Schrauf's IM Lagoon 25 Mixed Macro Algae Reef

[Schraufabagel]

I'm starting this build thread a little early. I am moving apartments in late March and am using that opportunity to transfer my Waterbox Peninsula Mini 25 contents to the new lagoon layout. It fit's my desired look far better, allowing for mangroves and more horizontal space for macro algaes.

Equipment
Innovative Marine Fusion Pro 2 Lagoon 25
AI Prime 16HD and AI Prime Freshwater
Coralvue Hydros 2 and Hydros XS with a water level sensor to prevent sump run dry
2x Eheim Jager 75W heater with Hydros Temperature Sensor
Coralvue Hydros ATO and Advanced Acrylics 4 gallon reservoir
AI Nero 3
Red Sea ReefDose 2
inTank Media Basket with ROX 0.8 carbon and inTank Filter Floss Holder
MightyJest 326 GPH DC pump (with Sicce Syncra 1.0 as backup)
CaribSea LifeRock and Arag-Alive sand
Red Sea Coral Pro salt

Livestock
- 2 ORA Carmel Misbar Clownfish
- ORA Sharknose Goby
- ORA Orchid Dottyback
- Feather Dusters and Barnacles
- Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and Peppermint Shrimp
- Astreas, Nassarius, Nerita, Dwarf Cerith, Florida Cerith snails
- Dwarf Hermit Crabs
- Serpent Star Fish
- Rock Flower Anemones
- Mangroves

Macro Algae
- Codium
- Mermaid Fan
- Shaving Brushes
- Pencil Caps
- Halimedia
- Dragon's Breath
- Caulerpa Prolifera

Corals
Rhodactis and Ricordea Mushrooms, Gorgonians, Leathers, Clove Polyps, GSP, Xenia, Hammer, Duncan, Zoas

Feeding
@Reef Nutrition Phyto-Feast, Oyster-Feast, Chroma TDO

Testing
Hanna Instruments Nitrate HR, Phosphate ULR, pH, and Alkalinity
Salifert Calcium and Magnesium

Dosing
Automated daily dosing of Tropic Marin All for Reef and Brightwell Aquatics ChaetoGro
Regular manual dosing of Red Sea AB+ and MicroBacter7
Occasional manual dosing of Brightwell Aquatics NeoNitro and NeoPhos

 

[Schraufabagel]

Here's a breakdown of the plan. The left side of the tank will contain the mangroves surrounded by the calcified macro algaes. The right side of the tank will be some shallow rock work with my existing soft corals and the fancier macro algaes. This scape will contain the cave/arch in my current build.

The left side of the tank will be lit by an AI Prime Freshwater and the right side of the tank will be lit by the AI Prime 16HD. The AI Nero 3 will also be on the right side of the tank. Due to all of the macro algae, I am switching from a refugium in my current build to using the Tunze skimmer in this new tank.

 

[Schraufabagel]

The tank arrived yesterday. I swapped everything, cleaned equipment, and left it bare bottom until I move in 2 months. Water is still clearing up

 

[Eric R.]

Very cool! Similar to what I'm planning though my tank is more rectangular. Following!

 

[Schraufabagel]

6 mangroves are on the way. For now I'm just going to be lighting them with my reef lights and keeping them in the bare bottom until I move the tank during the last week of March. At that point I'll bury them in sand along the left side of the tank creating a shoreline look and light them with an AI Prime freshwater

 

[Schraufabagel]

Here is my temporary solution for the mangroves until the tank is moved in 4 weeks. I’m using an ONF flat mini light. Once I move it will be swapped to an AI prime freshwater

 

[Schraufabagel]

So here's my upcoming order being placed the last week of March. I'll be ordering from Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy.

1. Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
2. 2 Peppermint Shrimp (currently have a huge aptasia problem)
3. 10 cerith snails, 10 nassarius snails (lost some during the tank swap)
4. Xenia (a salinity spike killed off my last colony)
5. Pine Cone, Pom Pom, Shaving Brush, Codium, Gracilaria, Halimeda, and Mermaid Fan macro algaes

The tank will be moved in around 3 weeks from now to the new apartment

 

[Schraufabagel]

The tank is officially setup and fully stocked! Just finished cleaning it today. My hope is that eventually the gracilaria and caulerpa will grow big enough to hide the heaters in the back

 

[Schraufabagel]

For anyone wondering, all of the macro algae and most of the inverts were from an Alyssa's Seahorse Savvy order from earlier this week. Fantastic service and they all arrived happy and healthy

 

[Schraufabagel]

I'm up to 8 mL of All For Reef mixture per day. My corals and calcified macros are soaking up my nutrients. Might have to up the dose to 10 mL if that isn't enough.

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[MarcosTacos]

Any updates on the tank?