Nart's Im10 Fusion Build

Here's my new thread for my Innovative Marine 10 gallon journey.
To those who are new to my 10 gallon journey check out my 10G Frag tank adventure for kick's and giggles: Nart's 10 gallon Frag Tank Adventure

Just to sum it up... got a free 10 gallon petco tank. I bought some acrylic and converted it to an AIO set-up. A few weeks later, strolled into Petco and got suckered into a juvenile Picasso clown that was looking skinny and bullied. Sat down to enjoy my DIY 10G AIO tank, and just thought that my terrible DIY didn't do anything in the tank justice.

Born, the IM10 Fusion Build...
Ready? Let's start the new journey... I promise, this will be a more permanent build and 10 times more fun

Caught a great deal on the IM10 tank along with Kessil lights. The guy who sold me this stuff took great care of his tank and equipment. Not a single scratch on the tank glass or lights. I was impressed. stella1979 You need to get on a local reef club forum and find some deals on an IM tank!



Testing the equipment (puppy wanted to help)



Making a screen lid... (The guy who sold me this stuff texted me a day after I made it "hey - I was cleaning up my fish stuff and found the lid/clips I got the for tank. It's yours if you want") Doh!!






Started on the rock-scaping with my left over PukanI from my IM25.



LJC6780 "Rockscaping" is really just legos for Reefers and 10 times more frustrating... I don't have the eye for scaping at all. I just sit there for hours messing with 3 pieces of rock until I think I have something haha.



Still working on the rock-scape, but here's the tank on it's new furniture piece.
Took Nanologist advice of "I don't limit myself to just aquarium stands..." So the wife and I searched around and found this from Target. $60 with a $10 Target gift card, score!
I took the extra step and wood-glued everything and used loc-tite on every single screw. The stand is solid.



With everyone's great suggestions... I think I am going to turn this tank into an all Anemone tank. Bubble tip anemone, rock flower anemone, and minI maxI anemone. grantm91 you having an anemone itch yet?

The goal for this tank is to keep everything simple and low-maintenance. No extra equipment asides from a heater, lights, and pump. No testing. No dosing. Just feeding, water top offs, and weekly maintenance.

 

Here's my new thread for my Innovative Marine 10 gallon journey.
To those who are new to my 10 gallon journey check out my 10G Frag tank adventure for kick's and giggles: Nart's 10 gallon Frag Tank Adventure

Just to sum it up... got a free 10 gallon petco tank. I bought some acrylic and converted it to an AIO set-up. A few weeks later, strolled into Petco and got suckered into a juvenile Picasso clown that was looking skinny and bullied. Sat down to enjoy my DIY 10G AIO tank, and just thought that my terrible DIY didn't do anything in the tank justice.

Born, the IM10 Fusion Build...
Ready? Let's start the new journey... I promise, this will be a more permanent build and 10 times more fun

Caught a great deal on the IM10 tank along with Kessil lights. The guy who sold me this stuff took great care of his tank and equipment. Not a single scratch on the tank glass or lights. I was impressed. stella1979 You need to get on a local reef club forum and find some deals on an IM tank!
View attachment 359158

Testing the equipment (puppy wanted to help)
View attachment 359161

Making a screen lid... (The guy who sold me this stuff texted me a day after I made it "hey - I was cleaning up my fish stuff and found the lid/clips I got the for tank. It's yours if you want") Doh!!
View attachment 359163

View attachment 359164

Started on the rock-scaping with my left over PukanI from my IM25.
View attachment 359165

LJC6780 "Rockscaping" is really just legos for Reefers and 10 times more frustrating... I don't have the eye for scaping at all. I just sit there for hours messing with 3 pieces of rock until I think I have something haha.
View attachment 359166

Still working on the rock-scape, but here's the tank on it's new furniture piece.
Took Nanologist advice of "I don't limit myself to just aquarium stands..." So the wife and I searched around and found this from Target. $60 with a $10 Target gift card, score!
I took the extra step and wood-glued everything and used loc-tite on every single screw. The stand is solid.
View attachment 359167

With everyone's great suggestions... I think I am going to turn this tank into an all Anemone tank. Bubble tip anemone, rock flower anemone, and minI maxI anemone. grantm91 you having an anemone itch yet?

The goal for this tank is to keep everything simple and low-maintenance. No extra equipment asides from a heater, lights, and pump. No testing. No dosing. Just feeding, water top offs, and weekly maintenance.

Sounds cool man....I just added corals to my new 29 gallon salt water tank....I'm waiting a few more months to get my anemone....probably going to go with a bubble tip but I'm open to other options....can you really house that many anemones together in a 10 gallon?

 

Almost forgot about the rescued clown.
This is him at the store. Very skinny with nipped fins and very prone to ich as the entire central system had noticeable ich on the other fishes.



They gave me a 50% discount knowing that I had a QT tank to treat him. So far him, and his yellow-line goby buddy are doing well and eating in the 10G DIY AIO frag tank.



