Fluval Evo 13.5 - First Reef Tank
- Nano Build
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namfuak
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January 2, 2021
I'm getting a little bit of cyano in the sand bed, but have been vacuuming when I get the chance. The emerald crab I got ended up munching on the GSP so I homed him within the tank, inside a perforated container until I can find him a new home. If local and interested in him for free, PM me. I knew it was a gamble, but thought I would try having one in the tank.
NO3 has declined from 10 to 2 and PO4 looks like it has dropped to maybe .01 or .02. It's so hard to tell at the low range on the Salifert test. I need to start using the higher sensitivity method to get a more accurate reading. I feel that I'm starting to walk a fine line seeing such a drop and I'm assuming that this drop is probably partially due to the macro algae I have in the tank which is growing really well. I have NeoNitro and NeoPhos which I ordered a while ago just to have on hand, though I feel like I would probably just feed more instead. Nonetheless, I feel like these products would be more beneficial to use if the balance between NO3 and PO4 was out of whack.
I have spirorbis worms all over the place, though it doesn't look like plague proportions, yet. The tank also has a large population of copepods that I notice on the glass when it gets time to scrape.
I decided to run a small refugium in chamber 1 as it would be the easiest to service, otherwise I would have to remove the AI Prime mount every time I wanted to pull out the chamber basket. I knew the light spill into the DT was going to be horrendous, so I cam up with a plan to wrap part of the media basket in black vinyl to block it out. I maybe should have wrapped with white first and then the black. The big question I have is whether this vinyl wrap is toxic. I may just end up scrapping it at some point and not sure how long it will last submerged anyway.
I'm really not expecting much out of this and it was more just me wanting to try it out. My total investment was about $25 using this light. After having run it for a few nights, it seems like I may need to dim it a little as the dragons breath macro I put in is curling at the tips.
I bought a few things in the ARC live sale and I'm pretty excited to get them in on Wednesday.
Updated tank pictures:
I'm getting a little bit of cyano in the sand bed, but have been vacuuming when I get the chance. The emerald crab I got ended up munching on the GSP so I homed him within the tank, inside a perforated container until I can find him a new home. If local and interested in him for free, PM me. I knew it was a gamble, but thought I would try having one in the tank.
NO3 has declined from 10 to 2 and PO4 looks like it has dropped to maybe .01 or .02. It's so hard to tell at the low range on the Salifert test. I need to start using the higher sensitivity method to get a more accurate reading. I feel that I'm starting to walk a fine line seeing such a drop and I'm assuming that this drop is probably partially due to the macro algae I have in the tank which is growing really well. I have NeoNitro and NeoPhos which I ordered a while ago just to have on hand, though I feel like I would probably just feed more instead. Nonetheless, I feel like these products would be more beneficial to use if the balance between NO3 and PO4 was out of whack.
I have spirorbis worms all over the place, though it doesn't look like plague proportions, yet. The tank also has a large population of copepods that I notice on the glass when it gets time to scrape.
I decided to run a small refugium in chamber 1 as it would be the easiest to service, otherwise I would have to remove the AI Prime mount every time I wanted to pull out the chamber basket. I knew the light spill into the DT was going to be horrendous, so I cam up with a plan to wrap part of the media basket in black vinyl to block it out. I maybe should have wrapped with white first and then the black. The big question I have is whether this vinyl wrap is toxic. I may just end up scrapping it at some point and not sure how long it will last submerged anyway.
I'm really not expecting much out of this and it was more just me wanting to try it out. My total investment was about $25 using this light. After having run it for a few nights, it seems like I may need to dim it a little as the dragons breath macro I put in is curling at the tips.
I bought a few things in the ARC live sale and I'm pretty excited to get them in on Wednesday.
Updated tank pictures:
Last edited:
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shootingstar_reef
Active Member
I have a Zoa ("Hulk"), an orange ricordea (florida), and as of yesterday some type of sympodium. I think my next pieces might be a hammer or torch? maybe a favia or some other type of encrusting coral. I'm so new to this and there are so many options! haha I'll take any suggestions too
Sarcazian
Active Member
Awesome build thread! I learned at least three things that will help me as I continue modding my 13.5!
So, I was curious, did the Tunze 3155 ATO fit in the third chamber without modifications? I admit to not breaking out the tape measure, but online the 3155 seemed a bit large. Even though it is $100 more than the nano.. it seems like the most error/fail prone ATO out there.
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namfuak
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Thank you! I'm glad there was something in here that helped.
Yes, it fits just fine. The downside is that I have to remove it if I need to take the pump out and clean, but once a month or so, who cares. I went with the 3155 instead of other models because of the redundancy. I have a nice PC about 8" from the tank and I don't want problems. I feel like I'm still rolling the dice, but I don't have another option.
I'll take a picture tonight or tomorrow to detail how I have it in there.
Sarcazian
Active Member
Awesome - thank you! No rush on the photo since it seems like the 3155 is out of stock anywhere. Strange since I am pretty sure that it was in stock this weekend. Anyway, from what I have seen, the 3155 is held in place with a magnet and removal should be relatively easy compared to others.
I have computer equipment all over the place, but honestly it would take way more water to past the 1/2 to 1" lip to get into the case. My main concern is subfloor damage, the room below me, and eventually overdosing if I end up putting 2 part in the top off water.
