Fluval EVO 5 gallon

[jrmrleb]

Hello guys and Gals
I just bought this Fluval EVO 5 Gallon to sit on my night stand. I’m new to the saltwater world I’ve been in the hobby for about 7 months with my Biocube 32
I need some suggestions for it if u guys would be so kind to help me?
I have decided to upgrade to the Intank media basket,I also bought the Clscea ATO that sits on the rim of the tank and u use a water bottle .. My husband cut a lil spot in the lid so it would still be able to sit right( the lid) I tried to upgrade to the Sicce Syncra nano the smallest they had But it was too big.
Does anyone have any suggestions that I could try to use? The return area where it would sit is so tiny … I would like not to add a wavemaker because this tank is so tiny. I thought that if I upgrade the pump it would be ok to move the water better.
AND the light.. I will only have softies in this tank, maybe even just a couple bubble tip nems , or a couple Frags of zoas and rock flower nems. Is the light that is stock ok? What should I use if it’s not? Nothing crazy expensive. If anyone has anything for sale that would be greatly appreciated… or donations? Lol
im putting a Saddleback clown in it from my biocube because she’s a bully to the other fish in this tank along with a couple crabs and snails.
what did u guys do that have this tank?
I’m planning on using sand, water and a rock from my biocube32 that I have to get it started . When do u think it would be ok to start adding things? What should I add to speed up the process?
thank in advance.
U guys are great

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If it was me, I'd dose some ammonia after adding the rock and sand just to be safe and certain it's fully cycled (I know you're using rock and sand from your other tank)...I doubt it'll take long at all to convert the ammonia into nitrite and finally nitrate so no reason to try and speed things up

 

[reaper93]

I have the same tank. For the return pump I went with a Cobalt Mini MJ-606 Pump and found that it was perfect flow for the coral I have in the tank. For lighting, I used it for zoas, mushrooms, and even hammers for months until I upgraded to the AI prime which I love because it makes the corals look so good.

 

[jrmrleb]

I have the same tank. For the return pump I went with a Cobalt Mini MJ-606 Pump and found that it was perfect flow for the coral I have in the tank. For lighting, I used it for zoas, mushrooms, and even hammers for months until I upgraded to the AI prime which I love because it makes the corals look so good.

Hello. thanks for replying.
I looked on Amazon for that pump and they didn’t have it. Where did u get yours?

 

[reaper93]

Hello. thanks for replying.
I looked on Amazon for that pump and they didn’t have it. Where did u get yours?

I had to get a LFS to source it for me. Check out the Evo V owners thread on nano-reef.com, they talk a bunch about upgrades

 

[reaper93]

Any updates on the tank? Would love to know how it's going

 

[jrmrleb]

Any updates on the tank? Would love to know how it's going

Well I decide to make it a Nem tank. I can’t seem to find a upgrade for the pump. Everything I have ordered has been too big. I’ve tried Aquaneat 160GPH Model A602 that someone suggested that they use… nope dosent fit. Tried also Sicce Synra Nano 40-110 gph … nope dosent fit.. there’s a gray guard on there that someone told me I could take off, but didn’t know that til I sent it back.
Now I also need to find a wave power head that won’t blow everything away in this lil tank. I need some suggestions,
This lil tank apparently is hard to find anything to work with it.

 

[jrmrleb]

Any updates on the tank? Would love to know how it's going

Also bought a AI prime 16HD FOR IT , but not sure where I need to put it on for my settings so I don’t burn everything up on it. Any suggestions??? Ty

 

[MoshJosh]

I couldn't find any pumps that had higher flow and also fit in the compartment. There used to be a few pumps that fit, cobalt 606 I think, but they have been discontinued. I use a powerhead to get more flow in my EVO (Sicce nano stream ATM but other small powerheads or wavemakers would work, may even be a gyre style pump small enough)

Light will be fine for softies, though not sure about nems (EDIT: see you bought another light)

I have been messing around with the idea of using a canister filter in an EVO 13 I have lying around, but same idea could probably work in EVO 5. Put the canister intake in the pump chamber and the return into the tank (using the predrilled hole and loc line that comes with the tank). That way you are still using the EVO's media chamber, plus the canister, plus more flow (depending on the canister filter.

