My 25g IM lagoon Build Thread!

[hbubley]

Hey yall!

I’ll come back and edit this a bit later as I’m writing this at the end of the night. I plan to keep this far uppermost post as a monthly update- so don’t want to crowd it with too much information right now aside from my current tank build info and wishlist. I’ll follow this post up with my updates :)

Stocking Wish List

Fish

• Lawnmower Blenny
• Goby
• Pair of Clownfish
• Firefish
• Six-Line Wrasse
• Dragonette

Invertebrates

• Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
• Pistol Shrimp
• Snails

Coral

• Frogspawn Coral
• Mushrooms
• Maybe a Duncan
• Plating Montipora
• Chalice

Miscellaneous

• Anemone

Tank equipment:

• Bubble Magus miniQ Nano Internal Protein Skimmer
• Tunze Osmolator 3 Nano ATO
• 200 Micron Filter Sock
• Desktop CustomCaddy Media Basket w/ PurityPack Filter Media:
  • (1) Mechanical Fiberball
  • (1) Premium 0.8 ROX Carbon Pack
  • (1) High Capacity Coarse GFO Pack
• Desktop MightyJet 15W/24V 326 GPH DC Return Pump w/ Controller

Current tank residents:
Fish:
2 longfin mocha clown fish- 3/5/25
3 small hermit crabs - 3/5/25
2 snails - 3/5/25
2 nassarius snails - 3/9/25

Coral:
1 pink b**bies chalice - 3/8/25
1 (3 heads) playboy bunny zoanthids - 3/11/25

Upcoming orders:
Top Shelf Aquatics (4/2/25):
1 toxic pinwheel Duncan
1 lava lamp mushroom (v excited for this)
1 green pocillopora

Dr reefs quarantined fish (TBD):
1 helfrichi firefish
1 pink spotted goby
1 red banded pistol shrimp

What I want next:
1 acan coral

Full Tank Shots Timeline:
Day One (3/1/25)


One Month (4/1/25)

 

[exnisstech]

Fish list looks very overstocked for a 25g IMO.

 

[hbubley]

Everything has finally arrived (aside from the 10lbs of live rock- coming on Wednesday of t Everything has finally arrived (aside from the 10lbs of live rock- coming on Wednesday of this week) so I was finally able to get the tank going!

Keeping some room to the left side of the tank for the ATO.




Settled on a decent aquascape I think- I’m really happy with it considering where I started and that there will be a bunch more rock added later this week.

Today was mainly just setting up the protein skimmer, filters, heater, and lights. Going to keep the lights off for the most part until the live rock gets here. This is definitely the highest quality tank I’ve had. I’m planning on starting a fishless cycle using Fritz’ nitrifying bacteria and ammonia combo. Will probably test prior to the live rock getting here and then every day/couple days once the live rock is introduced

I’ve preordered a beautiful chalice from a shop near me- I’m going to wait on pick up but it was the last one they had so wanted to secure it. A “Pink ******* Chalice”


Big question I have right now is:
Do yall coral dip your live rock or is that dumb? I bought the coral rx dip as that is what I used last time I was in the hobby. Should I dip the rock once it arrives or just yolo it into the tank?

Thanks for all the help thus far!

 

[hbubley]

Fish list looks very overstocked for a 25g IMO.

Agree- it’s more of an “I’m going to narrow it down from here” list. Will likely drop the lawnmower Benny. That would be right before an upgrade type of fish.

 

[exnisstech]

Six line may be an issue. I keep two but in larger tanks. Just the clowns could be a problem once they start to spawn.

EDIT: I dip coral but not rocks.

 

[Arie_Idaho_Reef]

Everything has finally arrived (aside from the 10lbs of live rock- coming on Wednesday of t Everything has finally arrived (aside from the 10lbs of live rock- coming on Wednesday of this week) so I was finally able to get the tank going!

Keeping some room to the left side of the tank for the ATO.




Settled on a decent aquascape I think- I’m really happy with it considering where I started and that there will be a bunch more rock added later this week.

