"The Cove" Build Journey (IM 50 EXT connected to WB 20 Mantis/Fuge Display)

[mikesreef83]

Hello all!

I'm very excited to introduce this new addition to our arsenal of reef tanks. This would make number 4 and our largest one yet (in this home). Just a short bio of myself. I have been in the Reefing hobby for 20+ years off and on. I've kept most nano sized tanks along with a couple larger systems. My largest was 90 gallons with a 150-gallon sump and 50-gallon refugium plumbed through the basement back in 2012. In the last few months I just recently got my Wife involved into the hobby. I’m proud to say she no longer thinks they're money pits!! It’s a miracle! We now have to take turns each week buying coral from online auctions. There’s nothing better than to be able to share your passion for a hobby with your spouse.

Onto the Tank, I acquired this tank used and had to buffer out many scratches in the glass, give it a thorough cleaning and leak test. After one week it passed my leak test and I was ready to start the setup process.

The plan is to keep this a mixed reef tank. My Wife loves the Gonnies and Torches and I love the SPS, so we compromised. Since she and I already have our own tanks with whatever we want in them we figured it would be best to have this as a “shared” tank. This system will sustain a 20 Gallon Display Refugium sitting next to the main display. The cube will have the false wall removed and an Eshopps overflow will be added. The cube I also acquired used with the false wall cracked so I thought this was perfect opportunity to use it. IT will also be sitting next to my WB cube 20 stand alone SPS tank.

Equipment List

Display Tank: Innovative Marine 50 EXT W/ APS Black Stand
Display Refugium: Waterbox Cube 20 (Modified w/ Eshopps Eclipse M Overflow)
Sump: Trigger System Triton 26-V2
Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus Classic 110-SSS
Return Pump: Maxspect Jump DC 8K (2,113 GPH)
Wavemaker: Magtool Gyre DC MT-4200
Controller: Hydros Launch
Heaters: Cobalt NeoTherm 200W, Finnex Titanium 300W (Backup)
Lighting: X2 NoopSysche K7 Pro III, 470NM Blue light bars
Lighting Mount: Red Sea ReedLED Pendant hung by custom mount



Live Stock List:
TBD

 

[mikesreef83]

Waterbox has been gutted of all the baffles. Stripped off all the vinyl. Currently leak testing. Going to repaint the back black after it’s drilled.

 

[mikesreef83]

Finished gluing all the plumbing.

 

[mikesreef83]

Refugium setup (sti need drilled and plumbed) and using the space under the Refugium stand to house all the controllers.

 

[Arkayology]

How did you attach the light mount to the IM stand?

 

[mikesreef83]

How did you attach the light mount to the IM stand?

All the hardware besides the self-drilling screws are from TNutz

I used two and a four hole corner brackets.

T-Nuts and Button head screws to attached the bracket to the extrusions.

Then I used 1" Tek self-drilling Hex screws to attach the other two holes of the corner brackets to the stand.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[mikesreef83]

In the meantime. The standalone WB 20 sitting next to the new setup is doing great. I will eventually drag some out and put in the 50

 

[mikesreef83]

Big update!

Ordered 70 pounds of “The Package” from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Super excited to see what comes in. In the meantime I’m going to get the tank wet this week, test for leaks, get the wiring hooked up and make sure all equipment is working as it should.

Test fitted the Kessil A360X in the ReefLED Mount and it fits perfectly. Having some diy brackets made for the two NoopSyche lights to fit flush in the pendant. I also have two 24” blue populargrow (reef brite equivalent) light bars on the way which I’ll mount on the front and back of the pendant. I think I will be covered for lighting.

Hydros Launch is on the way. Had to wait for it to be restocked. I got the eshopps eclipse overflow box in for the 20 cube refugium buts it’s way too big so I’m exchanging it for the small 600gph version.

 

[Arkayology]

Post pics of what you get from TBS!

 

[mikesreef83]

Post pics of what you get from TBS!

