Fluval Evo 13.5

jazzmik · Sep 13, 2017

Ok,

I don't know why I did it but...

Just bought online a new Evo 13.5. It's on sale at Petco then the have an extra 30% off and free shipping. So got it for 117 incl. tax.

Man, my wife's not gonna be happy!

Guess I'll be browsing the nano threads now.

dmankin · Sep 13, 2017

Yeah, mine arrived yesterday. Was nervous as to how it would fare in shipping, but it came unbroken! ;Joyful

jazzmik · Sep 13, 2017

Looking at this stand:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60302293/

I have a Red Sea Reefer 450 in white so this will go with it.

dmankin · Sep 14, 2017

jazzmik said:
Looking at this stand:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60302293/

I have a Red Sea Reefer 450 in white so this will go with it.

That's a nice looking stand, but I don't think it's sturdy enough. IKEA says this:

Product dimensions
Width: 31 1/2 "
Depth: 18 7/8 "
Height: 36 5/8 "
Max load/shelf: 55 lb

I'm thinking a full 13.5 would weigh in more like 100 lbs - but I'm not certain.

Dave

jazzmik · Sep 14, 2017

dmankin said:
That's a nice looking stand, but I don't think it's sturdy enough. IKEA says this:

Product dimensions
Width: 31 1/2 "
Depth: 18 7/8 "
Height: 36 5/8 "
Max load/shelf: 55 lb

I'm thinking a full 13.5 would weigh in more like 100 lbs - but I'm not certain.

Dave

I think that's for the 2 adjustable shelves that are included. I'll have to check.

dmankin · Sep 14, 2017

jazzmik said:
I'm thinking that's for the 2 adjustable shelves that are included. I'll have to check.

Yeah - a bit unclear online.

rich nyc · Sep 14, 2017

that is great. I gave my ex a biota package for christmas last year. It used the evo13.5. You could look at their web page for how they marketed it. GL

jazzmik · Sep 14, 2017

dmankin said:
Yeah - a bit unclear online.

Found this on nano-reef... using on a smaller tank but also has a 10g sump inside stand. So thinking it would be ok.

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/376673-mr-aqua-6-gallon-long-ikea-build/

dmankin · Sep 14, 2017

Nice! ;Happy

Forsaken77 · Sep 15, 2017

jazzmik said:
Ok,

I don't know why I did it but...

Just bought online a new Evo 13.5. It's on sale at Petco then the have an extra 30% off and free shipping. So got it for 117 incl. tax.

Man, my wife's not gonna be happy!

Guess I'll be browsing the nano threads now.

It makes a great QT tank! Whatever you do, make sure to use the media baskets from inTank. The Fluval stuff is junk. You can cut up that foam crap and use it as a filter pad in the media basket. And the good thing is you'll have a plentiful supply of foam, lol.

Mine arrived smashed the 1st time, they told me to keep whatever parts and they'll send another. 2nd came with a tiny chip and they said keep whatever parts and we'll send another. 3rd one came and was good. Turned out the 2nd one didn't have a chip, it was just something stuck to the black stuff they try to hide the water line with. So I got 2 of them and use them as QT tanks. Easy and small and quick to setup and break down.

They actually ship from Fluval, not Petco or Drs Foster & Smith.

Don't bother with the Fluval PS2 skimmer... garbage.

jazzmik · Sep 15, 2017

Forsaken77 said:
It makes a great QT tank! Whatever you do, make sure to use the media baskets from inTank. The Fluval stuff is junk. You can cut up that foam crap and use it as a filter pad in the media basket. And the good thing is you'll have a plentiful supply of foam, lol.

Mine arrived smashed the 1st time, they told me to keep whatever parts and they'll send another. 2nd came with a tiny chip and they said keep whatever parts and we'll send another. 3rd one came and was good. Turned out the 2nd one didn't have a chip, it was just something stuck to the black stuff they try to hide the water line with. So I got 2 of them and use them as QT tanks. Easy and small and quick to setup and break down.

They actually ship from Fluval, not Petco or Drs Foster & Smith.

Don't bother with the Fluval PS2 skimmer... garbage.

Yeah I'll probably get the inTank baskets. I had a JBJ45 previously and had 2 of their baskets for that tank. I didn't like the egg crate DIY. Do you have for chamber 1, 2 or both?

Are you using a skimmer at all? Not sure if needed at all.

Hopefully it comes intact.

Forsaken77 · Sep 15, 2017

jazzmik said:
Yeah I'll probably get the inTank baskets. I had a JBJ45 previously and had 2 of their baskets for that tank. I didn't like the egg crate DIY. Do you have for chamber 1, 2 or both?

Are you using a skimmer at all? Not sure if needed at all.

Hopefully it comes intact.

I actually have both media baskets for both tanks. The middle shelf on the first chamber is removable. So if you want to put a filter pad up top, then use the whole middle of the 1st basket for macro algae with the IM magnetic LED, it's possible. But that's if you want it constantly running. Then throw some bio media in chamber 2. Or you could pack the whole first basket with filter floss and use chamber 2 for your media.

The baskets, especially the first one, make things so much easier because of its removable wall to pull out the whole basket, then slide the wall off to change everything. The stock setup doesn't force water through the media, the basket does and fits perfectly.

No skimmer needed on a tank that small. Like I said, I just use it as a QT tank. But if I were to use a skimmer, it wouldn't be the Fluval because it's just junk and takes up all of chamber 1.

If I were to use a skimmer, I'd probably go with the glass nano skimmer from MD and use it in chamber 2.

Just an fyi... There's also a custom lid that some guy makes and looks pretty good. You can see it here...