My IM25 Lagoon Tank thread:

[higher99]

Hi R2R, I figured I’ll document my tank build (mostly new coral additions) for my IM25 Lagoon.

The tank has been setup for roughly around 2 months now and everything is coming together.

Here’s my equipment list for anyone else looking to start their new nano tank!

x1 Nuvo IM Desktop Skimmer
x1 3D printed refugium + floor light (Amazon)
x1 Tunze 3152 ATO System
x2 Return pumps that came with the IM kit
x2 Rotary Nozzles for the return pumps
x1 Filter Sock Chamer
x1 Desktop Sized IM Media Tower
x1 IM Meshtop Lid

Here’s my current stocking:

x2 Black Storm Ocellaris Clownfish
x1 Yellow Watchman Goby (1 Inch)
x1 Fighting conch
x4 White legged hermit crab

New addition:
x1 Striped Fanged Blenny
x2 Nassarius Snail

I also have a tiger pistol shrimp, x4 tiny blue legged hermit crabs, and a few more nassarius snails arriving from Liveaquaria in a week from now. Will keep you guys in the loop.

The corals I have right now are:

x1 GSP Frag
x1 Tiny Green Toadstool Leather

Overall the tank is quiet and easy to maintain. I do a water change about every 2 weeks and use RODI. The Tunze ATO does all of the topoffs which give me a piece of mind (was not the case when I first got it, it took time to adjust)

I also added pods about a week ago from Reef Plantation. I dose the Phyto here and there but I don’t see any pods swimming typically (maybe they’re all hiding in the Chaeto in the refg)

I’ll be adding onto this thread once I have new updates on both livestock and corals!

 

[JoJosReef]

Gratz on the new build! 25 lagoon is a great tank. Looking forward to the progress.

 

[Tahoe61]

Those clowns are awesome.

It's a wonderful tank, I have one as well.

 

[higher99]

Hi R2R, I figured I’ll document my tank build (mostly new coral additions) for my IM25 Lagoon.

The tank has been setup for roughly around 2 months now and everything is coming together.

Here’s my equipment list for anyone else looking to start their new nano tank!

x1 Nuvo IM Desktop Skimmer
x1 3D printed refugium + floor light (Amazon)
x1 Tunze 3152 ATO System
x2 Return pumps that came with the IM kit
x2 Rotary Nozzles for the return pumps
x1 Filter Sock Chamer
x1 Desktop Sized IM Media Tower
x1 IM Meshtop Lid

Here’s my current stocking:

x2 Black Storm Ocellaris Clownfish
x1 Yellow Watchman Goby (1 Inch)
x1 Fighting conch
x4 White legged hermit crab

New addition:
x1 Striped Fanged Blenny
x2 Nassarius Snail

I also have a tiger pistol shrimp, x4 tiny blue legged hermit crabs, and a few more nassarius snails arriving from Liveaquaria in a week from now. Will keep you guys in the loop.

The corals I have right now are:

x1 GSP Frag
x1 Tiny Green Toadstool Leather

Overall the tank is quiet and easy to maintain. I do a water change about every 2 weeks and use RODI. The Tunze ATO does all of the topoffs which give me a piece of mind (was not the case when I first got it, it took time to adjust)

I also added pods about a week ago from Reef Plantation. I dose the Phyto here and there but I don’t see any pods swimming typically (maybe they’re all hiding in the Chaeto in the refg)

I’ll be adding onto this thread once I have new updates on both livestock and corals!

Update: Went to a LFS today and picked up new frags

x2 zoas
x1 mushroom

They haven’t opened up quite yet but they looked good at the store. Got some reef puddy and glue on the way and plan to attach them onto the rock work soon!

One of the frags came with a hitchhiking starfish. If anyone has experience with these starfish, please let me know if they’re reef safe and worth keeping!

 

[higher99]

Those clowns are awesome.

It's a wonderful tank, I have one as well.

Thanks! Have you had any issues with aggression? The larger one which I’m assuming is turning into a female has been very aggressive towards the smaller one. They love to nip each other but the larger one chase the smaller one all the time.

Nothing major like fins tearing apart but I can see that they go back and forth all the time. I plan to post a thread about this clownfish behavior and see if anyone found a way to keep them more at ease and less aggressive.

