IM Rimless 15 Build

[MC Blowfish]

I decided I needed a second salt tank for the fun of it. I'm currently in the process of setting up a new tank. I picked up an Innovative Marine 15 gallon tank.

Specs:
Innovative Marine 15G
Voyager Nano 1000
75 watt Eheim heater
Hygger Nano reef light
A little over 10lbs of aragonite sand.

I might pick up a protein skimmer, but I'm going to see how this goes.

Once I get some rock and water in the tank, I'm going to play around with the position of the wavemaker. I've heard plenty of complaints about the flow of the stock pump that comes with the tank. I'm hoping the wavemaker will neutralize those issues. But I can always replace it, if I feel like it's not going to work.

I went with a 75 watt heater since the tank is in my basement and it's cold down here.

I plan on looking for rock this weekend. I'm actually going to grab some pieces from my main tank to kick off the cycle. The plan is stack rocks instead of having rock spread out.

I'm going to add five gallons from my main tank when I'm doing a water change this afternoon. Then fill the rest with prepared saltwater.

As far as stocking the tank, I'm still deciding. My family wants more clownfish. I'm thinking a goby and/or blenny. I'm always open to any advice as to what to put in my tank.

Corals I'm thinking zoas towards the bottom. Maybe a mushroom. I'd love to get my hands on a torch. I'm looking for corals that will do well in a smaller environment and will have some movement.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

Also, where did you get that Megaman poster from? Pretty awesome looking!

 

[MC Blowfish]

Following along!

Also, where did you get that Megaman poster from? Pretty awesome looking!

Thank you! I got it from a local video game store.

 

[MC Blowfish]

I added 11 lbs of rock this morning. I added some rubble to the filter area as well.

 

[MC Blowfish]

I added a small patch of GSP on Sunday that I picked up at a coral show.

I know it's early and this is all that is going in until the cycle is completed. If the parameters go nuts, I'll move the patch to my main tank.

 

[MC Blowfish]

I snapped a pre-light morning picture. The lid arrived yesterday. The evaporation on this tank has been a little annoying. I tend to have to top off every other day.

GSP is still looking good. I've seen a few starfish on the rocks and an amphopod as well.

Testing is looking good. I had a short spike in ammonia earlier in the week, but that has dropped.

 

[MC Blowfish]

After yesterday's unfortunate discovery with the pump. I decided to upgrade slightly to a Sicce Syncra Silent 185 GPH pump.

I moved the GSP to my main tank yesterday. I plan on moving it back this weekend after I re-acclimate it.

 

[fishnchip]

Tanks looks awesome. I'm about to set up my 14g IM desk tank this weekend. What didn't you like about the pump?

 

[MC Blowfish]

Tanks looks awesome. I'm about to set up my 14g IM desk tank this weekend. What didn't you like about the pump?

Thank you!

The pump actually corroded on me. It worked fine, but I do like having a little more flow with the Sicce.

 

[fishnchip]

Thank you!

The pump actually corroded on me. It worked fine, but I do like having a little more flow with the Sicce.

Corrosion will totally do it lol. Thank you! I may swap mine out as well then.

 

[MC Blowfish]

I added a clown goby. My LFS said it was a yellow, but it looks like citron to me. It seems to be enjoying the tank by itself.

I also added some sexy shrimp and started a CUC. A couple Astraeas, bumblebees, and cerith snails.

 

[TheReefAbides]

Excited to see your progress, following

 

[MC Blowfish]

I glued frag plugs yesterday to the rock. I used a little too much epoxy.

The zoas are still getting used to the new spot while I try to adjust the flow. The pump is facing towards the surface while the wavemaker is facing forward.

 

[MC Blowfish]

With each passing day, the clown goby gets a little bolder. It's usually hangs out on the rock. Occasionally, it watches me when I get close to the tank.

I've found it's not nearly as social compared to the fish in my main tank. They all either rush to the middle of the tank or watch for me to feed them. Not the clown goby. It seems to be perfectly content on sticking closer to the rock.

 

[MC Blowfish]

 

[MC Blowfish]

The tank is moving along fairly well. I do have some bubble algae that came with the rock. I'm going to try to pick as much of it off as I can before adding an emerald crab.

I did add a mushroom and the mushroom that I initially put in the tank has split.

I added a pink-streaked wrasse. They really are shy little fish, but it's starting to warm up to it's surroundings.

The clown goby is usually watching me from the rocks. It has figured out feeding time. It's right there at the top grabbing food from the turkey baster.