IM Lagoon 25 Complete Beginner Build

[Schlagel Bagel]

Hi, I am brand new to the saltwater aquarium hobby and have always wanted to have a pair of clown fish for many, many years. I think I am ready to dive into the hobby and I wanted to make a thread for myself to see where I am at and to get insightful information from you. This post is going to just be a list of everything I have in cart and plan to order to begin my nano reef aquarium. I would also like to see suggestions or if I am missing something as I am completely new to this and want to be succseful. I am trying to do this on a tighter budget so if there is something that is unnecessary or cheaper (visa versa as well) I am happy to hear anything you guys have to offer.
Here we go;

Bulk Reef Supply
Innovative Marine 25 Fusion Lagoon AIO Aquarium - $225
Innovative Marine Aqua Gagdet CustomCady - $26.99
Dr. Tims 2oz Ammonium Chloride For Fishless Cycle - $3.96
Total = $236 w/ $20promo
AlgaeBarn

FritzZyme TurboStart 900 Saltwater Live Nitrifying Bacteria - 1oz - $13
Dry Live Rock - 25 lbs (pre cured) - $92
Total= $94.50 w/10%promo
Amazon

API Saltwater Test Kit - $22
Refractometer - $19
Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt (50-gal) - $15.50
Eheim Jager Heater (150w) - $23.50
Hydor Korlia Nano 425 (425gph) - $25
Python No-Spill Water Changer Tube - $38.50
Aquarium Thermometer - $7
Total= $150
Petstore
Arag-Alive Fiji-Pink live sand - $30
PROBABY MORE STUFF I FORGET - $??
Total= $30~

Grand Total= ~ $510~

Please let me know what I am missing anything (besides Reef Light) and if I am setting my self up for success. Is there anything I shouldnt get right away as I obviously still need to cycle for the first time.

Thanks for the future help!!

 

[sstanley223]

Hi, I am brand new to the saltwater aquarium hobby and have always wanted to have a pair of clown fish for many, many years. I think I am ready to dive into the hobby and I wanted to make a thread for myself to see where I am at and to get insightful information from you. This post is going to just be a list of everything I have in cart and plan to order to begin my nano reef aquarium. I would also like to see suggestions or if I am missing something as I am completely new to this and want to be succseful. I am trying to do this on a tighter budget so if there is something that is unnecessary or cheaper (visa versa as well) I am happy to hear anything you guys have to offer.
Here we go;

Bulk Reef Supply
Innovative Marine 25 Fusion Lagoon AIO Aquarium - $225
Innovative Marine Aqua Gagdet CustomCady - $26.99
Dr. Tims 2oz Ammonium Chloride For Fishless Cycle - $3.96
Total = $236 w/ $20promo
AlgaeBarn

FritzZyme TurboStart 900 Saltwater Live Nitrifying Bacteria - 1oz - $13
Dry Live Rock - 25 lbs (pre cured) - $92
Total= $94.50 w/10%promo
Amazon

API Saltwater Test Kit - $22
Refractometer - $19
Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt (50-gal) - $15.50
Eheim Jager Heater (150w) - $23.50
Hydor Korlia Nano 425 (425gph) - $25
Python No-Spill Water Changer Tube - $38.50
Aquarium Thermometer - $7
Total= $150
Petstore
Arag-Alive Fiji-Pink live sand - $30
PROBABY MORE STUFF I FORGET - $??
Total= $30~

Grand Total= ~ $510~

Please let me know what I am missing anything (besides Reef Light) and if I am setting my self up for success. Is there anything I shouldnt get right away as I obviously still need to cycle for the first time.

Thanks for the future help!!

Hi! We have an IM 25 also. Its one of my favorites! Pair of clownfish, purple firefish and a pygmy perchlet. Its coming up on its first year. You might want some kind of ato setup. Its very dry here with the heat on and we were topping off twice a day before we added one. Good luck and welcome!

 

[Schlagel Bagel]

Thanks I figured Id need to eventually get some kind of ATO but I know at first im gonna want to check out the tank all the time so at first should be good but defenitly in the list for the future!

 

[cromag27]

down the road....

https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI-SYSTEMS/CSPDI-Manual-Flush-90-GPD-RO-DI-System

https://spectrapure.com/DOSING-TOP-OFF/AUTO-TOP-OFF-SYSTEMS/Basic-Auto-Top-Off-Sytem

https://octoaquatics.com/octo-lids/

 

[Icy.bing]

Hi,

Few things I will add.
1) Skimmer
2) Upgrade stock pump
3) A lid to prevent fish from jumping out
4) What light are you using?

Good luck.

 

[Schlagel Bagel]

I will look into RO/DI once I get sick of getting water.

I'll research a skimmer and maybe pick one up after the cycle and actually have something in there.
I forgot to add but ill start with the IM DIY lid kit
and the light I will get by the end of the cycle was the AI Prime HD, its cheaper and can be setup with my phone.

