Reefuzz IM 170 INT tank build

[Reefuzz]

Hello all!

I’ve got the itch real bad. I set up a 50 EXT in October ‘25 and quickly realized that I needed more room as I started to add corals. Everything has been thriving so I started to look for tank deals. Came across a smoking deal. Guy was moving and had a crated IM 170 INT for basically free. Just had to get it to my house an hour away. Got the go ahead from the wife and set up the move.
Tank delivered 4/1/26

4/1/26 Stand built, I went with a FijiCube pro-36 instead of the IM sump as there is no room if I utilized the IM RFS. This time my better half said I could put the tank in the living room instead of our spare bedroom!!!

Next was the controller board. I made it out of expanded PVC and was able to fit it in the stand.

4/5/26 - Now the hard part of lifting 600lb tank….it took 4 large men including myself to lift that sucker.

4/5/26 - plumbing done. 1.5” on all the the drains with unions top and bottom as well as ball valves with a gate valve on the main return line. 3/4” return fed from a Mighty Jet XL(I had laying around will upgrade at a later date) added a flow meter, swing check valve and ball valve in as well.

Just need to finish light hanging, rinsing 160lbs of dry sand, do a fill test and aquascape the last two islands I’ll be adding. Waiting on my second ReefBreeders Meridian 24 shipping end of April.

Everything will be added from my 50EXT

 

[tbrown]

Very nice! Clean looking. Excited to see it filled and ready to go!

 

[Reefuzz]

Wiring complete after I receivedReefBreeders 450w power supply

Leak test was successful. Sand is in and last bit of aquascape is complete

Now filling with RO/DI water!

 

[tbrown]

She's coming along nicely!

 

[tbrown]

I really need to print/build a Controller Board for my Hydros and get them installed on my 8 gallon.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Reefuzz]

I really need to print/build a Controller Board for my Hydros and get them installed on my 8 gallon.

Do it! I used the White expanded pvc board from Amazon. Used stainless steel screws and PVC cement for increased durability. Also used heavy duty command strips to mount the controllers, so if/when I have to move things around I can easily without damaging the PVC.

 

[tbrown]

Do it! I used the White expanded pvc board from Amazon. Used stainless steel screws and PVC cement for increased durability. Also used heavy duty command strips to mount the controllers, so if/when I have to move things around I can easily without damaging the PVC.

I started designing something on TinkerCAD. I just need to figure out what Hydros controllers in leaving on the 70 and which ones I'm adding to the 8.

My 70, I mounted everything on a hanging wire rack mounted vertical.

 

[Reefuzz]

I love tinkercad! I built a reloading bench to match my other one using it(my wife Mostly approves of my expensive hobbies). Can’t wait to see what you do

 

[jackreef]

Following along! I’m looking at the same system

 

[Reefuzz]

Filled and cycling! Also put eye bolts for the Meridians in the ceiling

 

[JumboShrimp]

Truly beautiful. Anyone would be proud of the job you've done with that tank!

 

[tbrown]

Looks good! Looking forward to seeing it full of movement and color!

 

[Reefuzz]

Well, it’s been a minute since my last update…but I’ve been up to stuff and everything is going great.

Purchased an @Top_Lids for the tank and they knocked it out of the park for the second tank. I was in close contact with Tyler the owner, he got me figured out and customized some stuff I was looking for.

The tank is cycled and I stayed up faaaaarrr too late and got everything transferred to the new tank.

Ordered a second Meridian 24 back in March and still waiting on it but should ship next week. Otherwise the coral should open up in the next few days, so I’ll post an updated pic after everything isn’t so ticked off. I think the fish are taking it the worst thus far…

 

[hatfielj]

Nice work! I like the very open aquascape and tidy sump area. Now comes the cycle! Even though you "cycled" the new tank first, adding your live stock to a new system will still result in some algae blooms and such, but should be fairly short lived given the mature live rock. Consider dosing bacteria on a regular basis like microbacter7 to help with this stage. I found it really helped my system when it was maturing. I also used UV sterilizer heavily during the early stages which can help prevent major blooms too.

 

[Reefuzz]

Thanks! Yea I plan on adding my UV today at some point. I was up til 4am doing all this so I ran out of time to do everything I wanted to do. All the essentials are done at least

 

[X-37B]

Nice start! IM makes nice systems.
I have an ext 170,112, and 50.
I run 2 photon 50's and 3-OR4 uv/v bars on the 170.
Looking forward to seeing the Meridians in action. They were not available when I set up my 170 or I would be running them now.

 

[hatfielj]

Yeah, I used to have an IM 150 I think it was (48 x 36 x 22?) I really liked that tank, kind of ticked I sold it, lol

 

[Reefuzz]

Got the second Meridian a week early and got it hung up!

 

[Reefuzz]

Everything is happy so far