Steve’s IM 30L upgrade!

[Steve089]

going to be upgrading an IM20 to an IM30...since im currently documenting the IM20 progress in my waterbox20 build thread, I thought the new tank deserved it’s own thread!! IM20 is about 18 months old, I got it used off of CL as a full setup.

goals of upgrade: more horizontal space for various “gardens,” to fill the space up on the 36” stand I have for a better asthetic.

equipment: IM30, mid size UV steralizer, intank filter floss holder, stock mightyjet pump, 2 - AI Prime 16HDs, nero3, icecap 1K gyre, optical ATO, thermostat regulated heater, reef glass skimmer (probably will upgrade in future).

stock: 1 firefish, 1 watchman goby, 1 cleaner shrimp, trochus/turbo/serith snails, blue hermits (with plenty of empty shells on sand bed for new home), blooming pod population

current IM20 issues: most definitely introduced by me for not inspecting/cleaning frags close enough, even though most are dipped in coral RX... bryopsis (currently on day 10 of reef flux, it knocked it out!!), the occasional aptasia, so far taken out 1, green cyano, 1 ball anem i have to remove.

thanks for following along!

current IM20 tank pics:

 

[jazzfisher]

How do you like your 30L? Mine is set up almost exactly the same-only difference is I have the IM UV sterilizer & IM ATO & IM skimmer! Have the Nero 3 & Icecap 1k, Intank basket, Mighty jet 538, 2 AI Prime 16HD!

equipment: IM30, mid size UV steralizer, intank filter floss holder, stock mightyjet pump, 2 - AI Prime 16HDs, nero3, icecap 1K gyre, optical ATO, thermostat regulated heater, reef glass skimmer (probably will upgrade in future).

 

[Deep]

Very cool setup. Following...

 

[Steve089]

so update: agra alive special grade sand is taking wayyy longer to arrive via USPS...might not arrive until tuesday the 24th

also...bubble algae is starting to form and become more prevalent. going to remove what I can manually when I transfer the rock over.

probably will end up getting emeralds or trying vibrant...leaning towards vibrant bc I have green cyano as well. if no vibrant, then its gonna be emeralds + chemi-clean

 

[Steve089]

How do you like your 30L? Mine is set up almost exactly the same-only difference is I have the IM UV sterilizer & IM ATO & IM skimmer! Have the Nero 3 & Icecap 1k, Intank basket, Mighty jet 538, 2 AI Prime 16HD!

equipment: IM30, mid size UV steralizer, intank filter floss holder, stock mightyjet pump, 2 - AI Prime 16HDs, nero3, icecap 1K gyre, optical ATO, thermostat regulated heater, reef glass skimmer (probably will upgrade in future).

that’s awesome! great minds haha. how is the IM skimmer working out for you?

 

[KWT]

Looks great, working on another great build, good luck and great reefing

 

[jazzfisher]

that’s awesome! great minds haha. how is the IM skimmer working out for you?

I would say good/although one of the interior pieces-the tunnel if you will broke a piece off. So i just rigged it with tubing. It's working but probably not as good as it did before. If I could just rebuy that housing I would.

 

[Steve089]

upgrade done! hopefully everything keeps, gotta work on the aquascape more but goal was to just get everything transferred. took some time to do some cable management as well under the stand.

nero3 crapped out during the transition, I think I might’ve gotten some water on the power switch. gotta send in for work

 

[AZReef13]

How do you like the nero 3? been thing about downsizing my 5 on IM 40

 

[Steve089]

How do you like the nero 3? been thing about downsizing my 5 on IM 40

i love it, compact and plenty of flow

 

[jazzfisher]

I love mine too. Have it turned way down too.

 

[Steve089]

things are going well! added a diamond goby to help sand sift and have some new corals coming next week thanks to all the sales; an 4” elegance, small trachy, and duncans for my cube20

 

[jazzfisher]

things are going well! added a diamond goby to help sand sift and have some new corals coming next week thanks to all the sales; an 4” elegance, small trachy, and duncans for my cube20

 

[jazzfisher]

Looking good!

 

[jazzfisher]

Here's mine.

 

[Steve089]

Here's mine.

WOW I love the scape and how it flows, very nice

 

[Steve089]

uhhh...so I did a thing on BF/CM with all the sales....added a trachy, goni, GIANT elegance, another torch, and a chalice.

had to rescape to give the elegance room to lay out, figured it would be best to book end the right side of it with glass to mitigate aggression. this thing is massive. came on a 4” disk but its the size of a cocnut partly open haha. I miiiight end up putting into my nuvo 30 once that tank matures more, I know the clowns would like that. anyways here it is!

 

[Steve089]

we are doing well!!! dealing with some bubble algae popping up here and there, but all is well besides my beautiful indo frogspawn thats been shut for two weeks. last piece I put in was some bowser zoas that I got at like $10 per head for 5, that’s the last thing going in the tank for a while, gonna let stuff grow out.

 

[Steve089]

added an arch in the middle, everyones doing well!! corals happy, mostly LPS now, torches are thriving

 

[Steve089]

LPS city now, got tons more frags coming from Aqua SD this thursday including my first acro.

still doing weekly water changes with tropic marine pro reef salt, had a big alk drop, so dosing all for reef now. better for tank stability.

also, added a female mandarin, will be feeding live baby brine shrimp, and frozen mysis to supplement pods. fingers crossed i can train her to take those other foods