Upgrading…Sort Of

[edsbeaker]

Over the past few months I’ve grown increasingly more dissatisfied with keeping a large tank up and running. About a year after starting it, my husband decided to retire early and so, now, we have a limited amount of money to get us through the next 30 years. There’s so much that we want to do during this time of our lives, and I would rather spend more of our extra money on other things besides a large tank.

So help me out. I need to fit

ALL of THIS…

Into THIS!!!

My Regal Angelfish, Fox Face, and 3 Tangs are going to be very cramped in there.


I am shutting down my IM 170 gallon and starting a new adventure with a IM AIO 25 Gallon Lagoon tank. Even though I’m downsizing, I still consider this an upgrade since it’s allowing me to continue this wonderful hobby in a way that also fits with our newer lifestyle. I get the best of both worlds, so I’m very excited about this change.

I am going to place this tank in a different location from my 170, and will be giving up some conveniences for a better viewing opportunity. The 170 is on a wall in my living room with this behind it

AND This room behind that closet

(I know you observant people will want to comment that I need to change my DI resin, so let me beat you to the punch. It will be changed soon! )

Back to the topic, so on my 170, I was able to do auto water changes and auto filling of my top off reservoir, a luxury that I will no longer have. What do they call it when you have to do it on your own? Ah, yes, manual labor! Such dirty words!!! Seriously, how hard could it be changing 2 1/2 gallons a week, though, right?

The new tank is arriving Thursday August 27th. So I will be back here next week as I begin setting it up.
Thank you for visiting and looking forward to having company helping me as I start this new build.

 

[Fish Fan]

Good luck with your downgrade; following!

 

[fishface NJ]

Love it! Good luck and I'll be following along.

 

[edsbeaker]

Good luck with your downgrade; following!

Thanks, Greg, I was hoping you would stop by! I have to tell you that your tank build introduced me to a lagoon tank. It is how I fell in love with this tank. So, when I finally made the decision to go forward with this it was a no brainer to go in that direction. I don’t have your construction skills, though, so my tank will just sit on the somewhat ugly stand that comes with it.

 

[edsbeaker]

Love it! Good luck and I'll be following along.

Thanks so much! I’m excited to get started!

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks, Greg, I was hoping you would stop by! I have to tell you that your tank build introduced me to a lagoon tank. It is how I fell in love with this tank. So, when I finally made the decision to go forward with this it was a no brainer to go in that direction. I don’t have your construction skills, though, so my tank will just sit on the somewhat ugly stand that comes with it.

Wow, I'm absolutely shocked and flattered that my humble build inspired you to get the same tank

Too bad we're not closer, I'd be happy to build you a stand, but honestly I think people quite like those APS stands. Hopefully you do too

 

[JumboShrimp]

Congrats on retirement. The IM 25 is a great tank. Definitely you will have space limitations in terms of the number of fish you can keep, but I'm sure you have the experience to work it out.

 

[Uncle99]

That’s a big decrease, 170 to 25G.

I just finished switching from a 150 to IM SR-80G. Needed to rehome a 7” Desjardin and 6” Bristletooth and just kept the corals that did the best.

Thanks to my LFS which kindly made a home for my larger friends.

Great luck!

 

[edsbeaker]

Congrats on retirement. The IM 25 is a great tank. Definitely you will have space limitations in terms of the number of fish you can keep, but I'm sure you have the experience to work it out.

Thanks!
I’m not as concerned about the fish as I am about where I’m going to put all of the equipment I used to keep in the closet behind the 170. I think this 24” wide cabinet will be like a game of Tetris for me.

I’m looking forward to having some nano fish. They are definitely less noticeable than the large, but I’m thinking in this tank the corals will be the stars.

Thanks for visiting!

 

[edsbeaker]

Wow, I'm absolutely shocked and flattered that my humble build inspired you to get the same tank

Too bad we're not closer, I'd be happy to build you a stand, but honestly I think people quite like those APS stands. Hopefully you do too

My two prior tanks were also IM tanks with the stands, so I’m used to them. My house, though, is more farmhouse decor and the metal look doesn’t really fit in. That’s OK, though!!!

 

[edsbeaker]

That’s a big decrease, 170 to 25G.

I just finished switching from a 150 to IM SR-80G. Needed to rehome a 7” Desjardin and 6” Bristletooth and just kept the corals that did the best.

Thanks to my LFS which kindly made a home for my larger friends.

Great luck!

Congratulations on your new tank!

It is never fun rehoming your fish. Out of my 13 fish only the clownfish and Royal Grandma are appropriate for this small of a tank, and part of me is feeling guilty about “abandoning” the others.

May I ask why you chose to take them to your LFS instead of trying to sell them to other reefers? I’m a bit torn between how I’m going to sell them…or catch them for that matter, but I think it would be much easier to just take them all together to the LFS.

I’m doing the same thing as you with the corals. Keeping everything that is doing well and can fit.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Good colored small fish for a small tank are Talbots, Fang Blennies, Pygmy Wrasse, and Chalk Bass (when the lights hit them).

 

[Fish Fan]

Everyone love Tailspots

 

[Uncle99]

Congratulations on your new tank!

It is never fun rehoming your fish. Out of my 13 fish only the clownfish and Royal Grandma are appropriate for this small of a tank, and part of me is feeling guilty about “abandoning” the others.

May I ask why you chose to take them to your LFS instead of trying to sell them to other reefers? I’m a bit torn between how I’m going to sell them…or catch them for that matter, but I think it would be much easier to just take them all together to the LFS.

I’m doing the same thing as you with the corals. Keeping everything that is doing well and can fit.

The LFS store had a 1000 gallon reef show tank so I could not pass up the opportunity.

While sad, the fact they got such home helped a ton.

I transferred all others in their new home in three groups one day apart.

On the last day, I took the two big guys to the store.

Done, everyone is happy.

 

[edsbeaker]

Good colored small fish for a small tank are Talbots, Fang Blennies, Pygmy
Wrasse, and Chalk Bass (when the lights hit them).

Everyone love Tailspots

A Blenny of some sort is on my list, and I already know I’ll be getting either a Pink Streaked or Possum Wrasse.
The only two fish I have that will fit is clownfish. I have a pair, but would only keep one, and considering keeping my Royal Gramma. I’m figuring on 4 fish only.