Spongebobby's IM 200

[spongebobby]

Finally starting my build.. Tank will be moved tomorrow and away we go... Working on the control board this weekend.

 

[Fishbrain420]

That’s gonna be a nice setup! What type of corals ya gonna have?

 

[spongebobby]

That’s gonna be a nice setup! What type of corals ya gonna have?

Thanks.. I always say mixed reef but pretty much end up being SPS dominant within 18 months after every tank I have set up in the past..55,120,210

 

[Fishbrain420]

Thanks.. I always say mixed reef but pretty much end up being SPS dominant within 18 months after every tank I have set up in the past..55,120,210

lol same here! Can’t resist those sticks!
Also, I have that same American Dj power strip and they are awesome! Been using them for decades!

 

[spongebobby]

Got the tank installed along with the sump, plumbing and rock. I couldn’t help myself and fired the lights up to see how good or bad the Nicrew Gen2 are. Gotta say I’m pretty impressed with them. Just waiting on the sand and I will start filling soon.

 

[Fishbrain420]

I run the nicrew gen 2’s and there awesome.

 

[skey44]

Got the tank installed along with the sump, plumbing and rock. I couldn’t help myself and fired the lights up to see how good or bad the Nicrew Gen2 are. Gotta say I’m pretty impressed with them. Just waiting on the sand and I will start filling soon.

Very cool rock sculptures. Were those diy? Also I wonder how close to the surface that top shelf is. It’s beautiful but is there enough room for corals to grow up? It may be 8” from the surface and fine, just hard to tell without perspective. Beautiful setup so far!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Got the tank installed along with the sump, plumbing and rock. I couldn’t help myself and fired the lights up to see how good or bad the Nicrew Gen2 are. Gotta say I’m pretty impressed with them. Just waiting on the sand and I will start filling soon.

Aquascape looks great! Make sure your right side isn't touching the glass; it will make cleaning that side much harder.

 

[spongebobby]

Got the control board installed and have been washing sand all morning..Hopeful to start filling sometime today.

 

[spongebobby]

Very cool rock sculptures. Were those diy? Also I wonder how close to the surface that top shelf is. It’s beautiful but is there enough room for corals to grow up? It may be 8” from the surface and fine, just hard to tell without perspective. Beautiful setup so far!

Yes I made them from Marco rock. Top shelf will be for tabling Acropora. there is about 7 in to grow into..

 

[mfama417]

How much height did the leveling feet add? Could you measure from the floor to the top of the tank?

 

[spongebobby]

How much height did the leveling feet add? Could you measure from the floor to the top of the tank?

62 3/4 from floor to the top of tank

 

[mlburchjr]

Nice setup. I'm trying to choose between this tank or the 150 EXT. Can you show inside if the cabinet to see what the available room for equipment is?

 

[spongebobby]

Nice setup. I'm trying to choose between this tank or the 150 EXT. Can you show inside if the cabinet to see what the available room for equipment is?

 

[mlburchjr]

Nice. How did you attach the control board to the frame?

 

[spongebobby]

Nice. How did you attach the control board to the frame?

3D Printed some brackets that set the control board about 4 in inside the frame and used the IM Tension locks to hold it to frame

 

[spongebobby]

1 month update.. All good...ugly stage hasn't been bad at all. 6 fish added and a few coral frags. I addeg copepods and large CUC about day 10 and have been dosing 50ml of phyto daily for the last 20 days. I think this has attributed to minimal ugly stage. Lighting set at about 40% power(increasing 10% every seven days)

Installed the right side control board in preperation for Hydros/Dosing in the future.

Two things about the IM tank that I dont like:
1) OMG the main drain valve is super touchy...1/4 of a turn is the range from slurping sound in main drain to water dripping down the secondary drain.
2) The water level in the display is about 1 1/2 below the bottom of the euro bracing and water bubbles form all over it from evaporation. Just unsightly to me.. Probably going to 3D print a border that will go around 3 sides to hide.

 

[spongebobby]

2 month update.. Coralline taking off.. Dosing 2 Part and Neophos 1.3ml/hr and Neonitro 1ml/hr. No real issues other then some hitchhiker Aptasia that were taken care of with F aptasia and a peroxide dip on some zoas that had hair algea come in on the plug.. Need to add more fish this month.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Glad I found your build thread-- as they say in England, "it's lovely!"