Take 2: First Reef Tank - IM 75 INT Reef

[KyleW22]

Getting a late start on this build thread, but better late than never!

If anyone saw my prior build thread, we set up a Waterbox 60.2, got it filled and then drained it to upgrade. We kept our eyes out for a bit before finding the right tank - an Innovative Marine 75INT very lightly used not far from us. We picked it up and started planning the build.

Equipment:
Tank: Innovative Marine 75 INT
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS
Light: Single Nicrew Gen 2 200w with controller
Return Pump: Mighty Jet (came with tank)
Controller: Hydros X4 Pro Pack
Powerheads: 2 AI Nero 5s
ATO Reservoir: IM Hydrofill 15 gallon

Stocking List:
Sand: CaribSea Special Grade
Rock: CaribSea life rock


So far we are a few weeks past the cycle and have two Gladiator clownfish along with a Midas blenny currently in quarantine. We have 4 Trochus snails, 3 turbos and a ton of copepods - more snails coming soon. We did go a little crazy on coral, so hitting the brakes and letting the tank go for a bit before adding anything else. So far we have a few small zoas, rose hammer, hologram hammer, octospawn, branching GSP, 2 small favias and 3 rainbow bubble tip anemones (got those on a trade - was not looking to add them so quickly but couldn’t resist).

Here are some pics of how it currently sits. We had some algae pop up this week so think we are getting into the ugly phase now, another reason for not adding more fish or coral for a bit. If anyone has any thoughts on type of algae we are getting we’d love to know. Thanks for reading and following along!

 

[*GAREEF*]

Getting a late start on this build thread, but better late than never!

If anyone saw my prior build thread, we set up a Waterbox 60.2, got it filled and then drained it to upgrade. We kept our eyes out for a bit before finding the right tank - an Innovative Marine 75INT very lightly used not far from us. We picked it up and started planning the build.

Equipment:
Tank: Innovative Marine 75 INT
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS
Light: Single Nicrew Gen 2 200w with controller
Return Pump: Mighty Jet (came with tank)
Controller: Hydros X4 Pro Pack
Powerheads: 2 AI Nero 5s
ATO Reservoir: IM Hydrofill 15 gallon

Stocking List:
Sand: CaribSea Special Grade
Rock: CaribSea life rock


So far we are a few weeks past the cycle and have two Gladiator clownfish along with a Midas blenny currently in quarantine. We have 4 Trochus snails, 3 turbos and a ton of copepods - more snails coming soon. We did go a little crazy on coral, so hitting the brakes and letting the tank go for a bit before adding anything else. So far we have a few small zoas, rose hammer, hologram hammer, octospawn, branching GSP, 2 small favias and 3 rainbow bubble tip anemones (got those on a trade - was not looking to add them so quickly but couldn’t resist).

Here are some pics of how it currently sits. We had some algae pop up this week so think we are getting into the ugly phase now, another reason for not adding more fish or coral for a bit. If anyone has any thoughts on type of algae we are getting we’d love to know. Thanks for reading and following along!

Looking good! Can’t wait to see the gladiator clowns.

 

[KyleW22]

Here’s a pic of the clowns!

Also, here is a picture of the par readings with the Nicrew. I was hesitant to use a single light at first, but I’m very impressed with the pretty even coverage across the tank. Note, this is with lights at about 60% max.

 

[Devaji]

IM tanks are great!

 

[KyleW22]

Back for an update!

Tank is doing well and we have been letting it coast. Our Midas blenny is in the display and has a ton of personality - we read they like to hide for a while, but thankfully he opened up to us quickly and hangs out on top of the rocks most of the day. Clownfish are still doing good. Everything seems to be thriving on TDO Chromaboost pellets along with some brine/mysis frozen food once a week or so. We also added a lot more clean up crew from reef cleaners including a conch, as well as about a gallon of copepods from Dinkins.

As far as coral, everything is still doing good minus the branching GSP that we lost. We attended Reefapalooza in Texas yesterday and picked up two torches, an acan, a Duncan and a leather.

