuvo 50EXT w/ IM APS Stand and RFS23 Sump
Lighting: Orphek Natura Icon
Skimmer: Simplicity 120 DC
Wavemaker: x2 MP40qd
Controller: Hydros Launch and Hydros Minnow
Dosing: currently using All for Reef
Heater: x2 BRS 100w Titanium w/ IM Helio universal controller
UV: Sicce 13w UV-C with Sicce Syncra Silent 1.5 (not running currently)
Return Pump: MightyJet XL - 2656 GPH DC
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3
Auto Feeder: Avast Plank
Rock and Substrate: 30 lbs. of MarcoRocks. 40 lbs of Tropic Marin sand (20 lbs of Mesoflakes and 20lbs of Reekflakes) with TBS premium rock and sand added.

Livestock

Fish
x1 Lubbuck's Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki)
x1 Yellow "coris" wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
x1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
x1 Talbot's Damsel (Chrysiptera talboti)

FTS
10/02/24

FTS 11/27/24

12/16/24

06/06/25

7/29/25

09/14/25

*****01/11/26 - FTS after tank tank reset on the 01/01/26*****

04/05/2026

05/21/2026

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What are your plans for the tank?

 

[Arkayology]

I am VERY impressed with the build quality of the IM tank, stand, and sump. For me, coming from a lot of DIY, used tanks, and less than ascetically pleasing reef tanks and equipment in the past (broke grad student), this is amazing. The tank is so well built. Very clean edges and silicone work. The 30x24x16 size is perfect for my needs. The external overflow, which is a first for me, opens up so much space compared to the internal overflows I've had in the past. I really like that there is no line of sight break due to a large plastic internal overflow. It really gives me a lot more space to use for the aquascape. It probably will help with flow as well. I will never have an internal overflow on any tank ever again. It is nice that the tank also came with a return pump (very heavy - seems solid, but we will see) and plumbing. I am not much of a DIY plumber (I only used vinyl tubing for plumbing in the past) so this is a nice touch.

A metal stand was an absolute must for this build. About 12 years ago I had a 60g cube with a plywood/MDF stand. One day a clownfish died (still not sure why), which caused a bacterial bloom making the skimmer to overflow. This weakened the stand making it to swell and not support the tank well. The aluminum stand took me about an hour to build. It is very solid! It came packaged like a box of furniture pieces from a Swedish home good store. I *think* that I put it together correctly - the instructions are horrible! The only thing that I can determine I did wrong (technically) is that the side doors on the stand open the wrong way because I installed the side panels upside down. I don't think that it impacts the integrity of the stand - it only means that the doors open away from the wall instead of towards the wall. That could be annoying in the future. Before I put the tank on the stand I jumped on it and wiggled around to see if it would fall apart, but it stayed together. Once I got the tank on the stand, I gave it another shake and braced for the worst. Luckily, it barely budged. I guess it's good for 50g of water?

There are so many features in this sump. All of the cord holders and the included fitting for dosing and ATO lines are a nice touch. It also comes with compartment lids and media cups in the mechanical filter section. The included white balls that were in the three media cups are not, as I assumed, ceramic biomedia, but puffy synthetic pompoms. I don't run filter socks so I will be donating these pompoms to my wife's crafting and will replace then with some siporax or similar for added filtration.

 

[Arkayology]

What are your plans for the tank?

This is going to be an SPS dominant tank with a few clams. It will have a few wrasses, a clown pair, gobies, and blennies.

I got 30lbs of marco base rock and 20lbs of shelf rock. I will be making a scape using super glue and cement to bond the rocks. I will then probably order a pico package from TBS to kickstart the biofiltration and microfauna/etc.

 

[Vinaka_vakalevu]

Nice, I love IM products and that mighty jet is a solid little return pump. It’s not an Abyzz but it’s still a solid pump.

 

[Francoreef]

Nice!!! Following along

 

[Arkayology]

I ordered a Tunze Osmolator 3 for my ATO. I loved my Osmolator so thought I would give the new version a shot. I also ordered an IM universal heater controller and x2 BRS titanium 100w heaters.

For other equipment, I'm thinking about getting a Simplicity 120 skimmer. Still unsure about flow - maybe x2 Icecap Gyres or x2 MP10s. I do think I will be giving the Hydros controller a shot, so the gyres would be controllable with that system.

Lighting - I want to get a Radion xr30 pro. I am just unsure if one is enough for a 30x24x16 tank that will be SPS dominant with clams. Thoughts?

 

[Arkayology]

Nice, I love IM products and that mighty jet is a solid little return pump. It’s not an Abyzz but it’s still a solid pump.

Excellent. It will be my first DC pump ever. I used eheims in the past. They got the job done, but are so bulk and energy hogs.

