Innovative Marine 75 Ex new build

[RitchieKy]

I'm starting a new build with a IM 75 EXT. The tank shipped out yesterday and should arrive to the local terminal by the 15-16th, so I may have it by the 19th if I'm lucky with delivery options.

This is roughly a 36" x 24" x 20" tank with a 36" high cabinet.

For this build, the tank and the sump (haven't decided on which one yet) will be new. I will be using some equipment from a prior frag system that I took down last year.

Old equipment I'll be using:

2 Radion XR15 Blue Gen 5

Reef Ocotopus classic 150

2 MP40s

Vectra S2 return pump

Apex system (no trident)

I'm also thinking of getting a clear view scrubber which will be new.

I've started assembling the rock work. I was trying to do a negative aquascape design. The pictures are of what I think is going to be the finished rock work, I still have to go back in and reinforce the joints with some mortar, right now it's all just super glued.

I hope to have this done by the weekend and then I'm going to start the rock and sand cycling in a plastic tote with MicroBacter dry rock starting kit.

The pvc pipe structure in the photos is the size of the tank.

 

[tsharpe291]

I'm starting a new build with a IM 75 EXT. The tank shipped out yesterday and should arrive to the local terminal by the 15-16th, so I may have it by the 19th if I'm lucky with delivery options.

This is roughly a 36" x 24" x 20" tank with a 36" high cabinet.

For this build, the tank and the sump (haven't decided on which one yet) will be new. I will be using some equipment from a prior frag system that I took down last year.

Old equipment I'll be using:

2 Radion XR15 Blue Gen 5

Reef Ocotopus classic 150

2 MP40s

Vectra S2 return pump

Apex system (no trident)

I'm also thinking of getting a clear view scrubber which will be new.

I've started assembling the rock work. I was trying to do a negative aquascape design. The pictures are of what I think is going to be the finished rock work, I still have to go back in and reinforce the joints with some mortar, right now it's all just super glued.

I hope to have this done by the weekend and then I'm going to start the rock and sand cycling in a plastic tote with MicroBacter dry rock starting kit.

The pvc pipe structure in the photos is the size of the tank.

Loving that rock work!

 

[RitchieKy]

Loving that rock work!

Thanks, when I started it I was hating it, and I liked it more and more the further I got with it. There's about 35 pounds there.

 

[RitchieKy]

Update for 5/12/2023

I went in and reinforced all the joints in the Marco rock with the e-Marco cement. I think this step is definitely necessary, as I broke one of the little shelf pieces off by accident before I completed this step. It was easy to reattach with more superglue though and then use the cement.

I put all the rock (about 40 pounds) in a plastic bin with a heater and some flow. I mixed up some salt (tropic marin) and then started the ammonia dosing and bacteria dosing. I'm using the Brigthwell Aquatics dry rock bacteria starter kit from BRS. I dosed the ammonia to between 2-3 ppm and then added the bacteria from the MicroBacter Start XLM bottle.

 

[Jlschweda]

If you're interested in a like new Trident, let me know. I'm probably going to be posting it tonight or tomorrow. Love the rock work!

 

[Drewe]

Any updates? I've got rock in a brute cycling for a 75 INT right now!

 

[RitchieKy]

A couple, I’ll post some pics of the tank when it came in tonight

 

[RitchieKy]

Tank came in a couple weeks ago. I got it setup on the stand a few nights ago.

I moved all the rock over along with 2 bags of Fiji pink sand and some live rock pieces from my LFS. Those pieces will be moved to the sump in the future, but for now they’re just sitting in the display.

I don’t have the sump hooked up yet, I just have a heater on a controller and one mp40 running right now for heat and flow.

For the sump, I got the platinum trigger cube. If anyone decides to use this sump, you have to remove the lower magnetic closures on the doors of the aquarium stand so it will fit.

Although I don’t have any lights in it right now, I ordered and hung a dx18 T5 fixture to go along with my two Radion xr15s from a prior tank. I have a couple blue plus and actinic bulbs ordered for that.

I’m adding a few drops of ammonia every 4-5 days to keep the cycle going. I have some pods ordered from Jays Reef bugs and some from info pacific sea farms. They should be here in a few days. I may add some peppermint shrimp or something similar in the meantime until I get the sump and lights going.

 

[johnmac28]

Looking great! I just ordered a 75int and same sump. Liking sump?

 

[johnmac28]

Any updates? I've got rock in a brute cycling for a 75 INT right now!

I got same tank on the way!

 

[Drewe]

I got same tank on the way!

You’ll love it! Mines setup now as well. Currently fallow but it’s a beautiful tank and stand.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Any updates on your tank?

 

[RitchieKy]

Looking great! I just ordered a 75int and same sump. Liking sump?

Yes, very much. The sump is a tight fit in the stand and you'll have to take off the lower magnetic latches for one of the front and one side door for it to fit.

The stand makes it even better because you can access the sump from both the front and the sides.

 

[RitchieKy]

Any updates on your tank?

I haven't done anything major with the tank yet. It's currently fully plumbed to the sump with the protein skimmer going, Tunze ATO, and my light cycle is in full swing. I dosed a couple bottles of pods from Jays Reef Bugs about a month ago and added some snails, hermits and couple peppermint shrimp. I'm just letting all of that "cook" for the time being.

The snails and inverts have been in about 6 weeks now. I'm going to get a couple clowns next week and put them through a 15 day quarantine/treatment protocol before adding them to the tank. After the clowns, I'll get either a goby or a wrasse or something similar and then put them through the same quarantine.

 

[johnmac28]

Yes, very much. The sump is a tight fit in the stand and you'll have to take off the lower magnetic latches for one of the front and one side door for it to fit.

The stand makes it even better because you can access the sump from both the front and the sides.

I actually got the platinum 26. Hopefully it will be an easy fit. The stand was one of the big selling points. Good luck with your tank.