You probably notice some corals I threw into the tank as well. Testing it to see how the parameters are holding up... with the cycled bio-media I put in this tank for an instant cycle and also added Bio-home media from my buddy Tanks and Plants. Corals are now doing really well, I'll have to get an updated pic of the tank soon.
Tagging Lchi87 in this to get her over to the dark side too
Culprit get on your reef tank!

Ernest Sacco For the most part yes, if you know what you are doing. All the different species of anemones occupy different spaces in the tank. So they'll have enough room away from other species. Just have to keep an eye on how quickly Nitrates/Phosphates climb depending on how heavily they are fed.

 

This is off to a flying start with the fact its a IM and there is a kessil on board haha, can't wait to see stock starting to appear a nem here a nem there lol, I need a new project like this but I am broke at the moment but il be idea shopping on your thread Nart .

 

Hahaha..... and let me do the shopping for you Grant

Hey - so need ya'lls opinion/thoughts.

Bare bottom tank or sand?
I was thinking of growing GSP on the bottom glass... but if I put my RFA nems and minI maxI nems. It'll just stick the GSPs to death. So maybe sand?

Thoughts of getting the Picasso clown a clown buddy? Not too worried about bio-load, but I dunno. Feels weird putting two clowns in a small foot-print tank.
Maybe just leave the fish stocking to 1 clown and 1 engineer goby? or.. get another goby of some sort.

 

Yeahhhhhh this is amazing. Wow I wish I could drive I would totally go to my local reef club and get a IM 20 or 25 . Yes I know!!! I'm going to ask my parents as soon as I get a good chance... ya know, make dinner, clean everything up, make desert, take em out on the porch haha.

Oh wow a kessil I can't wait to see all your nems.The tank is beautiful and u found a perfect stand for it too. This makes, what, 3 saltwater tanks now? INcluding the AIO 10 build for QT which I'm sure you'll keep running. If I was u I would make that 10 AIO a gsp/pulsing xenia tank. Completely cover the sides except for 2 and the rockwork with them. That would look sick

 

FINALLY was able to follow the tag to find the post!

I would think the clown pair would be fine after watching mine only occupy the same small space, even in a 4' long 85 gallon! They will probably huddle together and play in the nems.

 

Haha. Culprit yeah. I'm at three tanks, but no desire to try and run three. I'll be closing that 10G DIY soon after I get this IM10 up and running.

LJC6780 thanks for the input LJC. If I can find another designer clown from petco I'll put it in with it. I hope it learns to like BTAs so I can at least have the pleasure to see the symbiotic relationship.

 

What's funny is I didn't even see this mention but somehow found my way over here on my own anyway haha, its a sign! Super excited to be following.

 

Check it out.......... I found that my 5G Freshwater tank that I had just shut down fits perfectly into the bottom shelf.
ATO container... score!



Haven't had much time to work on any of the tanks. Been spending a lot of time re-arranging all the furniture around the apartment to make things work.

The more I think about the Kessil A160WE lights... I might sell it. It's a little too much for the tank, also the fan noise low-key bothers me. I might go for the Kessil A80 instead.
If anyone wants to buy the Kessil A160WE lights off me... let me know! haha.

 

Haha. Culprit yeah. I'm at three tanks, but no desire to try and run three. I'll be closing that 10G DIY soon after I get this IM10 up and running

4

You can always just put it somewhere out of the way, and fill it up whenever you need a QT tank... Lots of uses for a QT. New corals, new fish, sick fish, sick corals, ect.

 

Looks like we'll both have 10 gallon RFA/MM gardens! I like the "stand" you found too. Looks like it fits your room decor and perfectly fits the tank underneath, so a win-win huh?

I was looking at this IM 10 gallon but still leaning towards the 20 gallon because of the shape/footprint. Although, I'm not glued into a permanent rockscape yet, I really like the shelf type arch I've made and think it will display a RFA/MM garden nicely as long as they stay up front. Your bonsaI tree rock scape approach looks great though and you have me thinking of some sort of a compromise. I know Petal for one would hate not having her archway to hangout under when the cats are hunting her...

 

Nanologist yeah. Really liking this stand. Fits the color scheme of my dining room. You should lean towards the IM25 kidding. I know you got a piece of furniture already that fits the IM20.


Got the rockscaping done!

In n' out of the tank and kept re-doing the rocks till I liked it.



The finished product.







After seeing the completed rockscaping in the tank, I am going to go with sand on the bottom instead of having it bare.

 

I need this in my life! Looks like a beautiful sculpture; nice job!

 

Check it out.......... I found that my 5G Freshwater tank that I had just shut down fits perfectly into the bottom shelf.
ATO container... score!
View attachment 359499

Haven't had much time to work on any of the tanks. Been spending a lot of time re-arranging all the furniture around the apartment to make things work.

The more I think about the Kessil A160WE lights... I might sell it. It's a little too much for the tank, also the fan noise low-key bothers me. I might go for the Kessil A80 instead.
If anyone wants to buy the Kessil A160WE lights off me... let me know! haha.

