Fluval evo 13.5

[Himes102]

Purchased the second chamber in basket media to replace the stock foam. Recommendations for placement of sorts for each level?

 

[Katrina71]

@Mikedawg can help ya out. He has the same tank.

 

[Mikedawg]

I like Intank's filter floss in top section, Purigen in the second section where it can tumble, and Marine Pure balls in bottom which will increase surface area for good bacteria. Lots of different combinations work well, this is just one which I've found to be effective.

 

[Forsaken77]

Purchased the second chamber in basket media to replace the stock foam. Recommendations for placement of sorts for each level?

You can stick the Marine Pure, or Seachem Matrix, in the second chamber for bio filtration. If you want, you can use a nano skimmer there also.

 

[Richard the Reefer]

This is a nice tank. But I've decided to upgrade because I feel like I am torturing my clowns. But the middle worked best after I closed the bottom openings in the first chamber so that the water couldn't escape the filter. Used filter floss and a phoasphate removing packet from the LFS on top, then fluval bio media, chemipure elite, and then bio balls. Very simple and easy. Water is clean anf I get what I want from filtration. Now to set up this 40 gallon and let my critters swim!

 

[Himes102]

I like Intank's filter floss in top section, Purigen in the second section where it can tumble, and Marine Pure balls in bottom which will increase surface area for good bacteria. Lots of different combinations work well, this is just one which I've found to be effective.

Awesome! Thank you. Do you keep anything in the first chamber?

 

[Mikedawg]

Awesome! Thank you. Do you keep anything in the first chamber?

I use the Aquaticlife 115 skimmer and think it performs well and is relatively inexpensive. So, I've got an Eheim heater in with the return pump (think most would call this chamber 3); filter media as mentioned above in middle chamber (chamber 2) and then the protein skimmer in chamber 1, where water enters the AIO sump. I don't use the Fluval water deflector, btw.

Some reefers don't think a skimmer is necessary for such a small tank, but I believe it made a significant difference in water quality for my set up. Again, different opinions and what is best is what works for you.

 

[geniusgio]

How I have mine

First chamber is the intank media basket with the following

Filter floss and 100 micron filter
Chemi pure blue nano 2 bags
Activated carbon ( overkill I guess )

Fluval bio Max ceramic

2nd chamber full of marine pure bio spheres

3rd chamber return pump, cobalt neo therm heater 50 watt , my diy ato float switches