schgr.cube's Innovative Marine 25 Lagoon

[schgr.cube]

Current full tank shot:

I am starting to get a lot more SPS, I guess I should start dosing soon...
October 8th, 2017

 

[schgr.cube]

Comparing the new dimensions to the old one, although the stand still needs to be completed.

Setup:

• Tank: Innovative Marine Fusion 25 Lagoon
• Lighting: Waiting on NanoBox Reef Hybrid (Chinese black box LED, waiting on NanoBox Reef Hybrid fixture)
• Heater: 75w Cobalt Neo Therm
• Flow: Stock pump, Hydor Koralia Nano
• Filtration: Stock filter socks
• Live rock: 12.5lbs of mixed fiji and real reef live rock
• Live sand: 30lbs of aragonite sand

Filtration and maintenance:

• Media basket has filter floss (changed weekly), Purigen, and two bags of Chemi Pure Blue (changed monthly, rotated bi-weekly)

Fish:

• Snowflake ocellaris clown (Embry)
• Misbar ocellaris clown (Penelope)
• Tail spot blenny (Blenny "The Jet" Rodriguez)
• Green banded goby
  
• Chalk bass (planned)
• Hi-fin red banded goby (planned)

Invertebrates:

• Blue legged hermits
• Dwarf ceriths
• Florida ceriths
• Caribbean ceriths
• Nassarius
• Small nerites
• Zig zag perriwinkles
• Dwarf planaxis
• Small brittle star (6"?)
• Blood red fire shrimp
• Porcelain crab
• Candy cane pistol shrimp (planned)
• Crinoid squat lobster (planned)

Backstory:
I don't think I've had a tank fully grow out, but I guess I can just consider that my trademark at this point! You can find my current Innovative 10 gallon here, but I have been feeling a bit cramped lately, and decided to upgrade. I have to say, I am very happy with this decision, as I LOVE the dimensions on the lagoon. I will be transferring everything over from the 10 gallon, and doing a little bit of coral rearrangement, but I really want to make this tank what the other have not been; completely grown out!

Either way, this won't have too much of a backstory, besides the fact that I sold a shotgun to pay for the new tank. I am sure I will do some upgrades here and there, but the plan is just to move the inhabitants in and keep rolling with stocking the tank.

The thicker glass and deeper dimensions really sold this for me.

 

[schgr.cube]

Starting the upgrade:

Sometime last year I developed a nasty skin infection, and become almost entirely immobile. While I was sick, I wasn't able to do much of anything, let alone work on my tank. Once I was finally better, I realized I had neglected my tank to the point of near collapse, and decided to really put some effort in. Over the past year, I have spent a lot of time on the 10 gallon and brought it into an almost respectable little setup, but decided it just felt too cramped. I toyed between a few options, but ultimately chose to pull the trigger on the Innovative Marine 25 Lagoon.

Marla and Oliver investigating the new digs.

While I was figuring out my budget for the new setup, I started work on the stand. The idea was to copy what I had done on the last tank, but with some birch plywood I had laying around. I filled all the holes and chips, but still haven't settled on a final covering for it. I am heavily leaning toward an ADA style laminate finish, but my wife really likes the idea of a painted look. Decisions decisions...

I love the look of natural wood, but plywood doesn't really sell me, and the filled holes kill the look.

That is all for now, but I will be filling the tank and migrating the inhabitants as soon as I figure out the stand. Stay tuned for more!

 

[schgr.cube]

First full tank shot:

I'm not 100% satisfied with the scape, but it is pretty close I think. Just a few small adjustments, and I'll be very happy. Coral placement needs to change, and I need to buy another powerhead as well.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Love it! I'm thinking about taking down my Biocube 32 and going with Lagoon 25. I had a IM40 Fusion before but I'd like a shallow tank.

 

[Kyl]

Nice work on your setup!

 

[schgr.cube]

Nice work on your setup!

Thank you!

Love it! I'm thinking about taking down my Biocube 32 and going with Lagoon 25. I had a IM40 Fusion before but I'd like a shallow tank.

I would really recommend it, I absolutely love the dimensions on this tank. And thanks!

 

[ifarmer]

what is dimension of your old tank? who made that tank?

 

[schgr.cube]

what is dimension of your old tank? who made that tank?

The old and new tanks are both Innovative Marine, with the old being the Fusion 10 gallon (12" x 15" x 13")

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Good work on the scape!

 

[schgr.cube]

Good work on the scape!

Thank you! I have fiddled with it a little more, I can never leave my scape alone until things start growing out...;Shamefullyembarrased

 

[bristlebasher]

Cool tank.

What are you planning for the stand ? Paint ?

I would probably go for a little less rock as far as the scape is concerned......but that is just me.

 

[schgr.cube]

Cool tank.

What are you planning for the stand ? Paint ?

I would probably go for a little less rock as far as the scape is concerned......but that is just me.

Hey, yes I agree about the rock, and it has actually changed a little bit since then. I haven't necessarily taken a lot out, but enough out to make a difference, and arranged things in a way that flows a little better. I think I still may remove another piece, or try to break that massive piece before it is too far along, I just hate that I'm constantly messing with things.

As for the stand, I have recently painted it white, as the original paint / polyurethane I did just didn't come out how I imagined it would. I still don't love it, but it blends into the room a little more now.

I'll get updated photos next week when I get back from vacation!

 

[schgr.cube]

I almost forgot, but Dave Fason from NanoBox Reef sent me some progress shots of my custom Hybrid fixture. I should have it next weekend, but I wanted a nice raw industrial look, and this is how the body has turned out:

The top covers will be black acrylic, and I went with the 2 T5HO / 2 LED puck setup, although this fixture can support up to 4 of each if I want to expand later. For those unfamiliar with this light, find more info here:
https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/357361-nano-box-hybrid-pricing-pictures-info/

Underneath will look like this basically:

 

[schgr.cube]

Light came in! I need to figure out my hanging situation, and fine tune the settings a bit, but I am seriously impressed! I am super happy with everything, and definitely feel that it was worth the wait. I'll post better pictures of the whole setup later, but here are two for now:

Also got a little Sunny D frag yesterday, which I've always wanted.

Have a few more goodies coming in this week, as well as some more coral.

 

[Kyl]

Beware that last guy, they can grow like crazy and take over the rock!

 

[schgr.cube]

Beware that last guy, they can grow like crazy and take over the rock!

I'm mostly going to keep my zoas on smaller rocks, so they should hopefully be easy to pull out and keep from overgrowing. I like diversity with my zoas, so I don't want any one morph taking over.

 

[Kyl]

I'm mostly going to keep my zoas on smaller rocks, so they should hopefully be easy to pull out and keep from overgrowing. I like diversity with my zoas, so I don't want any one morph taking over.

I did too, then it turned into a 7" wide monster!

Spoiler: Paly start

zoas2 by Kyl, on Flickr

Spoiler: Paly Now

paly_rock by Kyl, on Flickr

 

[schgr.cube]

Picked up a few things from some local reefers today, most of which were free!

Tiny little short tentacle plate coral:

Jack-o-Lantern Lepto:

Little purple and blue blasto:

Some pink-zipperish palys?

Some birds nest, we will see who it colors up:

I got more, but they weren't open when I took pictures, so I will post them later!

 

[Shark.Bait]

Nice rock work!