First Time Build 13.5 Gallon Evo

ScottyD36 · Jun 23, 2020

So for my first ever saltwater tank I decided on the Fluval Sea Evo Saltwater Fish Tank. I decided on this for my first time tank because it was all in one. I set my tank up on June 8. I chose Nature’s ocean coral base rock to start off with because it seemed easier to start from scratch knowing I won’t have any hitchhikers like using live rock. I used Imagitarium Pacific ocean water. I added CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand. I am currently cycling my tank. I used Bio Spire instant ocean to start off with and ghost fed my tank for a few days. I decided to get Dr Tims. Amonia to add to the tank because it felt it was easier for me to control the cycling process.

Current addons I added to my tank.
Hydor Koralia Nano Aquarium Circulation Pump
Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater which is hooked into bayite Temperature Controller BTC201 Pre-Wired Digital Outlet Thermostat

Today I purchased a Nano Skimmer for the tank. I know a lot of people says its not necessary but I read it helps remove Nitritates and its something I feel will make my life easier.

This is the picture of my tank so far. of my orginal set up up where I just threw rocks in and now my current set up which I plan on moving a piece of rock to connect the one on the left.

TriggersAmuck · Jun 23, 2020

Great start @ScottyD36! Looks like you have everything to set a solid foundation. The skimmer definitely helps with mechanical filtration (removing surfactants and particulate matter and isolating it from the water column before it breaks down in the nitrogen cycle). The more mechanical removal you can perform (cleaning any sponges frequently, cleaning any part of the skimmer which accumulates muck and remains in contact with the display tank's water column, like the inside of the "air" tube, and blasting rock and cleaning sand right before water changes) the less nitrogen and phosphate is introduced into the water column which then needs to be addressed by water changes, chemical absorption, or consumption by turf algae/chaeto algae, etc.

One recommendation: find a high quality salt mix so as to not have to rely on a pet shop or local fish shop's water, and invest in a reverse osmosis/deionized filter to attach to your laundry machine water line. I spent years buying RO/DI water at fish shops, lugging tons of 5 gallon containers around, when a 150 bucks (if that) spent on a system will take that item under your control and pay for itself in time reclaimed. Couple of links which may help:

Solid RO/DI system

Video on salt mixes

Video on RO/DI systems

I am curious to see how quickly your system cycles/matures, as the use of the bottled bacteria doesn't always yield fast results. (See my build thread for what I mean).

I look forward to following this!

WIReefer · Jun 23, 2020

Congrats on the build! Looking great, how do you like this tank? Been debating on purchasing one.

ScottyD36 · Jun 23, 2020

WIReefer said:
Congrats on the build! Looking great, how do you like this tank? Been debating on purchasing one.

Thank you. I like it a lot. This being my first time ever having saltwater tank I love it because its very easy to manage and keep on top of everything and I can put addons to the tank as I want.

ScottyD36 · Jun 24, 2020

TriggersAmuck said:
Great start @ScottyD36! Looks like you have everything to set a solid foundation. The skimmer definitely helps with mechanical filtration (removing surfactants and particulate matter and isolating it from the water column before it breaks down in the nitrogen cycle). The more mechanical removal you can perform (cleaning any sponges frequently, cleaning any part of the skimmer which accumulates muck and remains in contact with the display tank's water column, like the inside of the "air" tube, and blasting rock and cleaning sand right before water changes) the less nitrogen and phosphate is introduced into the water column which then needs to be addressed by water changes, chemical absorption, or consumption by turf algae/chaeto algae, etc.

One recommendation: find a high quality salt mix so as to not have to rely on a pet shop or local fish shop's water, and invest in a reverse osmosis/deionized filter to attach to your laundry machine water line. I spent years buying RO/DI water at fish shops, lugging tons of 5 gallon containers around, when a 150 bucks (if that) spent on a system will take that item under your control and pay for itself in time reclaimed. Couple of links which may help:

Solid RO/DI system

Video on salt mixes

Video on RO/DI systems

I am curious to see how quickly your system cycles/matures, as the use of the bottled bacteria doesn't always yield fast results. (See my build thread for what I mean).

I look forward to following this!

Thanks. I’ll def put this advice to good use. I purchased a Rodi System and have Red Sea salt mix. I plan on eventually mixing my own salt water to make my life easier. I will def keep you posted on how my system matures. The photo is my numbers that I have been charting.

ScottyD36 · Nov 10, 2020

So I have not update this at all. My tank is currently stocked with a Clownfish, Wheeler Goby and Pistol shrimp. It also has a bunch of CUC. I was having issues with algae to the point it was getting out of hand. I did some research and upgraded my filtration. I purchased a Intake basket for chamber 1 and 2. In the first chamber I had the Nano skimmer but I couldn't get it dialed in to work properly on a consistent basis. So now in the first chamber I have filter floss and chemi pure elite and Biomax. In the second chamber I have BioMax and Chaeto and have a mini refuge that has a light attatched to outside of the tank. It seems to be working as my Algae growth has slowed down and my CUC crew is catching up to it. I have some hair algae still but its nothing crazy. I am getting a TailSpot blenny to add to my tank to help with the hair algae.