Dude! It totally looks like it could be a macroalgae fuge display! You should use it like that instead! It does fit perfectly in that space!

How much for the Kessil??

 

Looks like its going to be perfect for whatever corals you use. I think like you've said, especially with this hardscape, a carpet coral like zoas or gsp and then nems on the top and rfas on the sides!

 

LJC6780 Macroalgae display huh? That would be neat too... but then I would have no space for some of my other corals during my IM25 re-scape. I'm really going to think on this one.
Sent you a PM on the lights.

Anddd... it's time to cure it. In tank curing. Let's go!



Oh... check out the DIY 10G AIO tank now.




I got annoyed looking at the clutter in the IM25 day in and day out. So I just shoved a bunch of corals over.

 

Oh... check out the DIY 10G AIO tank now.

View attachment 360093

I got annoyed looking at the clutter in the IM25 day in and day out. So I just shoved a bunch of corals over.

Well now I want to see the IM25!

 

Ask and you shall receive! Posting pics on my IM25 thread.

 

Is that a little goby I spy in the 10 AIO? What's that bright blue coral front and center frag rack?

 

LJC6780 Macroalgae display huh? That would be neat too... but then I would have no space for some of my other corals during my IM25 re-scape. I'm really going to think on this one.
Sent you a PM on the lights.

I'm talking the 5 gal! It's sitting down there like it's part of the display.

 

I'm talking the 5 gal! It's sitting down there like it's part of the display.

He knows, lol. It's his "ATO reservoir". I agree it's a great reservoir as well as an even better refuge.

 

I love mods like these... to drill holes in the back and hide equipment/wires.

 

He knows, lol. It's his "ATO reservoir". I agree it's a great reservoir as well as an even better refuge.

Yeah. He was talking about not having space for corals. Thought he was thinking I was talking about the main display tank rather than the 5 gal.

I love mods like these... to drill holes in the back and hide equipment/wires.

View attachment 361027

What’s that top right corner on the tank? Did you scrape some of the background off?

 

LJC6780 Top right of the tank was done by it's original owner from the Kessil mount. Tore up the vinyl in the back. I have some extra vinyl that I'll lay over once I decide on where to mount the lights.

 

Yeah ... mine has a little tear in it too ... from who knows what ... but it’s lower down and I don’t see it.

 

More boring stuff.

PukanI rocks still curing in the IM10.



What surprised me though is the Nitrate test for the DIY 10 gallon AIO. I feed it generously everyday and couldn't even get Nitrates to register on Salifert test kit.



The chaeto has grown a bit.. so it's working!

 

Man. I can’t get my chaeto to grow for anything.

 

LJC6780 did you say chaeto? This is my harvest after 2.5 weeks

 

I started with a good chunk probably about 9-10 months ago and I’m betting it’s about the same size still.

Sell that stuff on eBay!

 

I'm still trying to keep cost down.. so I have been snipping my local club forums for free sand and... scored some! Used sand so I had to separate the big chunks out.



After a rinse... in it goes.



PukanI rocks still curing... my suggestion to anyone planning on their next tank build and if you're going with PukanI rocks for your scape job. Just buy the PukanI rocks now. Throw it in a tub and start curing it lol. By the time you're ready with the tank and ready to scape, the rocks will be good to go. I hateeeeee waiting lol. I am the least patient person ever! Ahhhh... I think I tell my wife every day "I can't wait till this is done curing"

Culprit are you still at the same address? I want to send you some beginner saltwater stuff that I have extra laying around to get you started

 

That's nice of you nart, a nice gesture its good to see in this community that's what its all about.

 

I’m curious to see how your nitrates go with the used sand. I’ve heard it can just be a nitrate factory. Not sure if it’s because people don’t rinse well or if it somehow absorbs something that is then released later. I have a bucket of sand from the tank purchase that I decided not to use on this tank. Might get around to washing it and put it in another.

 

Oh crud! I've been missing the alerts on this one. Oh no! Nice hit on the sand! That Pukani's really taking forever isn't it!

 

Notice anything new on the tank?


Picked up AI Prime lights to have matching lights when I have both my IM tanks together

 

I want this ! I want to cram every coral I have into one of these with a aI prime and just do bubble tips and clowns in the 32 ! This is the bomb 10 g nart !!!!

 

Notice anything new on the tank?
View attachment 368318
Picked up AI Prime lights to have matching lights when I have both my IM tanks together

Love this!!!

 

Looks great!

 

OH MY GOODNESS it looks like a bomb. Can't wait to see this tank stuffed full of corals. Have you decided on if you are going to do a carpet of coral yet ?

 

So sad news. The yellow lined goby passed away yesterday. Not quite sure why either. I really liked the little guy.

Grant, get that 32 going!

Culprit, no. I decided not to go with carpeting corals on the bottom just because it'll make it hard for me to sell the tank when it comes time to break it down. I'll be moving in a year or so and I plan to sell all my tanks and most of the equipment except the lights. Going to use the money to buy a 60-90 gallon cube tank with a sump and all that to go in my future home