Griev's IM-200 Mangrove Lagoon

[Griev]

I've been intrigued by the idea of an algae scrubber so I decided on this sump and scrubber combo from Clearwater/CWT. If nothing else, it sure is pretty.

I'm planning on just running it off a split in the drain line and an adjustment valve.

Tank goes up on the stand tomorrow!

 

[Jedi1199]

Wow!! What a saga... If I may ask, What store did you have fostering your stock? I live in Merced and I wouldn't wish to patronize a store that is dragging this out like that. Yes, it was not his out of pocket loss, but he DID agree to assume the risks of fostering your stock. A quality person would either cut you a check on the spot, or make arrangements with you to replace, to the best of his ability, the stock you lost.

 

[Griev]

It's up on the stand! This sucker was heavy!

Next steps for the build are;

1. Order some cut starboard and silicone it down. With the white stand and white lights, I think white starboard for the bare bottom will look really sharp and help protect the bottom glass from scratches.
2. Aquascape! Going to try out some different scapes, likely going to use mortar to try some nice big arches.
3. Map out and order all the plumbing fixtures and pipe to get the sump all hooked up.

 

[TheWB]

It's up on the stand! This sucker was heavy!

Next steps for the build are;

1. Order some cut starboard and silicone it down. With the white stand and white lights, I think white starboard for the bare bottom will look really sharp and help protect the bottom glass from scratches.
2. Aquascape! Going to try out some different scapes, likely going to use mortar to try some nice big arches.
3. Map out and order all the plumbing fixtures and pipe to get the sump all hooked up.

That looks amazing already. Can’t wait to see it up and running.

 

[Griev]

That looks amazing already. Can’t wait to see it up and running.

Thanks! I'm stoked with how amazing the false wall frame around the tank looks. So worth the additional effort!

The whole time I was worried that I messed up the measurements and you'd see the wall behind the tank, but all you see is the wood. Looks super clean.

 

[Griev]

So originally I was going to try and have the mangroves planted in a 3D printed box of mud hidden in the rockwork so the mangroves emerge from the center of the tank, growing up between the two lights, but now I think I'm changing my mind.

For that to work I'd have to cut a hole in the mesh top for the mangroves to stick out (maybe 3D print a porthole to keep the mesh taut), I'd never be able to fully remove the lid once the mangroves got too big to fit back through, and the grow light would be difficult to position in a way that doesn't bleed into the tank messing with the color blend.

With the lid on there's a nice opening in the back center that would work perfect for my mangroves;

So now I just need to get the overflows plumbed so I can design a planter box that fits and get it printing!

 

[Griev]

As I was carrying an old Ikea TV stand to the dumpster, I realized it was probably the perfect size for an equipment cabinet. Broke out the measuring tape and it's a near perfect fit!

Turned the shelf 90 degrees and screwed it into place to close up the "back" and a few minutes with the drill press and a 1.5" forstner bit and now I've got an equipment cabinet with a drawer!

I was going to hook up the MP40 controllers, but it appears that the 19mm glass of this behemoth is just slightly too thick for the magnets to hold, even though the MP40 says it works on up to 19mm glass. Guess I'm swapping them out for MP60s.

Next week all the plumbing odds and ends should arrive along with some special mortar for the aquascape. Time to start hitting some rocks with a hammer...

 

[Griev]

Plumbing done!

Tomorrow I'm going to start on the aquascape.

 

[Griev]

After hours of breaking, stacking, gluing, and cementing I ended up with something that I think is going to look really amazing.

Hopefully they're not too heavy for me to actually get into the tank

 

[bnord]

Step by step, inch by inch
welcome to Ga

 

[bnord]

After hours of breaking, stacking, gluing, and cementing I ended up with something that I think is going to look really amazing.

Hopefully they're not too heavy for me to actually get into the tank

Will be happy to help lift if you are not too far away from Athens

 

[bnord]

By the way, I am two months into my own 90 frag/lagoon/mangrove
In San Pedro Belize right now trying to figure out how to get mangroves seedlings through customs
or not

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

The IM200 is my dream tank. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

 

[Griev]

By the way, I am two months into my own 90 frag/lagoon/mangrove
In San Pedro Belize right now trying to figure out how to get mangroves seedlings through customs
or not

Nice! I've still got mine from the last tank sitting in a trash bin full of water on the back porch and they're still growing.

 

[bnord]

Will be looking for some brackish grasses tomorrow to go in the planter hung on the wall behind the tank.

 

[Griev]

The rocks weren't too bad to lift!

Filling 'er up

 

[bnord]

Now that’s almost as nice as the plumbing
sweet

 

[Griev]

It's almost a shame to close the cabinet!

Got the second light up today and moved the corals out of the QT tank.

 

[fishlover1478]

It's almost a shame to close the cabinet!

Got the second light up today and moved the corals out of the QT tank.

no one says you need to close the cabinet, I won't judge just saying . . .

 

[Griev]

Got the mangroves planted. Took more iterations than I'd like to admit to get the box I designed to work with the overflows, and even then I had to clean up the channels with a handheld router to get the lid to fit