My first tank: Innovative Marine 40G Lagoon

[apex_everything]

Well this is my first experience building a reef tank... I knew I wanted a Nano for quite some time but since this is my first tank, this is the biggest I can go for now since I'm in an apartment. Been getting a ton of stuff in and building my aquascape now. I'm not really in a rush to get the tank up and running. I want to take my time but I want to be up and running by the end of the year.

I did get my RODI hooked up to my apartment spare bathroom shower. I really like the idea of leaving it in the shower and hiding it behind the curtain. If it leaks or anything, it goes straight down the drain.

Well this is what a few hours of aqua scaping for the first time got me. After watching a ton of BRS TV you tube videos, I like how it is. Since this is the first time, id love some feed back!

Let me know what you think!

This tank is super long and short. It is a few inches from the glass from my measurements and followed the 2/3 rule for coral growth. I have not glued anything down. It is standing on its own which I like. I do plan on adding corals but not sure which ones. More learning to do!

 

[Fishy Guy]

Great start, I'm looking forward to following along! The IM AIO tanks are awesome. Your rock scape looks awesome and leaves plenty of room for vertical growth. Make sure to leave space for a rock island or two for corals you don't want to take over the entire scape.

Do you have any other equipment (lights, ATO, etc) yet?

 

[apex_everything]

Great start, I'm looking forward to following along! The IM AIO tanks are awesome. Your rock scape looks awesome and leaves plenty of room for vertical growth. Make sure to leave space for a rock island or two for corals you don't want to take over the entire scape.

Do you have any other equipment (lights, ATO, etc) yet?

No ATO yet, I got a Radon XR15. Only thing I'm missing is tests kits, live sand, and salt!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Well this is my first experience building a reef tank... I knew I wanted a Nano for quite some time but since this is my first tank, this is the biggest I can go for now since I'm in an apartment. Been getting a ton of stuff in and building my aquascape now. I'm not really in a rush to get the tank up and running. I want to take my time but I want to be up and running by the end of the year.

I did get my RODI hooked up to my apartment spare bathroom shower. I really like the idea of leaving it in the shower and hiding it behind the curtain. If it leaks or anything, it goes straight down the drain.

Well this is what a few hours of aqua scaping for the first time got me. After watching a ton of BRS TV you tube videos, I like how it is. Since this is the first time, id love some feed back!

Let me know what you think!

This tank is super long and short. It is a few inches from the glass from my measurements and followed the 2/3 rule for coral growth. I have not glued anything down. It is standing on its own which I like. I do plan on adding corals but not sure which ones. More learning to do!

Love the aquascape!

 

[apex_everything]

I watched a video about habitat for the fish. I felt like just having two little areas for them too hide isnt enough. Decided to take the right side and make it into a little cave. What do y'all think?

 

[Fishy Guy]

I watched a video about habitat for the fish. I felt like just having two little areas for them too hide isnt enough. Decided to take the right side and make it into a little cave. What do y'all think?

Looks good! What fish are you planning to get?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I watched a video about habitat for the fish. I felt like just having two little areas for them too hide isnt enough. Decided to take the right side and make it into a little cave. What do y'all think?

I think the right addition to your aquascape was an excellent idea!

 

[apex_everything]

Looks good! What fish are you planning to get?

I’m very new. Figured a few clowns at first then do more research. A shrimp and a golby after a few weeks after the clowns including a tester coral.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I’m very new. Figured a few clowns at first then do more research. A shrimp and a golby after a few weeks after the clowns including a tester coral.

Clowns are a great first fish to choose!

 

[apex_everything]

A little update! Sand comes this week. Rock, light and heater is placed!

 

[apex_everything]

Well the tank is up and cycling! Got the ATO hooked up. Pretty excited to see it running.

 

[Fishy Guy]

Well the tank is up and cycling! Got the ATO hooked up. Pretty excited to see it running.

Congrats! It's a good feeling to finally get the tank wet.

 

[apex_everything]

Congrats! It's a good feeling to finally get the tank wet.

Thank you! Really nervous at first but getting it up and running helped. I just hope I'm not doing anything wrong.

It is! I'm staying to my word and keeping the lights off for the next 3-4 weeks. I want to add my clowns /copepods and let them settle for a week. Then turn on the lights. I do need to start picking my corals I want.

I really wanted pulsing xenia but heard they take of tanks. I'll probably like to get a torch or bubble annemie before next year for the clowns but I heard they might not even host them. I need to find a good place for clean up crews here in a few weeks. Hopefully my local store can get a paired clowns in soon.

 

[apex_everything]

Here is how the cycling is going. Started the cycle last Saturday. Tested the water on Monday.

Day 1 Salility 1.026
Ammonia 1.5
Nitrites .1
Nitrates 2
PH 8.2

Day 2 Salility1.026
Ammonia 1.2
Nitrites .5
Nitrates 2
PH 8.2

Day 3 Salility 1.026
Ammonia .8
Nitrites 1
Nitrates 8
PH 8

 

[jabberwock]

Well this is my first experience building a reef tank... I knew I wanted a Nano for quite some time but since this is my first tank, this is the biggest I can go for now since I'm in an apartment. Been getting a ton of stuff in and building my aquascape now. I'm not really in a rush to get the tank up and running. I want to take my time but I want to be up and running by the end of the year.

I did get my RODI hooked up to my apartment spare bathroom shower. I really like the idea of leaving it in the shower and hiding it behind the curtain. If it leaks or anything, it goes straight down the drain.

Well this is what a few hours of aqua scaping for the first time got me. After watching a ton of BRS TV you tube videos, I like how it is. Since this is the first time, id love some feed back!

Let me know what you think!

This tank is super long and short. It is a few inches from the glass from my measurements and followed the 2/3 rule for coral growth. I have not glued anything down. It is standing on its own which I like. I do plan on adding corals but not sure which ones. More learning to do!

Looks good, but I think you should ditch the dry rock and get real ocean live rock.

 

[jabberwock]

Thank you! Really nervous at first but getting it up and running helped. I just hope I'm not doing anything wrong.

It is! I'm staying to my word and keeping the lights off for the next 3-4 weeks. I want to add my clowns /copepods and let them settle for a week. Then turn on the lights. I do need to start picking my corals I want.

I really wanted pulsing xenia but heard they take of tanks. I'll probably like to get a torch or bubble annemie before next year for the clowns but I heard they might not even host them. I need to find a good place for clean up crews here in a few weeks. Hopefully my local store can get a paired clowns in soon.

Gonna pop another bubble. Clowns are lousy pets. The get mean and murderous in my experience.

 

[apex_everything]

We have clownfish! They are a mated pair. Nitrites/Ammonia is 0. Did a water change, put the innovative mat roller in including the GFO/Carbon in the media basket.

Looking into what corals I want, will wait a few weeks.

 

[apex_everything]

Looking on getting some soft corals soon. Any suggestions? Fish are healthy and not as stressed. Still trying to figure out which is the male and family since this is a sold as a pair lol

 

[officialreefbros]

Awesome! You can't go wrong with mushrooms, and toadstool! Be careful with running GFO right off the start and add it in once you have phosphates starting climbing. You don't want to take all of it away from corals!

 

[apex_everything]

Awesome! You can't go wrong with mushrooms, and toadstool! Be careful with running GFO right off the start and add it in once you have phosphates starting climbing. You don't want to take all of it away from corals!

Im running gfo right now. So take it out for a month or so? My phos is like .08 if I remember right.