Today was mainly just setting up the protein skimmer, filters, heater, and lights. Going to keep the lights off for the most part until the live rock gets here. This is definitely the highest quality tank I’ve had. I’m planning on starting a fishless cycle using Fritz’ nitrifying bacteria and ammonia combo. Will probably test prior to the live rock getting here and then every day/couple days once the live rock is introduced

I’ve preordered a beautiful chalice from a shop near me- I’m going to wait on pick up but it was the last one they had so wanted to secure it. A “Pink ******* Chalice”


Big question I have right now is:
Do yall coral dip your live rock or is that dumb? I bought the coral rx dip as that is what I used last time I was in the hobby. Should I dip the rock once it arrives or just yolo it into the tank?

Thanks for all the help thus far!

 

[Arie_Idaho_Reef]

Do not coral dip the live rock, that would defeat the purpose of buying it.

You can do a Rodi water dip at 75-78f degrees. Submerge the rock for 2-5 minutes shaking it, and you will see the critters fall off. Do not go longer than 5 minutes max.

I have 14 fish in a 40 gallon and still have to dose nitrates to keep up with my corals demand…. So I think your fish list would be fine in a grown out system if you want to add them slowly overtime.

 

[ShaunMc]

Not suggesting any piece specifically, as your nightstand does appear to be better quality! However, I do think you will likely enjoy having a bit more space under the tank for your supplies.

Stand Option

Another, don’t know depth

Ditto on depth?

You get the idea.

With a stand that is a little higher and has a door, you will be able to place your ATO, electrical, and the so many things you’re going to collect soon.

What is your thoughts on electrical/control and cables?

 

[hbubley]

I definitely need to figure out cable management. I picked up that nightstand at the resale store as a quick solution- very open to upgrading the stand in the future though so I’ll peek what you sent when I’m back home!

Definitely planning on slow adding anything I do end up going with. I think the first additions will be the goby/pistol shrimp duo. I want the anemone in the tank before the clowns as I think I’ll have a better shot at getting it to host that way. So going to wait a bit on those.

Here’s the tank day 1 now that all the sand has settled! Dosed with 1tsp of ammonia and some nitrifying bacteria. Going to take some initial ammonia level measurements when I’m back home.

Not pictured yet is the fan I added on the right side of the tank

 

[hbubley]

Things are generally looking good! I’m really happy with my rockwork—the live rock I ordered was absolutely beautiful and well worth it. It’s all in my display now, and honestly, I wish I had ordered more.

I mapped out my PAR and am pleased with the spread:

• Bottom corners: ~40-50 PAR
• Midway around the perimeter: ~115 PAR
• Top center: ~230 PAR

Lessons Learned:
I got way too excited and added coral earlier than I should have. I introduced two long-fin mocha clowns, and they’re doing fantastic. I also added a Pink ******* chalice and a small mushroom. Unfortunately, the mushroom wasn’t fully attached to its frag rock when I brought it home, and it detached overnight—right into the powerhead. Now, I’m worried about parameter spikes from any lost pieces in the tank.

I also have a zoa from WWC arriving today. In hindsight, I don’t know why I thought my tank would be stable enough by now when I placed the order—it felt so far away at the time! Any advice on handling this would be greatly appreciated.

Current Plan:

I’ve been doing daily 4-gallon water changes and plan to do a larger one today. I need to pick up saltwater from my LFS—I usually get RODI, but considering the mushroom situation, I don’t want to wait for the salt to mix.

Anyway, here are some updated pics! Please be kind—I’m still getting back into the hobby and have definitely made some mistakes along the way.

 

[Tahoe61]

Scape is awesome. It so very hard to resist stocking a tank, I know this 1st hand. In the long run you do save money and reduce frustrating new tank issues by waiting.
How do you like the Blade?

 

[hbubley]

Scape is awesome. It so very hard to resist stocking a tank, I know this 1st hand. In the long run you do save money and reduce frustrating new tank issues by waiting.
How do you like the Blade?

100% on the avoiding frustration haha. I love the blade. The app could use some work but I’m getting great spread. It’s leftover from when I was running a 75g, so probably would’ve been better off with a square type AI that’s smaller but it’s all good. Have a new mount coming Thursday as this one interferes with the lid and I want firefish down the line

 

[ShaunMc]

Looks great! does the new mount attach to the back for the blade?