Thanks this is helpful!!

 

[lbacha]

I’m about to set up a 25g lagoon myself. I went with a black as I’m going to plumb it into a sump. I’m interested in how your diy kid comes out

 

[dantimdad]

Welcome aboard!

Looks like you are on your way to a nice setup.

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome aboard Schlagel Bagel!

It looks like you've been doing some planning which is awesome.

+1 on switching the stock pump. I used a MaxiJet1200 and the flow was terrific. I recommended a new member try it on his recently and he is stoked with the flow difference.

The Hydor Korlia Nano 425 (425gph) you mentioned will not give you much flow at all and you might want to consider another.

I think I might have a few pics somewhere of my IM25 from a couple of years back. If/when I locate them I'll post them here.

 

[Schlagel Bagel]

The Hydor Korlia Nano 425 (425gph) you mentioned will not give you much flow at all and you might want to consider another.

Thanks this is the kind of input I was also looking for, theres so much info out there its sometimes hard to put the right stuff together. I'll look into a bit bigger one!

I want to make sure I know what I am getting into before you know.... I get into it! Some stuff does seem a bit more complicated then just keeping a clown fish in a tank, but I like learning new stuff!

 

[Captain Quint]

Schlagel Bagel you said '......I would also like to see suggestions....' so....

I found a few of my IM25 lagoon I bought and what I bought for it as a temporary home until my current tank was built and cycled. The pics are after I set it up with my live stock in a staging tank. I did add more LR to it right before transferring the livestock.

I knew this skimmer would not quite fit in the back section but I really like this skimmer so I used it inside which honestly didn't take up much room as you can see.

After I got my current tank I sold all the above for a crazy low price including LR/LS/ PH, everything is shown in the pics to a guy in the military. I am a veteran so he got the 'Thank you for serving' price of $100 :)

Hope this helps.

 

[Icy.bing]

you can remove one of the divider at the back to fit in a 9001

 

[Captain Quint]

you can remove one of the divider at the back to fit in a 9001

I thought of that. But knew I'd be selling soon and didn't know if the prospective buyer would want the skimmer. When he did I told him it was easily removed. :)

 

[Super Fly]

didn't see on the list but just in case;
Fish Food
algae scraper/glass cleaner
calibration fluid for refractometer (this should be calibrated weekly or biweekly prior to use. Also FYI - temp of the refractometer will affect reading, i.e. if its much colder than aquarium water, it'll give incorrect reading)
GL

 

[Reef-junky]

If you want to save money then you could wait for the petco $1/gal sale and get a 40 breeder for $40. Make your own stand out of 2x4’s and plywood. pick up a 20gal long as a sump for $20 and be done with it. All in ones are expensive. It’s a nice tank though if that’s what you want.

 

[lbacha]

If you want to save money then you could wait for the petco $1/gal sale and get a 40 breeder for $40. Make your own stand out of 2x4’s and plywood. pick up a 20gal long as a sump for $20 and be done with it. All in ones are expensive. It’s a nice tank though if that’s what you want.

The 40g breeders aren’t part of the $1 a gallon sale anymore. They do go on sale for $50 occasionally though

 

[Schlagel Bagel]

If you want to save money then you could wait for the petco $1/gal sale and get a 40 breeder for $40. Make your own stand out of 2x4’s and plywood. pick up a 20gal long as a sump for $20 and be done with it. All in ones are expensive. It’s a nice tank though if that’s what you want.

Thanks that is not a bad idea, Ill look into it but at the moment I am willing to fork out the extra money for that lagoon. I was at first going to get the fusion 20 (its around 180ish) but i found this and its really cool to me so Im going to plan on it for now. Im thinking of ordering everything end of this week so I can get started. I want to just take another look at my local petco and LFS. I cant say I have a true local fish store (northcentral WI doesnt have much) but the best place I found is actaully and ACE hardware really close to me and mine has a seperate Fish store and everyone ive talked to definetaly knows their stuff but are really pricy for some reason. Stinks cause I wanted to maybe go with the black and white clowns (at least one of them) or the other kind of snowflake clowns but the black and whites they want $99 for. I dont want to risk that much on my very first time so classic clowns are good enough! And my local petco has back and forth reviews on fish having ich, and many years ago all the betas ive gotten and other types of fish always get ich and die when I buy from petco. But who knows this one is very big and clean!

Thanks though this is all helping me throw everything I need together!

 

[Reef-junky]

I would suggest a bigger tank to start with though. You can’t put much in a 25gal.

 

[Schlagel Bagel]

I see what you are saying but I dont have room or really want to spend more money on something bigger. I really just have always wanted to have a clown fish so this I think is where I am heading.

 

[Reef-junky]

Oh
Your going to want more. Just wait