Fluval EVO 13.5G tank mod?

[hipertec]

I never understood why Fluval put the PS2 skimmer in chamber 1 and the filters in chamber 2.
Im getting alot of debris and im sure nitrate buildup using the stock block sponge in chamber 2.

Has anyone tried to move the PS2 skimmer in chamber 2, and build a media basket with filter floss in chamber 1? *It looks like chamber 2 skimmer placement just needs to be lifted 2" from the base to be even to the original height.

I would imagine that it would be better method with Filter Floss in Chamber 1, PS2 Skimmer in Chamber 2, and return heater pump in Chamber 3. Has anyone tried this setup on a evo 13.5g Tank?

 

[hipertec]

So I changed the setup and having the filter pad in chamber 1 made such a great difference. It's collecting all the over food and debris before going thru all the chambers.
I had to make an egg crate stand for chamber 2 skimmer to raise the skimmer about 1.5" higher.
Highly recommend this mod. Hope you guys like it.

 

[hipertec]

Just did another mod to my evo tank.*

I wanted to keep the hood but needed a fan to cool the tank.*

So I cut the hood opening and screwed on a 3fan cooler and have it connected to a temp controller. So if it goes above 80 degrees, the fan will kick on.*

What you guys think? I use the same fan setup in my 28g and it works great to cool the tank.*

Now I need some help in finding a small LED light to light up chamber 1 where I threw some chaeto in there. Any suggestions?

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[static916]

Love these mods. I'll need to post mine for my Fluval 13.5.

 

[hipertec]

Just added a chaeto algae into the bottom layer of my media basket on chamber one.
Used a led 5w led light that I bought off amazon. Just had to remove the gooseneck and replaced with a plastic tubing so I could mount the on/off switch directly to the back of led. Then led is velcro'd to glass.
Will know if led light is strong enough to grow the chaeto but I also only have it one 10 hours a day.
What do you guys think? Any improvements or suggestions?

 

[hipertec]

Also just got new led blue bars that I'll mod into the stock hood and light.
Ill sure with 2 blue light bars, it'll give my corals more of the color pop and growth.
Will post led mod shortly.

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[static916]

Looking good. I really wish the Fluval skimmer was on the second chamber by default like you made it.

 

[hipertec]

Looking good. I really wish the Fluval skimmer was on the second chamber by default like you made it.

Yes - having the filter floss in chamber 1 makes a big difference, along with easier to clean and remove the debris.

Another thing I havent done yet is to plug up the small hole in chamber 2- But not sure if it will make a difference or upset the flow into my 3 chambers. I have a Hydor ATO on chamber 3 that works really well with the current flow rate.

 

[hipertec]

Just had to share my rose anesome with my pair of clowns. Took a while to force them to get hosted but it worked!

 

[static916]

Your tank looks very nice. I'm contemplating an anemone too but everything I've read says that I might not be ready and the tank is on the small side.

 

[Sobos Reef]

So I changed the setup and having the filter pad in chamber 1 made such a great difference. It's collecting all the over food and debris before going thru all the chambers.
I had to make an egg crate stand for chamber 2 skimmer to raise the skimmer about 1.5" higher.
Highly recommend this mod. Hope you guys like it.

I wish I could do this mod but I have my AI Prime gooseneck hooked onto the back of chamber 2. Kinda have no room for mods, as of right now I have my skimmer in #1, heater and gooseneck in #2 and my Tunze ATO and return pump in #3.

They do make a media rack specifically made for this tank to fit chamber 1, I'm sure you could google it


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[static916]

Here is how the top of my tank looks. I wanted to keep the clean look of the tank. I honestly really like the original design of the tank.

 

[static916]

Two of the hoses are for the in/out on a canister filter.
One of the hoses is for the out for the ATO.
One another hose is for the out for the algae reactor.

 

[hipertec]

Two of the hoses are for the in/out on a canister filter.
One of the hoses is for the out for the ATO.
One another hose is for the out for the algae reactor.

Looks great!

Whats the canister filter for and the algae reactor? How are you feeding the water out to the tank....is it an external pump?

 

[static916]

I'll post a pic of that tomorrow.
Using a Fluval 106, that pulls water from the tank and pushes it back to tank and also to a Phosban 150.

It feeds from the 3rd chamber. In the 2nd chamber I made it that it forces all the water through my a filter floss, then carbon. This didn't quite work as well as I wanted because it slows water flow a lot from chamber 2 to 3 between filter/carbon changes. This is making the 3rd chamber not reliable for ATO. I'll need to keep tweaking things.

 

[hipertec]

Would love to see how you mod'd the equipment. Very interesting.

Does anyone know how to remove the black honeycomb on the outside of the glass? Looking to remove them from the back of chamber 1 where I have chaeto algae led light.

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[Sobos Reef]

Would love to see how you mod'd the equipment. Very interesting.

Does anyone know how to remove the black honeycomb on the outside of the glass? Looking to remove them from the back of chamber 1 where I have chaeto algae led light.

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I'm pretty sure you can just get a razor and peel it off but don't quote me on that lol


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[hipertec]

I'm pretty sure you can just get a razor and peel it off but don't quote me on that lol


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I'll give it a try tomorrow. Hopefully that will work.

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[static916]

I've had a lot a bit of the honeycomb come off by mistake. Should be pretty easy to razor off.

Here is a pic of my pump, chaeto reactor and trying to grow phytoplankton. I'm not having much luck growing either. Chaeto is dying sadly. I might want to increase the flow or change lights.

 

[slackertime]

So I changed the setup and having the filter pad in chamber 1 made such a great difference. It's collecting all the over food and debris before going thru all the chambers.
I had to make an egg crate stand for chamber 2 skimmer to raise the skimmer about 1.5" higher.
Highly recommend this mod. Hope you guys like it.

What did you use to hold the filter in chamber one may I ask?