One thing you may want to consider as another safety factor is a skimmer probe in the tank that is attached to a plug. That controls the tunze for pumping the water in. Alternatively, you might be able to use <can't remember name> to stop the water flow similar to RO refills. BRS has a few videos on ATO's where the RO water is plumbed directly in and when the cotton gets wet it kills the water.
The pump might still burn out... but that's a lot cheaper than the clean-up.
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namfuak
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I realized that I haven't posted an update for a while.
January 5th, 2021
I bought a few things from @uniquecorals from their live sale. I was able to pick them up being local. Everything looks great.
January 12, 2021
Here is a picture of the gold hammer which was looking great.
I moved it from the frag rack, down to the corner by the frogspawn. Looking at it, I felt it was getting too much flow, but I kept it there anyway and it ended up dying. In a matter of 4 days or so, the flesh just sort of peeled off. I should have moved it way earlier. At one point the mouth way hanging open and the tentacles looked fine, but deflated. Then I started seeing a lot of the skeleton and it was just going down hill. I took a sample and it was covered in protozoa. At this point I figured it was too late and was going to try some kind of dip, but noticed all the flesh was just pulling off when I went to move it. I disposed of it before the infection spread to neighboring euphyllia.
Shortly after I noticed the frogspawn that it was next too had very little extension and I ended up having to pull it to. Bit of a shame as I really liked both of these.
January 5th, 2021
I bought a few things from @uniquecorals from their live sale. I was able to pick them up being local. Everything looks great.
- Orange Hammer
- Gold Hammer
- Two Duncans
- Purple Star Polyps
- Hairy Mushroom
January 12, 2021
Here is a picture of the gold hammer which was looking great.
I moved it from the frag rack, down to the corner by the frogspawn. Looking at it, I felt it was getting too much flow, but I kept it there anyway and it ended up dying. In a matter of 4 days or so, the flesh just sort of peeled off. I should have moved it way earlier. At one point the mouth way hanging open and the tentacles looked fine, but deflated. Then I started seeing a lot of the skeleton and it was just going down hill. I took a sample and it was covered in protozoa. At this point I figured it was too late and was going to try some kind of dip, but noticed all the flesh was just pulling off when I went to move it. I disposed of it before the infection spread to neighboring euphyllia.
Shortly after I noticed the frogspawn that it was next too had very little extension and I ended up having to pull it to. Bit of a shame as I really liked both of these.
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namfuak
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January 27, 2021
I ended up buying a few more piece from a @uniquecorals live sale.
February 6th, 2021
I ended up changing out the Jebao OW-10 for an AI Nero 3. I have much more flexibility with this, but have found that it's very limited on how much I can angle it. Ever since switching it out, my peak PH has gone down a bit and I'm assuming it's due to less surface agitation.
February 7th, 2021
Added a few more corals from my LFS
February 11th, 2021
Updated tank shots
I ended up buying a few more piece from a @uniquecorals live sale.
- Rainbow Branching Hammer
- Peach Branching Hammer
- Branching Hammer (ended up being a wall hammer)
- Mint Star Polyps
- Colt Coral
February 6th, 2021
I ended up changing out the Jebao OW-10 for an AI Nero 3. I have much more flexibility with this, but have found that it's very limited on how much I can angle it. Ever since switching it out, my peak PH has gone down a bit and I'm assuming it's due to less surface agitation.
February 7th, 2021
Added a few more corals from my LFS
- Orange Pachyseris
- Coffee Bean Zoa
- Green Zoas
- Orange Mint Zoas
- Acro Frag
February 11th, 2021
Updated tank shots
shootingstar_reef
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how does ur dragon's breathe (or tongue) look so amazing wow
ShepherdReefer
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Looking great.
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namfuak
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Thank you! It actually seems like it's on the decline. It grows so densely, the inner and bottom growth starts to lose it's color. I've had to harvest a few times and have to dose NO3 and PO4 on a regular basis.
Thank you!
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namfuak
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I ended up having a bit of a bryopsis issue and decided to dose fluconazole. I ended up treating for 3 or 4 weeks and it all "completely" died off. I should have used a smaller second dose at the end of that just to be sure. After close to a month, it's coming back strong. The root structures in the rock are just impossible to get rid of.
I was hoping the dragons breath was going to be okay, but it ended up taking it out too. I bought some more recently, but my clown fish started tearing into it and then it just withered away.
I was hoping the dragons breath was going to be okay, but it ended up taking it out too. I bought some more recently, but my clown fish started tearing into it and then it just withered away.
NeonRabbit221B
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Fluconazole does great but it also will kill any macro algae in the tank!
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namfuak
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Well it's been a fun ride. Like most people who get into the hobby, life has gotten in the way and I have taken the tank down. I'm putting everything up for sale here.
100below bias
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I am finally getting around to posting this build.
I am new to reefing and my last tank was a freshwater paludarium. I decided to go with a nano size due to space restrictions, knowing full well that it could potentially be a little more challenging.
I started the tank on October 6th, 2020 with the following:
- CaribSea Fiji Pink sand
- CaribSea LifeRock
- inTank media baskets for chamber 1 & 2
- Cobalt Aquatics 50w Neotherm heater
- Inkbird temperature controller
- Jebao OW-10 Wave Maker
The CaribSea LifeRock that I had access to locally at the time was a little limiting and I wish that I could have found a nano arch at the time, oh wel
hey man!! Love your tank !!!! I have the same exact set up! Do you think you can help me out? I have some questions! I’m new to the hobby and love your tank. Anyways let me know if you think you could help!
