2 fluval evo 13.5g system with 20g sump build thread

[GoReefin]

I originally was in to reefing with first a 32g solana and then upgraded to a 90g tank. Ended up moving across the country and had to shut everything down about 10 years ago. Now I am looking forward to getting back in the hobby with this nano system build for my office. Originally started with a 7.5g tank without a sump and realized this was never going to be viable long term.

Once I realized this I got to working on building my stand which I must say is way over built.

 

[GoReefin]

Once the stand was completed I then began working on the sump and plumbing. Including drilling the two fluval 13.5g evo tanks. And completed my first water test. I had a leak in the sump which I fixed and ran the pump for 24 hours without leaks before disassembly and transport to my office.

 

[GoReefin]

One of the systems I converted to 3/4 inch plumbing the other I left as half inch. If I were to do it over again I'd go 3/4 in both tanks for flow. Now I then began transferring my livestock (no fish at this point) to my new system. I used live sand and some still wet base rock to begin my system. I did not cycle the tank as I used all my live rock and sand from my old 7.5g tank. My second tank was devoid of life and so I had an issue with algae on the sand. I purchased a tiger tail sea cucumber and a fighting conch which helped a lot and are still alive and well in the more aggressive tank.

 

[GoReefin]

Over my first weekend I did not take into account loss from evaporation and realized I would need to get an auto top off stat. I use a 3g container which has worked well for now but will be upgrading to a 5g container so I can go 3 to 4 days without a fill up. For maintenance I do 5g water changes weekly with reef Crystal's salt and clean my skimmer 2 times a week.

 

[GoReefin]

After a month I tried my first BTA which the same night I got him promptly detached and I found him stuck to my small powerhead the next morning where he promptly died. I removed my power head and began with an elegance coral and what was sold as a LTA instead. After a couple weeks with good success I began stocking BTAs first 2 small rose BTAs.

 

[GoReefin]

Shortly thereafter parameters were good so I decided to add 2 more rainbow BTAs these were slightly larger and a single green BTA. I then added my first fish to the system 2 true percula clownfish. I had an issue with agression and have lost 2 clownfish to the female widow maker... she is currently solo in the tank right now.

 

[GoReefin]

I then had a small disaster in my tank. My green bubble tip anemone decided to detach and covered my entire overflow over the weekend which caused my system to loose over 3 gallons of water on the office floor. It must have occurred on a Friday as it was mostly dry by Monday. The green bubble tip had a rough split and I wasn't sure it was going to make it. I found the other half in my filter sock. They both ended up making a full recovery. Although they kept wandering the tank and not looking good. So I ended up lowering the light and they finally started puffing back up again and have been great ever since.

 

[GoReefin]

My LPS and softy tank in the meantime had some new additions including its first fish a tanaka's pygmy wrasse, a blue waving hand coral and a large green singulara. Unfortunately I bleached my first torch coral by adding it to the anemone tank without acclimating it to my lights. It is still alive but very white. I realized that since I now have fish in the tank I need to start up my refugium. So I bought some cheato and more recently red pompom macro algae and a kessel refugium light.

 

[GoReefin]

I have kept a video log of my progress with this system on YouTube and will post the videos below. Hopefully I can update this thread with both pictures and videos as time goes on.

 

[GoReefin]

I had some trouble getting my tanaka's pygmy wrasse to eat frozen food. Eventually he started eating frozen mysis but nothing else as of yet so I ordered a live white worm starter kit to start growing live food for him. The worms are multiplying rapidly so will try to feed him some whie worms sometime in the next couple weeks

 

[GoReefin]

Still having trouble with my wild caught green bubble tip anemones. On the bright side the new anemone from live aquaria is doing great settled in and hasn't moved all weekend. The green ones have split once and just won't settle down. Thinking I may have to remove them both from the tank sadly...

 

[GoReefin]

Some good news for those of you who watched my most recent YouTube video my live aquaria bubble tip anemone is doing much better puffing up nicely. However, his mouth is still slightly open. I honestly thought this guy wasn't going to make it but I'm glad he pulled through the shipping. I am going to now let my system adjust to the new inhabitants for a month or two before thinking about adding any additional livestock. Now it's time to sit back and enjoy the corals I have.

 

[carolina rojas]

Over my first weekend I did not take into account loss from evaporation and realized I would need to get an auto top off stat. I use a 3g container which has worked well for now but will be upgrading to a 5g container so I can go 3 to 4 days without a fill up. For maintenance I do 5g water changes weekly with reef Crystal's salt and clean my skimmer 2 times a week.

this is the same same issue im having right now, can u tell me a little bit more about the auto set up for the evaporation water on ur tank? I'm adding each 2 days and checking on every little evaporation water lost

 

[GoReefin]

this is the same same issue im having right now, can u tell me a little bit more about the auto set up for the evaporation water on ur tank? I'm adding each 2 days and checking on every little evaporation water lost

Sure can! I use a Tunze Nano auto top off which has a pump, float valve which sits in the sump and when water decreases the float valve senses the decreased water and turns on the pump which pumps in fresh RODI water into the system. You should have your auto top off inlet not directly into the water as it can create a siphon which can overflow your tank. You should also never have your auto top off container sitting above your tank as this can cause water to continuously flow into the sump causing a flood.

This is the auto top off system I use.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/tunze-osmolator-nano-3152-auto-top-off.html

This is the container I bought off of amazon. It is cheap and works well.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FFM55T3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[carolina rojas]

Thank you very much!!

 

[GoReefin]

Wanted to post an update. Well unfortunately my two green bubble tips died on the same day probably on sunday night. I removed the corpses and completed 2 seperate 5 gallon water changes. The beaded anemone has stayed put but all the other anemones have all moved around. Today most have finally stayed put. The only one still moving around is the newest one from liveaquaria. Hopefully he is compatible with all my other bubble tips. If not I'll remove him before he dies and place him in another tank.

On a good note my Tanaka's pygmy wrasse is out more and eating the white worms and frozen mysis shrimp. He is fast becoming my favorite fish in the tank.

 

[najer]

Very nicely done, love my Evo.

 

[GoReefin]

Well just a little update my new bubbletip from live aquaria was settled for 2 days has once again walked to the other side of the rock. Hopefully he settles in like all the others soon.

 

[GoReefin]

Finally had some time to make an update video. Things are looking good new anemone has stayed put over the weekend. Hopefully out of the woods now.

 

[GoReefin]

Had some time to take some full tank shots today. Everything is out and happy. Ended up having to take one of my bangii cardinal fish back to the LFS the larger of the two was chasing him around the tank and nipping him.

I am finding it difficult to have peaceful tank mates in such a small tank.

My live aquaria bubble tip is changing colors to more green so I learned my lesson not to buy "fancy" colors.

I tried changing my sump to run 12 hours of the day and my anemones all looked terrible so I put it back up to 24 hours a day.