Fluval Evo 13.5 Questions

[Tyler Bullock]

I am looking to start a reef tank in the Fluval Evo 13.5. I am trying to keep everything stock and had a few questions about the light and what types of corals do best in them.

I would love to put LPS corals with some mushrooms. I am really liking Acans. What are some corals that do well with the stock lights.

Also would you recommend adding another pump for more water flow?

I have been out of the salt water aquarium hobby for about a decade. I am in no means a seasond hobbiest. I made to many mistakes in my first tank years ago.

Any bit of information would be helpful.

Thank you!

 

[Mikedawg]

I am looking to start a reef tank in the Fluval Evo 13.5. I am trying to keep everything stock and had a few questions about the light and what types of corals do best in them.

I would love to put LPS corals with some mushrooms. I am really liking Acans. What are some corals that do well with the stock lights.

Also would you recommend adding another pump for more water flow?

I have been out of the salt water aquarium hobby for about a decade. I am in no means a seasond hobbiest. I made to many mistakes in my first tank years ago.

Any bit of information would be helpful.

Thank you!

I upgraded my two EVOs to the Sicce 1.0 return pump (251 gph) for a lot more needed flow; so much that I didn't need a power head which would seem intrusive in a small tank.
As for corals, I find that lobos, symphillia, alepora, mushrooms, acans (for sure), xenia , euphyllia and candy canes all do well. This said, there are much better lights available, but at the time I didn't want to spend so much on a small tank when I was already getting good results. I do read about good performance from an Intank media basket and I got rid of the sponge and ceramic cylinders in favor of Purigen and Matrix. Lot of informative threads on R2R discussing upgrades, btw.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

I upgraded my two EVOs to the Sicce 1.0 return pump (251 gph) for a lot more needed flow; so much that I didn't need a power head which would seem intrusive in a small tank.
As for corals, I find that lobos, symphillia, alepora, mushrooms, acans (for sure), xenia , euphyllia and candy canes all do well. This said, there are much better lights available, but at the time I didn't want to spend so much on a small tank when I was already getting good results. I do read about good performance from an Intank media basket and I got rid of the sponge and ceramic cylinders in favor of Purigen and Matrix. Lot of informative threads on R2R discussing upgrades, btw.

Did you have to do much modifying to the Sicce 1.0 return pump (251 gph) to get it in the return? or was is just a simple swap?

 

[medic17]

I would get the media basket for the 1st chamber u can incorporate a refugium in the middle chamber of the basket and eliminate the foam block filtration. Floss on the first chamber and media in the bottom chamber. Steer clear of the skimmer or at least the fluvel one I had nothing but bad experience with it. And definitely upgrade return pump as stated above.

 

[medic17]

I would get the media basket for the 1st chamber u can incorporate a refugium in the middle chamber of the basket and eliminate the foam block filtration. Floss on the first chamber and media in the bottom chamber. Steer clear of the skimmer or at least the fluvel one I had nothing but bad experience with it. And definitely upgrade return pump as stated above.

Amazon has the media baskets. And if you look on YouTube on things that can be done on those tanks there is some good info there

 

[Mikedawg]

Did you have to do much modifying to the Sicce 1.0 return pump (251 gph) to get it in the return? or was is just a simple swap?

Only mod is to cut off a small portion of the return plastic tubing because the Sicce is a little taller than the stock pump. Pump slips right in if you hold it at a slight angle.

 

[Jesterrace]

I am looking to start a reef tank in the Fluval Evo 13.5. I am trying to keep everything stock and had a few questions about the light and what types of corals do best in them.

I would love to put LPS corals with some mushrooms. I am really liking Acans. What are some corals that do well with the stock lights.

Also would you recommend adding another pump for more water flow?

I have been out of the salt water aquarium hobby for about a decade. I am in no means a seasond hobbiest. I made to many mistakes in my first tank years ago.

Any bit of information would be helpful.

Thank you!

I would say the stock lights are insufficient (as are many kits' lights) to really give you a wide range of corals. Personally I would add an AI Prime HD and call it good. It will offer you a level of customization for the look of your tank that your stock lights could only dream of and in that size of a tank they will provide great growth to just about any coral you could imagine.