IM 30L build

[kevin]

Been out of the hobby since 2013. I really can't believe it's been that long.

Last summer I picked up an IM 30L & stand from a fellow NJ reefer. I picked up some other bits and pieces that summer & stopped.

Fast forward to June 2024 & we bought our first house in Hillsborough where I can actually put it lol. I started to ramp up buying parts the last few weeks.
I'm so out of the loop with everything. I haven't stepped foot in a saltwater store in forever. I'm actually picking up some good stuff tomorrow at Reefco. It will be my first time there.

Anyway, here's just a shot of the aqaurium itself. It took a nice bath in citric acid. Ill list what i purchased so far in a bit

 

[kevin]

Innovative Marine 30L

Tank started in August 2024

Kessil A160WE (2x) + Kessil Controller

Ecotech MP10 (2x)

Sicce Syncra 3.0 wifi

Helio 200w (100x2) PTC Smart Heater

Auqa Gadget 5 gallon reservoir

Aqau UV Sterilzer

Kraken 30L lid (this thing is awesome)

CoralVue Equiptment ;

CoralVue Launch

CoralVue Kraken w/ Renogy 12v 100Ah AGM battery

CoralVue Control XS

CoralVue Triple Level sensor (2x)

CoralVue PH, Salinity, Temp Probes

CoralVue Automatic Feeder

CoralVue Wifi Strips (2x)

CoralVue Leak Detection

Stock List;

Orange Storm Clown Fish (2x) October 2024

Astrea Snails (12x) October 2024

Blue legged Hermits (12x) October 2024

 

[kevin]

Accidently double posted

 

[kevin]

The cable management was much nicer when I first set it up. I then went with the hydros system and gave up on fixing it all

 

[ecam]

Awesome. Welcome back !!!

 

[Drunkn_Reefr]

Nice set up. If Reefco is your LFS you’re a lucky man.

 

[kevin]

Nice set up. If Reefco is your LFS you’re a lucky man.

20mins away!

 

[kevin]

Picked up a pistol & watchman goby yesterday
+ some zoas which I haven't taken a picture of yet

 

[kevin]

Oct 2024 a fish & some corals
Tailspot blenny (reefco)

Found a new to me store called Jersey Corals. More so a warehouse. Picked some stuff up yesterday

Back in the day I was never one to really test parameters, just did weekly water changes and tested salinity. I have a bunch of hanna/milwaukee testers and I've got some low alk, low pH (haven't tested phosphorus, need the regents).

I tested the pH of new water last night I in the bucket and it was 8.4. Going to keep testing and see how it goes. Currently my pH is sitting at 7.94 but it's only 9am. It was around 7.8 before Saturday. So far everything seems happy so not too worried

Someone is selling a 60g version of my tank & I might pick that up and call it a day lol.

 

[kevin]

Started getting some build up of algae. I had a bubble magus miniq skimmer that I bought awhile back but never installed. The first chamber I had media basket with filter floss & chemipure blue.

I threw the floss on my UV & the chemipure blue in the return section. I know they say for it to get good flow, but I couldn't put the skimmer in the return section. I tried, too many microbubbles. The skimmer has been running since last night, I think it's making my pH rise, but we shall see by the end of today what the results are. I know takes a bit for it to break in.

I bought a new torch yesterday, labeled crazy lemon. Super vibrant

 

[kevin]

Well, I knew this wasn't going to last long LOL. Yesterday, me & my wife headed to the hidden reef for the first time. I've been looking at the Innovative Marine 75g int online, so I wanted to see what IM tanks they had on display. I was amazed with the selection they had.

As we first walked in, they had a IM SR80 Pro AIO right infront of our faces. This wasn't even on my radar, but pretty much fell it love with the dimensions. I was really looking to get a sump this time around, but this was just calling our name.

We weren't looking to purchase a tank so I only had my small hatchback car with me. We drove 1hr away to pickup my mother's suv to grab the tank. Go back this morning to grab the stand. Luckily, I had a friend who was able to help me lug the tank down into my basement. Anyway, this was a long nothing post.
Tank won't be up for awhile, we jumped on it because of black Friday and didn't have to pay freight and it was assembled already haha