Fluval evo 13,5 on the way

Marouette21

New member
Hello,

After many weeks to read, buy mats, prepare it, my Fluval Evo 13,5 is finally on its Day1 :)

I prepare my salt water with Instant ocean Reef crystal. Temp is 79 F, salinity with my refractometer is 1,025 and pH is 8,2.

For now, I have around 12 lbs of Marco rock.

With the base tank kit, I add a Koralia 240 mph and the skimmer (not connect for now, I will wait after the cycling). In the filter, I have the sponge with carbon and floss to remove particules in the water. When my cycling will be done, I will use a structure to put purigen and chemi-pure elite. Not sure what I will put on the third step,probably some floss with carbon maybe (or only floss)

Tommorow, I will go to the LFS to buy 2 or 3 lbs of live rock and I will add 10 lbs of live sand.

If you have any comments to help me, let me know :) It's my first tank
 

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Looks like a great start! Same tank but mine remains empty for now. My advise, first this web site, become a student first and second, use reliable water test kits. Oh, and enjoy being the master of a very small and fragile piece of this world. Good luck and following.
 
Day 2

Day 2

Day 2.

I add live sand (10 lbs) and live rock (2 lbs). LFS recommand me to buy a mix of zooplanton to help to start the cycle. It's the bottle you can see in the tank. I will remove it in 2 days.

Then, I will just have to wait! My idea is to have a couple of little clowns and a yellow watchman goby with pistol shrime but I still not sure about it. For coral, I will look for some easy soft corals (zoah and mushroom).
 

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Nice start! I like your rock work.

I cycled my Fluval 13.5 with Turbo 900 and highly recommend it (tested 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 10 Nitrates first week). I just added a second Koralia 240 as one wasn't cutting it and started getting Cyano in places.

I use a sock of carbon and a Chemipure Elite in the 2nd chamber. When the Chemipure is up for replacement I'm thinking switching to a sock of GFO. I run floss at the top of the same chamber. In the first chamber I have the Fluval SAE Skimmer as it came with deal from my LFS. I have it dialed in and really like it. Worth it? Not sure. But, do like it on my system. Chamber three I just have the return pump and slim heater that fits next to it.

I love the tank. It is my first nano and it is certainly a different ball game from larger tanks. It's fun!

KSGiGv0
 
It's beautiful. What living do you have in your tank? My idea is to go with 2 clowns and 1 little goby but I worry that can be too much. What is your cleaning population?
 
Lights

Lights

Good morning,

I have the idea to probably update the light in a couple of monthes to have one I could program. Because my schédule at work, I will need to open this one realy early at the morning and close is really early too so It,s not open more that 12 hours. It's kinda sad because the tank will have light mainly when I work... I would like to be able to program it. What would be your suggestions of lights for this tank?

Thanks
 
Fish in my tank are a pair of ORA Ocellaris clowns and a Purple Firefish. I have a skunk Cleaner shrimp, three blue legged hermits, three Nassrius snails in the sandbed, and three Banded Trochus snails. Your fish selection will be great.

For lighting, I'm currently just running the stock lights but upgrading them is my next investment priority. I've done a lot of reading and we are in a nice spot with such a small/shallow tank. The options I've researched and will be deciding between are the following...

Kessil A80 + Controller + Goose Neck mount: $250
AI Prime + Goose Neck mount: $250
Current USA Marine Pro 18" : $150

I prefer the Kessil light over the others (looks amazing at LFS), but like the full package customization of the AI Prime. I'm seriously considering the Current Marine for price as par values will be fine for a tanks our size and the display is 18.6" so basically full coverage with the smallest unit. All these lights are fully programmable and you can can ramp up and set on/off around your own schedule so you can enjoy all your hard work when at home.
 
Day 6

Day 6

Temp and salinity still stable but I wait for amoniac to show up. Someone on Facebook suggest me to add raw shrim to help start cycle. I will probably do it tommorow if I still see nothing
 

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Still not detect any amoniac, nitrite or nitrate 2 days after add a raw shrime. It's normal? I begin to see little algae on my live rocks. Do that mean anything?

Thanks
 
It is normal just let it be it will clear up in a few. Maybe brush off the rocks so it can be collected but for the most part it is bacteria colonies doing their thing.
 
So frustrating

So frustrating

All my parameters are perfect. I was ready to buy my first fish this week end but I have big trouble with my skimmer (Fluval PS2) Last week, the pomp just break. So I returned to my LFS and they gave me a new one. 48h later, the new pomp begun to make big noises... I removed the skimmer, attempt to look what wrong... and now the pomp still work but the screw don't turn.... I'm so mad. Return to the LFS. They will make test.

So I wait... and I watch my beautiful tank with life rock but no fishes... Patient, need to be patient... lol

LFS say they dont have any other skimmer that can fit in my tank. Any of you know an other skimmer who could fit in the first chamber of the Fluval evo 13,5?

Thanks!
 
I hate, hate, hate the way they designed the rear chamber in the EVO. The first upgrades for this tank has to be the In Tank media basket for camber 1 at least. I went ahead and got both and now the water flows through the sump as it should
 
great looking tank. What are you planning to stock it with? fish only? coral? as much as i loved the clean look of the lid/light combo, i ended up upgrading mine to an AI Prime HD. just better coverage, not to mention i can program the light. i didn't like the touch sensor on the stock light.
 
Update

Update

Hello,

I'm almost done to add fishes and cleanup crew in my tank.

I have : - 1 clown
- 1 bicolor blenny
- 2 trochus snails
- 1 nerite snail
- 1 nassarius snail
- 1 cleaning shrim

The last thing I would like to add is a little crab. I hesitate between emerald crab or pompom crab. Any advise about this two?

After, I think I will be full for the fishes and the cleanup. In a couple on month, I would like to begin to add some easy softs corals. For now, I dont think I will change the light. That could be an option next year, when I will be sure all go well and I will be ready to spend money for a good light!
 
Hello,

I'm almost done to add fishes and cleanup crew in my tank.

I have : - 1 clown
- 1 bicolor blenny
- 2 trochus snails
- 1 nerite snail
- 1 nassarius snail
- 1 cleaning shrim

The last thing I would like to add is a little crab. I hesitate between emerald crab or pompom crab. Any advise about this two?

After, I think I will be full for the fishes and the cleanup. In a couple on month, I would like to begin to add some easy softs corals. For now, I dont think I will change the light. That could be an option next year, when I will be sure all go well and I will be ready to spend money for a good light!

I really like emerald crabs but have had issues with them messing with other inhabitants including corals. They can be a little hit or miss.

Maybe try a Porcelain Crab?

321.jpg
 
Picture

Picture

This crab is a beauty but I never see them in my LSF. I will need to ask if they can have it.

There is some pictures of my tank. I know that not look so pretty but alguae will leave one day ;) My parameters are good, phosphate at 0,01 and no nitrate. Last picture, I know it's not clear, but it's my blenny.
 

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This crab is a beauty but I never see them in my LSF. I will need to ask if they can have it.

There is some pictures of my tank. I know that not look so pretty but alguae will leave one day ;) My parameters are good, phosphate at 0,01 and no nitrate. Last picture, I know it's not clear, but it's my blenny.

Hair algae may be my favorite one to deal with haha. Just get a toothbrush and scrape it off when doing a water change.
 
I know! This is nothing compare to last week. I already remove a lot last week with a bigger brush ;) This week I will buy a toothbrush to remove some more
 
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