You might see slightly better nutrient export with your hygger a little more toward front so that the flow goes into the far front side and wraps toward the left overflow to the sump. The pump wire will fit in the small gap if you get it into that corner (the cord, not the wave maker). I get it sucks a bit that then the cord "hangs" on the upper right side. but it actually does to better this way pushing water into the sump.

I'd also try the bubble magnus on that left side 2nd chamber. put its water line (blue line on it) about 1/2" above the actual water line and it will reduce some of the wet skimming and with the hygger pushing flow that way, it will pull a bit better (in my experience).

love this setup, by the way. makes me want to move my IM15 into a 25 lol.

 

[ShaunMc]

also have a zoa from WWC arriving today. In hindsight, I don’t know why I thought my tank would be stable enough by now when I placed the order—it felt so far away at the time! Any advice on handling this would be greatly appreciated.

zoos should be fine, imo. even they are coming from WWC, i would get Coral rx or revive to dip them. They usually advise not to shock further corals from shipping. but without a small frag or qt, i'd just dip and put them in. I assume you'r putting them somewhere lower on the rocks?

garden on that front middle rock?

 

[hbubley]

Looks great! does the new mount attach to the back for the blade?


You might see slightly better nutrient export with your hygger a little more toward front so that the flow goes into the far front side and wraps toward the left overflow to the sump. The pump wire will fit in the small gap if you get it into that corner (the cord, not the wave maker). I get it sucks a bit that then the cord "hangs" on the upper right side. but it actually does to better this way pushing water into the sump.

I'd also try the bubble magnus on that left side 2nd chamber. put its water line (blue line on it) about 1/2" above the actual water line and it will reduce some of the wet skimming and with the hygger pushing flow that way, it will pull a bit better (in my experience).

love this setup, by the way. makes me want to move my IM15 into a 25 lol.

I want to try these adjustments! So move the skimmer to the left side and move the hygger fan more towards the front of the tank? Will adjust and post updated pics with the new zoa and its placement. Maybe you can help me figure out if where it’s at is a good spot for it. I did a coralRX dip. Doing it for all corals to be safe. Love how wwc packages and ships - came in great condition.

 

[hbubley]

Okay moved things around- about to do a WC. Picked up 15g from LFS. 5g of rodi so I can mix some for tomorrow.
Here’s my currently sad zoa - playboy bunny zoas. Love the color so really hoping they survive the ugly phase :(

He’s on a rock that I would love to be a zoa garden in the back. Probably getting about 100par if that much

 

[ShaunMc]

That is good! It will open up. Give it time and watch. As for ugly. If it gets dirty. Just blow it off and it will be fine.

 

[hbubley]

Thank you!! I feel way better about everything now, already starting to open!

 

[hbubley]

we are well in our algae phase. Curious if anyone can confirm this is hair algae, it looks a bit different than the hair algae I had in my last tank, but is “hairy” i guess? My Maricultured rocks were covered in long algae when I received them- tried to get a pic of it but it’s hard to capture. Anyways, at the very least enjoy a pic of my zoas

Let me know if you can see the algae on the glass, tried to get a decent shot. Worth posting in the algae forums or it’s for sure hair algae? Any suggestions?

Bonus points if you can ID that glowing red/orange spot next to my zoas on the rock…



Is it worth adding a chaeto refuting at this point or could that cause issues?

ETA: according to chatGPT I’m thinking they are diatoms - I’m getting my RODI from my LFS so I’m assuming silicate free- and using reef crystals to mix. So I assume they’ll die off eventually on their own? Is it worth getting a silicate test kit?

 

[hbubley]

My April 1st update!

Overall everything is actually going so well. Growing algae like a monster- but that’s to be expected. I’m doing multiple water changes a week- about 2-3. But my parameters are starting to normalize.
About a week ago I got some new corals in from top shelf aquatics and they’re stunning. A Duncan, pocillopora, and a mushroom.

Tomorrow I’m expecting my helfrichi firefish, goby, and pistol shrimp. From Dr reefs. So I’ll post an update then we they’re all acclimated!

In the meantime here are some pics of where we’re starting out this month.



My Duncan is looking very full and happy so I think we’re doing good! Shout out to @TopShelfAquatics for the amazing coral- they opened up immediately and are doing fantastic!