I recently picked up a 2015 IM 50 Lagoon. (verified with IM by the serial number) I have ordered and received lots of Marco rock (foundation, regular, and shelf, including some nano-shelf), epoxy, gel glue, Insta-set, am I am about to have a go at my first HNSA build. My goal is to have softies and LPS with a few fish. I currently have an old Oceanic Biocube 29 HQI with a Prime 16HD on it. I want to take what I have learned and move to this new and bigger tank. My tanks are also in my office so I need them to be a quiet as possible. I have several questions for the community at this point.
I haven't cleaned the tank out yet, but I have a bag of citric acid and that's coming soon.
So far, I have the following items:
Tank and Stand
Clearview Lid
Salt mix
Helio 200w heater
Scape Rock
Arag-alive special grade sand
VCA random flow nozzles with some bits of lock line I can add if I need to direct flow
New hoses and fittings for the return pump from IM
InTank media basket
InTank floss tray
I plan to add an XR-15 G6 Blue. (I think this is enough for a roughly 29"l,19"w,16"d display area)
My questions loom around return pump, wavemaker, and skimmer.
Return pump:
I was considering a Sicce SDC 3.0 for my return pump. However, the little Jebao DCS 1200 has been doing great on my 29g. I am really considering getting the Jebao DCP 3500 or 4000. They will both be more than powerful enough, and I could get 3 for the price of one Sicce. I would lose app controllability, but I don't have that now so I don't know that I'd miss it. I am interested in thoughts on this.
Flow pump(s):
I started with a Nero 3, but found I had dead areas in the back of the tank so I added a Sicce Voyager nano 1000 in my Biocube and they seem to be working fine. I was considering 2 Nero 3 in the IM 50, but am now wondering if a Gyre pump might be better. I will already have the random flow nozzles from VCA which I plan to run somewhere around 600gph so would a Red Sea Reefwave 25 or an Icecap 2k give me a better overall flow inside the tank? Should I be looking at a pair of MP10s instead?
Skimmer:
The tank came with an IM Ghost skimmer, but I have heard they can be loud and don't give the best performance. I was considering a Cadlights PLS 50 Elite II, and the MagTool Nano DC skimmer on Amazon for $80.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I haven't cleaned the tank out yet, but I have a bag of citric acid and that's coming soon.
So far, I have the following items:
Tank and Stand
Clearview Lid
Salt mix
Helio 200w heater
Scape Rock
Arag-alive special grade sand
VCA random flow nozzles with some bits of lock line I can add if I need to direct flow
New hoses and fittings for the return pump from IM
InTank media basket
InTank floss tray
I plan to add an XR-15 G6 Blue. (I think this is enough for a roughly 29"l,19"w,16"d display area)
My questions loom around return pump, wavemaker, and skimmer.
Return pump:
I was considering a Sicce SDC 3.0 for my return pump. However, the little Jebao DCS 1200 has been doing great on my 29g. I am really considering getting the Jebao DCP 3500 or 4000. They will both be more than powerful enough, and I could get 3 for the price of one Sicce. I would lose app controllability, but I don't have that now so I don't know that I'd miss it. I am interested in thoughts on this.
Flow pump(s):
I started with a Nero 3, but found I had dead areas in the back of the tank so I added a Sicce Voyager nano 1000 in my Biocube and they seem to be working fine. I was considering 2 Nero 3 in the IM 50, but am now wondering if a Gyre pump might be better. I will already have the random flow nozzles from VCA which I plan to run somewhere around 600gph so would a Red Sea Reefwave 25 or an Icecap 2k give me a better overall flow inside the tank? Should I be looking at a pair of MP10s instead?
Skimmer:
The tank came with an IM Ghost skimmer, but I have heard they can be loud and don't give the best performance. I was considering a Cadlights PLS 50 Elite II, and the MagTool Nano DC skimmer on Amazon for $80.
Thanks in advance for any help!