AgentKooper's Fluval Evo 13.5-gallon build

[AgentKooper]

Welcome! This is where I will be describing my developing reef setup in a new Fluval Evo 13.5. I kept various freshwater tanks as a kid and had an unsuccessful attempt at a nano reef tank about 10 years ago. That tank failed for a variety of reasons, including bad tank selection and overstocking, but ultimately it was a good learning experience. I'm taking it slower and more methodically this time around and will provide updates on my experiences in hopes that they might help others the way reading a millions posts here and elsewhere has helped me.

The tank contains 11.5 pounds of dry rock and about an inch of sand. The total water volume is a bit over 10 gallons. I'm currently on day 11 of cycling, with ammonia levels on the way down.

I'll post a photo shortly.

FWIW, I found it very helpful to read this guy's description of a similar setup:

Project EVO Marine: Introduction and Index - Spec-Tanks

The time has come. When I first decided to get back into aquariums (as an adult) 6 years ago, I actually dreamed of getting a saltwater tank. But, we had small kids – not enough time, probably not enough money. Marine tanks seemed difficult – and mysterious. I had done freshwater before, so...

spec-tanks.com

I'll discuss equipment and upgrades in future posts.

More soon. Thanks for reading!

 

[blaxsun]

The Fluval Evo 13.5 tanks are extremely popular - good luck with yours!

 

[csturgis1989]

Evo 13.5 is what I started with for salt water and it is the perfect budget friendly starter saltwater tank. Before you know it you will be upgrading the light to an AI prime and modifying the filter compartments. Best of luck!

 

[AgentKooper]

Evo 13.5 is what I started with for salt water and it is the perfect budget friendly starter saltwater tank. Before you know it you will be upgrading the light to an AI prime and modifying the filter compartments. Best of luck!

Haha, I already upgraded the filter system with an In Tank media basket, and I've been looking at the AI Prime! I'm going to run the stock lights at first and see how it goes. I've got them set up with a Nicrew timer so I can control the intensity at least, but the AI looks great.

 

[AgentKooper]

DAY 12 of cycle:

Ammonia dropped to zero for the first time. Nitrite is still elevated (2.0-5.0 ppm), and nitrates seem to be climbing. I dosed more Dr. Tim's to bring ammonia back up to 2.0 ppm. I'm glad to see things are progressing, and I'm looking forward to what comes next.

I'm still considering next steps, i.e., whether to add a couple fish once ammonia and nitrite zero out, or whether to wait for diatoms and cyano to cycle through and for algae to show up. Reef2reef's "Supreme Guide to Setting Up a Saltwater Reef Aquarium" (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/) recommends the latter, but I have some questions about that, so still thinking about it.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Great starter tank, Can't wait to see what it looks like in the future!

 

[AgentKooper]

Here are a couple photos. Still trying to figure out the best way to capture the tank with an iPhone — photography tips welcome!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Photos look good, it might get tricky once you get a UV light going. At that point, I recommend those clip-on orange filters that will go over your phone camera. You can get those relatively cheap on amazon!!

 

[AgentKooper]

DAY 17 of cycle:

Ammonia has been reading zero 24 hours after dosing to 2 ppm. Nitrites are coming down as well, but still at 1 ppm 24 hours later. Almost there.

Diatoms are starting to form in the sand bed. They started out as about a dozen tiny spots that have continued to grow slowly over the last couple days. I'm still trying to decide what livestock to add and when. At this point, I'm thinking of starting with just a couple snails once the diatoms proliferate more.

I had always figured I'd upgrade the stock lighting eventually, but I've decided to just do it now. I think the stock lighting would be fine in terms of supporting the soft corals and LPS I eventually want to include. I took PAR readings on various parts of my rock, and everything looked more than sufficient. If anything, the stock lights might be a bit overpowered in spots. I currently have a $12 Nicrew timer that lets me dial in the intensity perfectly and set up a good light cycle with ramp-up and ramp-down periods.

However, the stock lights are still not very flexible. There are only three settings -- bright white, dark blue, and off -- and you have to cycle through all the settings with one button. And while the Nicrew timer is better than nothing, the setup still feels clunky. I find myself having to use both the timer and stock light controls too often, which feels cumbersome. The light feels somewhat harsh as well, and it is not possible to adjust the coloration.

More importantly, the whole lid system feels clumsy. To get into the tank, you have to remove the rear sump cover, and then lift off the main lid, the movement of which is then constrained by the lighting wires, which are run through the lid. I can tell already that's going drive me crazy sooner rather that later, so I pulled the trigger on an AI Prime light, a Kraken Reef mesh lid, and an InTank sump cover. I think that will greatly streamline access to the tank, and I'm very excited about all the lighting possibilities the AI will create.

 

[AgentKooper]

I've also installed an Aqamai KPS wavemaker. It's a cool little powerhead with a clever suction cup and magnet mounting system, and it seems to be, in terms of its physical profile, the perfect size for this tank -- quite small and unobtrusive. It's a wifi device that comes with a number of preset flow patterns. I set it on what I think is the lowest powered soft coral/LPS program, which automatically cycles through various flow rates and patterns throughout the day, and which appears to max out at 30 percent of the 1,050 gallons per hour maximum flow rate. It's definitely increased the flow in the tank, but it doesn't appear excessive. I also repositioned the pump outflow nozzle to create some surface agitation, and the water circulation seems much improved.