13.5g Evo - Mixed Reef (2.3 years)

[SauceyReef]

Here is my Fluval Evo at 2.3 years. Been through many ups and downs with this tank, but it has made me fall in love with Nanos. My main build thread is in the Nano Build Thread forum - feel free to hit the build thread link under my account name on the left. Just wanted to show some love to the Members Tanks Thread as I have never shared here since joining!

 

[blaxsun]

Very impressive for a Fluval EVO. Looks like you have really good coral growth!

 

[jabberwock]

Looks very nice! Is there still a bar called Thursdays near Akron U?

 

[SauceyReef]

Very impressive for a Fluval EVO. Looks like you have really good coral growth!

Thank you! Been testing a lot more this past year and everything has been coming together.

 

[SauceyReef]

Looks very nice! Is there still a bar called Thursdays near Akron U?

Thank you!! They went down I think either right before or during the pandemic. I used to play and watch music there.

 

[jabberwock]

Thank you!! They went down I think either right before or during the pandemic. I used to play and watch music there.

I spent quite a bit of time at Thursdays back in the late 1980's. That was an epic club. Gettin' a little misty...

 

[SauceyReef]

 

[RZGreef]

Awesome looking tank! I have the same tank too, but I'm only at about the 10 month mark and just finally getting to a point where it's relatively stable. I noticed you have your wavemaker mounted in front of chamber 1, so I imagine the magnet side is in the water, within the chamber itself. If so, a couple of questions. Do you have any kind of floss or other media above it to catch stuff going into the overflow and if so how do you get it to rest high up without sinking down into the chamber? And also, did you seal the magnet in some manner to prevent potential leeching into the water? My wavemaker is currently on the back wall but I'd prefer to have it mounted more like you have yours. Thanks in advance!

 

[Subliminal]

Looks great!

Tell me more about the testing. I just do ~3 gallons a week with reef crystals and have never tested anything but temp and salinity...and everything seems to be growing...albeit some things slowly.

Can you expand on your routine and testing equipment?

 

[SauceyReef]

Awesome looking tank! I have the same tank too, but I'm only at about the 10 month mark and just finally getting to a point where it's relatively stable. I noticed you have your wavemaker mounted in front of chamber 1, so I imagine the magnet side is in the water, within the chamber itself. If so, a couple of questions. Do you have any kind of floss or other media above it to catch stuff going into the overflow and if so how do you get it to rest high up without sinking down into the chamber? And also, did you seal the magnet in some manner to prevent potential leeching into the water? My wavemaker is currently on the back wall but I'd prefer to have it mounted more like you have yours. Thanks in advance!

Hello fellow fluval owner! Thank you very much. My first 10 months were crazy also. What has been causing you problems? As far as my tank goes here there is actually no mechanical filtration at all whatsoever. No skimmer, no filterfloss or any media. I removed everything from the back chambers and added a plant grow light that goes on a reverse schedule as my lights. It grows chaeto like a beast - I am removing it once or twice a month. So with all the open space nothing is blocking the magnet. I have never thought of or looked into the ill effects of having the magnet in the water. Time to contact Hygger and look into this a bit more..

 

[RZGreef]

Hello fellow fluval owner! Thank you very much. My first 10 months were crazy also. What has been causing you problems? As far as my tank goes here there is actually no mechanical filtration at all whatsoever. No skimmer, no filterfloss or any media. I removed everything from the back chambers and added a plant grow light that goes on a reverse schedule as my lights. It grows chaeto like a beast - I am removing it once or twice a month. So with all the open space nothing is blocking the magnet. I have never thought of or looked into the ill effects of having the magnet in the water. Time to contact Hygger and look into this a bit more..

The main issue I had was that I couldn't get Nit/Phos to rise above 0, which led to a cycle of dinos & cyano. I finally have it in check, and measurable amounts of both. No cyano or dinos any more, but I still see some diatoms on the sand here or there at times. What finally fixed it was a combination of adding pods, daily phyto, and dosing Nit/Phos manually. Everything is now healthy, and my corals are growing fast. The only issue is I don't yet have any coralline algae growth, but my parameters are where it should be growing. I guess it will just take a little more time.

Thanks for explaining your setup. With no filter media or skimmer or anything, do you find the chambers collect much detritus? As for the Hygger, I have the same wavemaker. I've just read of others finding over time that the magnet side swelled up and started leeching if they had it submerged. I once tried sealing it inside a ziplock bag and submerging, but the bag ripped and I didn't risk it again.

 

[SauceyReef]

The main issue I had was that I couldn't get Nit/Phos to rise above 0, which led to a cycle of dinos & cyano. I finally have it in check, and measurable amounts of both. No cyano or dinos any more, but I still see some diatoms on the sand here or there at times. What finally fixed it was a combination of adding pods, daily phyto, and dosing Nit/Phos manually. Everything is now healthy, and my corals are growing fast. The only issue is I don't yet have any coralline algae growth, but my parameters are where it should be growing. I guess it will just take a little more time.

Thanks for explaining your setup. With no filter media or skimmer or anything, do you find the chambers collect much detritus? As for the Hygger, I have the same wavemaker. I've just read of others finding over time that the magnet side swelled up and started leeching if they had it submerged. I once tried sealing it inside a ziplock bag and submerging, but the bag ripped and I didn't risk it again.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing! It it always easier to add than take out I think especially with phosphates. Sounds like something in your media may be sucking up nutrients. If you dont mind feeding that much you're at a good balance! Ill let you know what Hygger says. If you find any evidence of it please link me !

 

[SauceyReef]

The main issue I had was that I couldn't get Nit/Phos to rise above 0, which led to a cycle of dinos & cyano. I finally have it in check, and measurable amounts of both. No cyano or dinos any more, but I still see some diatoms on the sand here or there at times. What finally fixed it was a combination of adding pods, daily phyto, and dosing Nit/Phos manually. Everything is now healthy, and my corals are growing fast. The only issue is I don't yet have any coralline algae growth, but my parameters are where it should be growing. I guess it will just take a little more time.

Thanks for explaining your setup. With no filter media or skimmer or anything, do you find the chambers collect much detritus? As for the Hygger, I have the same wavemaker. I've just read of others finding over time that the magnet side swelled up and started leeching if they had it submerged. I once tried sealing it inside a ziplock bag and submerging, but the bag ripped and I didn't risk it again.

Well this makes me feel better! Here is what Hygger emailed me back:

"Thank you very much for your support.
Please don't worry, the magnet is totally submersible and reef safe."

So far Hygger products and customer service have been really great for me!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Great looking tank!!!

 

[RZGreef]

Well this makes me feel better! Here is what Hygger emailed me back:

"Thank you very much for your support.
Please don't worry, the magnet is totally submersible and reef safe."

So far Hygger products and customer service have been really great for me!

Oh that's awesome! Thanks so much. Now I can move mine to that wall as well.

 

[SauceyReef]

Great looking tank!!!

Thank you very much!!

Oh that's awesome! Thanks so much. Now I can move mine to that wall as well.

Of course!