 

[higher99]

Gratz on the new build! 25 lagoon is a great tank. Looking forward to the progress.

Thanks! Starting with the basics coral wise but I do plan to get more species later down the line!

 

[backbayreef]

Looking good - congrats! I love the IM25 Lagoon - it’s a great size & makes a great frag tank as well. I’ve had to shut it down last month since I had too many things going on.

Following along - keep up the good work!

 

[Tahoe61]

Thanks! Have you had any issues with aggression? The larger one which I’m assuming is turning into a female has been very aggressive towards the smaller one. They love to nip each other but the larger one chase the smaller one all the time.

Nothing major like fins tearing apart but I can see that they go back and forth all the time. I plan to post a thread about this clownfish behavior and see if anyone found a way to keep them more at ease and less aggressive.

After decades of keeping clowns I keep only one clown now to avoid the aggression.

 

[higher99]

Looking good - congrats! I love the IM25 Lagoon - it’s a great size & makes a great frag tank as well. I’ve had to shut it down last month since I had too many things going on.

Following along - keep up the good work!

Thanks! I'm always a fish guy but corals are definitely starting to grow on me.

I think my next frags will either be plusing xineas, kenya trees or maybe hammer/frogspawn if I'm feeling adventurous.

 

[backbayreef]

Thanks! I'm always a fish guy but corals are definitely starting to grow on me.

I think my next frags will either be plusing xineas, kenya trees or maybe hammer/frogspawn if I'm feeling adventurous.

I’m against all those since they will overtake your tank! Then again, that might work in your favor since you can justify getting bigger and more tanks! lol

 

[JoJosReef]

Thanks! I'm always a fish guy but corals are definitely starting to grow on me.

I think my next frags will either be plusing xineas, kenya trees or maybe hammer/frogspawn if I'm feeling adventurous.

Xenia and Kenya trees will likely take over your tank. Good alternatives: green sinularia, branching GSP (specifically the branching type), long polyp toadstool. When you get things nice and stable, a pink nepthea aka koji wada is an excellent alternative to a kenya tree--same tree-like structure but prettier and not at all invasive (a sensitive coral, though).

Hammers and frogs also very nice, but keep in mind that you will eventually need to frag them. My hammer colony was the size of a basketball before I gave it away. And these aren't as easy to frag as SPS corals, which usually just need a clip with bone cutters. Dremel or bandsaw is almost necessary.

 

[TheNative192]

Following along!

The 25 gallon lagoon is awesome.

 

[higher99]

Following along!

The 25 gallon lagoon is awesome.

Thanks!

 

[higher99]

Xenia and Kenya trees will likely take over your tank. Good alternatives: green sinularia, branching GSP (specifically the branching type), long polyp toadstool. When you get things nice and stable, a pink nepthea aka koji wada is an excellent alternative to a kenya tree--same tree-like structure but prettier and not at all invasive (a sensitive coral, though).

Hammers and frogs also very nice, but keep in mind that you will eventually need to frag them. My hammer colony was the size of a basketball before I gave it away. And these aren't as easy to frag as SPS corals, which usually just need a clip with bone cutters. Dremel or bandsaw is almost necessary.

Okay great, I'll consider these. If I get anything else besides softies (frogspawn & hammers) will I need to set up a dosing schedule or invest in a dosing pump?

 

[steveschuerger]

Nice tank . Looks good so far. Yeah be careful with some of those softies they can take over tanks if happy. I’m more of a toadstool leather lover myself.
Just got my 25 lagoon today. So I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress as well . There do really seem to be quite a few new threads with this tank recently….

 

[JoJosReef]

Okay great, I'll consider these. If I get anything else besides softies (frogspawn & hammers) will I need to set up a dosing schedule or invest in a dosing pump?

Certainly not initially. Water changes will do the trick. You may want to invest in a doser if they grow a lot or if you get a clam or more stony corals. Or go easy mode and use All For Reef and manually add some periodically (daily, weekly, just depends).

 

[rjdasilva]

Thanks! I'm always a fish guy but corals are definitely starting to grow on me.

I think my next frags will either be plusing xineas, kenya trees or maybe hammer/frogspawn if I'm feeling adventurous.