Fluval Evo 13.5 stocking ideas

[Dcon89]

Hello, I was wondering what some of you guys would stock the fluval evo 13.5 gallon tank with. I would like to do coral down the road. Also I have a bottle of brightwell aquatics microbacter startXLM which needs a hardy fish to cycle the tank.

Thank you very much!

 

[Spare time]

Just use raw ammonia to cycle the tank with the microbacter if you can. Small blennies, gobies, clowns, are all good choices

 

[Mav88]

Are there any specific fish you want?
Is there a Budget?

 

[Dcon89]

Budget wise I dont want to go too crazy but I'm taking it slow with everything in this tank so i will probably be able to spend a little extra. I really like clowns but i heard if i get clowns then that's all i should out in there other than the clean up.

 

[Jesterrace]

Don't cycle with a fish. Cruel to the fish and completely unnecessary. Much better to dose a pure source of ammonia (ie Dr. Tim's, Ace Hardware) that will give you exactly what you need to start the cycle and nothing more.

 

[Pbh-reef]

I think some of the new bacteria products can come close to instant cycling (a day or two) - at least that’s how I cycle my qt tanks (with fritz turbo start or biospira) and I’ve never seen an ammonia reading on the seachem badge.

My dream 13.5 nano would be -
Pygmy geometric perchlet
Pink streaked or possum wrasse
Tailspot blenny
High fin or yasha shrimp goby with randals pistol shrimp

If doing that list I would add the wrasse or shrimp goby first and the blenny and perchlet later. Sometimes blennies nip at coral so you may get unlucky (I did with a pictus blenny).

Other fish to consider include-
Eviota and trimma gobies
Captive bred rainford goby
Azure or springers damsel
Swales or rubre swissguard basslet
Yellow assessor
Cleaner goby
Wheelers shrimp goby or any of the smaller shrimp gobies

I don’t like clowns in nanos- too big and too aggressive but I get the appeal

 

[Mav88]

I have 2 Orange storm clowns, and a neon dottyback in mine, and I don't think this tank will take more fish, in hindsight I wish I got a tailspot blenny to go with the clowns so it can pick at some algae on the rocks, instead I scrub it off every now and again.

2 clowns and a watchman goby(almost any shrimp goby)/pistol shrimp
2 clowns and any nanofish
royal gramma a cardinal and a firefish

Intermix those fish as much as you like, rainford gobys can be difficult in a new tank. Be patient with the cycling, I used Dr. Tims ammonia and Dr. Tims one and only to cycle, was able to add clean up crew after 3 weeks and after another 2 weeks I added the clowns.

 

[Spare time]

I think some of the new bacteria products can come close to instant cycling (a day or two) - at least that’s how I cycle my qt tanks (with fritz turbo start or biospira) and I’ve never seen an ammonia reading on the seachem badge.

My dream 13.5 nano would be -
Pygmy geometric perchlet
Pink streaked or possum wrasse
Tailspot blenny
High fin or yasha shrimp goby with randals pistol shrimp

If doing that list I would add the wrasse or shrimp goby first and the blenny and perchlet later. Sometimes blennies nip at coral so you may get unlucky (I did with a pictus blenny).

Other fish to consider include-
Eviota and trimma gobies
Captive bred rainford goby
Azure or springers damsel
Swales or rubre swissguard basslet
Yellow assessor
Cleaner goby
Wheelers shrimp goby or any of the smaller shrimp gobies

I don’t like clowns in nanos- too big and too aggressive but I get the appeal

The bacteria in the bottle needs an ammonia source to establish itself in the tank otherwise they die. Also I think the fish you chose would be neat. If you get just a single male clown you might avoid aggresion.

 

[Dcon89]

I ended up going with a one clown and put in the startXLM. Hopefully he lives through the cycling process. I really like the idea of a tail spot blenny Mav88, I went to my lfs and one kept swimming up to me everytime I walked by the tank. I was just curious about one more thing. After the cycle has been fully completed how long should I wait to put coral in?

 

[Spare time]

I ended up going with a one clown and put in the startXLM. Hopefully he lives through the cycling process. I really like the idea of a tail spot blenny Mav88, I went to my lfs and one kept swimming up to me everytime I walked by the tank. I was just curious about one more thing. After the cycle has been fully completed how long should I wait to put coral in?

Blennies are hilarious. Also I would wait for coral after you have added your second fish. Soft corals are going to be the best for the amount of water volume you have. If you go with lps you can use something like all for reef to keep water parameters good. If you do sps good luck

 

[Kdub Koral Guy]

Hello, I was wondering what some of you guys would stock the fluval evo 13.5 gallon tank with. I would like to do coral down the road. Also I have a bottle of brightwell aquatics microbacter startXLM which needs a hardy fish to cycle the tank.

Thank you very much!

I have this tank and put the new Prime 16 HD above it and I am keeping everything except SPS