Definitely! I plan on doing a detailed video journal for this build so everyone can get the latest on how awesome TBS stuff is. The only bummer is my first Aircargo “Part 1” shipment is schedule for 8/23 and “Part 2” for 9/9. But it’s totally worth the wait. They need to have time to go out and dive for the stuff! The good thing about having the display refugium is having the ability to just drop any mantis or other unwanted display critters right in.

 

[Arkayology]

I'm trying 40lbs of Tropic Eden "live" sand to start for my IM50ext. I may get a small amount of TBS to help seed the new tank. I just really like the aesthetic of the Tropic Eden sand, which is why I went with it. I look forward to seeing what you get from TBS!

 

[mikesreef83]

I'm trying 40lbs of Tropic Eden "live" sand to start for my IM50ext. I may get a small amount of TBS to help seed the new tank. I just really like the aesthetic of the Tropic Eden sand, which is why I went with it. I look forward to seeing what you get from TBS!

Tropic Eden makes high quality sand. You won’t be disappointed, I’ve used their Reef Flakes in the past and was very pleased. I was initially running with the Caribsea Fiji Pink sand train for a while as it’s a very common sand. This time I figured if I’m getting TBS I might as well go all out and get the sand too to get the full benefits all it all.

 

[mikesreef83]

The system is filled and wet. With a hardcore 48 hour observation I can safely say zero leaks are present. Saturday deliveries and installation included the Hydros Launch and its accessories. I decided to add at start the Hydros ATO system, Skimmer overflow sensor, PH probe (not configured yet), and Temp Probe. For my first 3 outputs I chose the return Pump, INKBIRD Controller, and Skimmer. My Heaters have triple redundancy so if the heaters fail, INKBIRD controller will kick in, if that fails, the Hydros will take over.

Skimmer sensor was setup to shut off if the cup reaches the sensor as “wet”. This will be helpful since I will have a CO2 scrubber ring installed on the skimmer cup (on the way from eBay) for a recirculating CO2 setup.

The Reef Octopus Skimmer 110-SSS has a lot of micro bubbles at start but I let the water level drop from 7-1/2” tp 6” and turn the knob to the left and it seems to help. I also got the skimmer used and it was cleaned with vintager prior so that might be why it has micro bubbles escaping the body. We will see in time.

All in all. Happy I have it filled and running with all the electronics and controllers setup. Now, The next step is to drill the 20 Glallon WB when the Eshopps overflow comes in. I have a pump in mind to use for the return.

 

[Arkayology]

What fish do you plan to add?

 

[mikesreef83]

What fish do you plan to add?

We are thinking the following fish. I think is would be way too many fish but I have kept heavy bioloads with great success in the passed.

Display Tank
Royal Gramma or Royal Dottyback
School of Chromis
Couple storm clowns
Six line wrasse
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Pink Spotted Watchman Goby
Flame Hawkfish
Biota Yellow Tang
Filefish (Maybe)

Display Refugium
One Small Peakcock or two G. Smithii (Purplse Spot) Mantis Shrimp
Urchins
Turbo Snails

 

[mikesreef83]

Alrighty, TBS Package 1 got moved up to the this Monday the 19th which means this week I am finishing up the prep work on the 20 gallon display fuge! Can't wait to see what I get. I got the fuge drains plumbed and the UV plumbed.

Only issue I am running into is the skimmer cup is pushing quite a bit of water to the CO2 reactor (recirculating). I did some research and seen people having to make a pre filter before the reactor. I order some plastic food grade jars and some barbs to try this.

 

[mikesreef83]

Added an Hydros XP8 and got rid of the Gyre and added a MP40.

 

[Arkayology]

How's the flow with that MP40? What do you have it set at? I thought about adding one to my IM50ext but it thought it would be too much. I ended up getting a Gyre 2k for now and may add another 2k in the future depending on flow needs.

 

[mikesreef83]

How's the flow with that MP40? What do you have it set at? I thought about adding one to my IM50ext but it thought it would be too much. I ended up getting a Gyre 2k for now and may add another 2k in the future depending on flow needs.

I think so far it’s perfect. I have it set at around 45%. I copy the same water flow method as my sps dominate tank for now. Not too much flow but as I get more in the tank I’ll be able to see better.