Nice!!! Following along

Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

I ordered a Tunze Osmolator 3 for my ATO. I loved my Osmolator so thought I would give the new version a shot. I also ordered an IM universal heater controller and x2 BRS titanium 100w heaters.

For other equipment, I'm thinking about getting a Simplicity 120 skimmer. Still unsure about flow - maybe x2 Icecap Gyres or x2 MP10s. I do think I will be giving the Hydros controller a shot, so the gyres would be controllable with that system.

Lighting - I want to get a Radion xr30 pro. I am just unsure if one is enough for a 30x24x16 tank that will be SPS dominant with clams. Thoughts?

I run 3 xr15 gen 5 blues on my ext 50. I was getting 200 par on the bottom with 2. With 3 it jumps to 300+ with the crossover.
1 30 centered will work well and you would have less par toward the edges for lower light corals.
If I did not have 5 xr15's already I would have went with a photon 32.
I run 2 50's on my ext 170.
This is my 50 with just the center light on running ab+ at 30%.
Its only a few weeks old.

 

[Arkayology]

I run 3 xr15 gen 5 blues on my ext 50. I was getting 200 par on the bottom with 2. With 3 it jumps to 300+ with the crossover.
1 30 centered will work well and you would have less par toward the edges for lower light corals.
If I did not have 5 xr15's already I would have went with a photon 32.
I run 2 50's on my ext 170.
This is my 50 with just the center light on running ab+ at 30%.
Its only a few weeks old.

Your tank will look great once it fills in! For weeks old, it is looking great.

Thanks for your insight! I will not have wall-to-wall sps, so maybe one XR30 will be fine. I could position some zoas, birdsnest, monti, or derasa clams to the sides and give the prime PAR real estate to the acros. I like the clean look and mounting options for the XR30s. It just so happens that there is a 15% off sale on Ecotech products.

 

[Arkayology]

Nothing super exciting happening right now. 20lbs of Tropic Eden live Mesoflakes and 20lb live Reeflakes ordered. Hopefully 40lbs will be enough for the wrasses.

 

[Arkayology]

Update! I fixed the doors on the stand so that they open towards the wall. Icecap Gyre2k with Hydros Wave Engine LE also here. I will run the single gyre until I need more flow and then add another. Aquascape is in progress. I hope to have the tank filled next week sometime.

Things still needed in order of purchase:
ATO reservoir (next thing to buy)
Simplicity skimmer
Light (still unsure - the new Orphek natura looks good?)
Controller (Hydros Launch)

 

[Arkayology]

We have an aquascape! I used BRS thin glue and Caribsea Rock Lock to cement the rocks together. I made sure to not to go above the half-way mark. I wanted to have swim-through areas, ledges, and some interesting features for coral placement. The glare is bad but I think you get the idea. I'm still tinkering with it a little.

My goal is to get some pond liner in the stand to catch any small spills and then start filling it up with RO/DI this weekend.

 

[Arkayology]

Current FTS. Tunze Osmolator 3 and Simplicity 10g ATO reservoir installed. Thinking about getting some clownfish this weekend to get some life in the tank. I've been adding MB7 and ammonia chloride for the last week. Between that and the "live" sand there should be enough bacteria to support a couple clowns.

 

[Arkayology]

I got the first fish for the tank. Two Wyoming White clowns and a flame angel. Couldn't get a good pic of the flame angel.

 

[Arkayology]

Quick DIY mesh lid to keep the new additions in the tank. I think I will order a Kraken lid at some point to make this look a little nicer. It will do for now. Bonus: you an see the flame angel.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Quick DIY mesh lid to keep the new additions in the tank. I think I will order a Kraken lid at some point to make this look a little nicer. It will do for now. Bonus: you an see the flame angel.

It's very similar to the lid we did for our tank! It gets the job done, for sure.

 

[Arkayology]

It's very similar to the lid we did for our tank! It gets the job done, for sure.

Yup! That's the goal right now. I also need to decide which light I want.

 

[Arkayology]

Orphek Natura Icon ordered. I've never owned an Orphek product, but their Atlantiks have good reviews. I think the Natura will be interesting. I think I am going to use the included hanging kit for now while I consider options. I can't use the arms that Orphek sells because the overflow is in the way.

 

[Tamberav]

Orphek Natura Icon ordered. I've never owned an Orphek product, but their Atlantiks have good reviews. I think the Natura will be interesting. I think I am going to use the included hanging kit for now while I consider options. I can't use the arms that Orphek sells because the overflow is in the way.

Interesting to see how you like it. I am looking to possibly buy them but the thing that gives me pause is some of their previous lights had dead diodes and melted lenses after 2 years ish. I am hoping this is resolved.