So far, our parameters have stayed pretty consistent until we had a phosphate spike last week (up to .12) and our nitrates dropped to near 0. We dosed some Neonitro and everything seemed to balance back out. Today is test day so I’ll post parameters later. I can say our alkalinity seems to run low, around 6.5. I started dosing alkalinity and have slowly brought it up - so far everything seems to be happy though so I’m going to take it slow.

 

[Wonkabar]

This looks great. Hope the torches do great. I am sure the addition of the colors will make you enjoy watching the tank even more.

 

[KyleW22]

Here are a couple pictures of our recent additions from Reefapalooza Texas

 

[stE26wy14]

Very nice!

 

[Wonkabar]

Nice, love the torches

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Here are a couple pictures of our recent additions from Reefapalooza Texas

Nice looking torches! You got a good haul of coral!

 

[KyleW22]

Tank is still coasting along nicely. We put all the coral on the rocks so no more ugly frag rack in the tank!

Testing has shown our parameters staying pretty stable which is nice - but I'm looking into dosing to get alkalinity up. I picked up a Kamoer F4 Pro doser from Coralvue during their recent sale, so now I just need to figure out what I want to dose.

Current parameters:
pH: 7.97
Alk: 6.8 - want to get this up to 8.0
Nitrate: 4.0
Phosphate: .01
Calcium: 410
Magnesium: 1230

 

[cp32]

Updated pics ?

 

[KyleW22]

Picked up 3 fish this weekend and have them in quarantine for now - 2 firefish and one carpenters wrasse. We also added another conch as our other one isn’t as active as we expected.

So far levels are still staying pretty consistent. We have had to dose some nitrate (Neonitro) but other than that, everything is staying consistent. Hopefully the addition of the new fish will help us keep nitrates up once we put them in the display

 

[yOyOYoo]

How do you like the IM Hydrofill 15 gallon and where are you placing it? I have the same tank getting setup and am deciding between the 5 gallon versus the 15 gallon Hydrofill.

 

[KyleW22]

How do you like the IM Hydrofill 15 gallon and where are you placing it? I have the same tank getting setup and am deciding between the 5 gallon versus the 15 gallon Hydrofill.

I just have it sitting right next to the tank. I probably fill it up about once a month which is really nice. That said, I got lucky when I bought it and got it brand new from a local seller for about the price of a 5 gallon new so it was a no brainer for me

 

[KyleW22]

Been a while since I updated!


Unfortunately, we lost the carpenters wrasse in QT (the day after we got it - not sure what happened) and then one of the firefish jumped through the 1/8" mesh when we added them to the display. The other firefish is doing well.

We have been adding some coral, so it's time to add fish. Right now, we have two clowns, a Midas blenny, and a firefish. Our plans include a flame angel, yellow tang and possibly a tomini tang as well. Any thoughts in terms of compatibility, or order you'd add them in?


Some currently pictures below:

 

[yOyOYoo]

The tank is looking amazing! What speeds are you setting the Nero 5s at and are you happy with the flow? It’s quite a strong pump. I have one Nero 5 on the side of my (same IM 75 INT) tank and thinking of adding another. I didn’t think to place it on the back glass.

 

[KyleW22]

Thanks! I’m happy with the Nero 5s, that said I don’t think I’m using them anywhere near their potential. I run them on pretty slow settings but I find I get really good flow all throughout the tank with them on the back glass. When I feed mysis I can see it flow all around the tank (through the rock middle and back over the top) which is good enough for me. Settings are below. I’ve been thinking about slowly raising the flow up in the middle of the day just to see how everything reacts but haven’t done it yet.

I couldn’t find a surefire answer if the AI external magnet was safe to be submerged, so I vacuum sealed them to keep water off of them.

 

[KyleW22]

Been a while, but here’s an update. The tank is still doing great. I moved the powerheads to the sides instead of on the back glass and it was a much needed change.

I also switched the light out to a Radion XR30 Pro running a slightly modified ReefDudes schedule. The growth had absolutely exploded.

I dose a small amount of AFR daily.

Current stock list - two clowns, Midas blenny, flame angel, tomini tang, yellow tang, Lubbock fairy wrasse and a tricolor fairy wrasse. No aggression between any of them.

No aggression between any of them.