 

[reaper93]

Well I decide to make it a Nem tank. I can’t seem to find a upgrade for the pump. Everything I have ordered has been too big. I’ve tried Aquaneat 160GPH Model A602 that someone suggested that they use… nope dosent fit. Tried also Sicce Synra Nano 40-110 gph … nope dosent fit.. there’s a gray guard on there that someone told me I could take off, but didn’t know that til I sent it back.
Now I also need to find a wave power head that won’t blow everything away in this lil tank. I need some suggestions,
This lil tank apparently is hard to find anything to work with it.

I was able to get the Cobalt Aquatics Mini MJ-606 through my LFS. Fits without the covers and provides much better flow than the stock. I find that I don't even need a powehead and I'm sure pretty much all of them would be too strong. Possibly something like a nero 3 turned down?

 

[reaper93]

Also bought a AI prime 16HD FOR IT , but not sure where I need to put it on for my settings so I don’t burn everything up on it. Any suggestions??? Ty

I have the AI Prime but the older version with 13 LEDs instead of 16...lemme take a screenshot of the program I have for it

 

[reaper93]

I use BRS Recommended at 40%

I also attached the par it gets for reference

Hope this helps

 

[jrmrleb]

I use BRS Recommended at 40%

I also attached the par it gets for reference

Hope this helps

The only thing I have in here is rose tip nems(4) and a couple zoa Frags… not sure if your schedule would be the same as I would need to put mine on? Here’s a screen shot of my app page the light I have . Suggestions?

 

[reaper93]

The only thing I have in here is rose tip nems(4) and a couple zoa Frags… not sure if your schedule would be the same as I would need to put mine on? Here’s a screen shot of my app page the light I have . Suggestions?

Not really sure what you're asking. It looks like the same app. Light would probably be slightly stronger because of the added LEDs. Check out the AI facebook group for tons more presents and download files...this is just what I found and looked best for my tank

 

[Norcoreefer]

I've also really struggled with finding things for my Evo 5. Currently trying to track down a pump that will work. I've been researching wavemakers for days now and it's exhausting because everything is so big or too powerful. I'm getting annoyed. The MJ606 or MN606 is impossible to find and I can only find the MN404 which is sub par to say the least.

 

[Norcoreefer]

I had to get a LFS to source it for me. Check out the Evo V owners thread on nano-reef.com, they talk a bunch about upgrades

Do you have a link that thread?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I've also really struggled with finding things for my Evo 5. Currently trying to track down a pump that will work. I've been researching wavemakers for days now and it's exhausting because everything is so big or too powerful. I'm getting annoyed. The MJ606 or MN606 is impossible to find and I can only find the MN404 which is sub par to say the least.

I have a 2.5 gallon pico and use a low power circulation pump...it's perfect

 

[Norcoreefer]

I have a 2.5 gallon pico and use a low power circulation pump...it's perfect

2.5 gallon is a bit different than a 5 gal evo. We are striving to find a pump with enough flow that results in not having to use unsightly wavemakers in a tiny tank. The evo 5 has an 80GPH pump which is dramatically insufficient for these tanks especially when someone wants to add in a ransom flow generator nozzle which cuts the pump power output in half at least.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

2.5 gallon is a bit different than a 5 gal evo. We are striving to find a pump with enough flow that results in not having to use unsightly wavemakers in a tiny tank. The evo 5 has an 80GPH pump which is dramatically insufficient for these tanks especially when someone wants to add in a ransom flow generator nozzle which cuts the pump power output in half at least.

Why don't you just get a more powerful circulation pump instead of a powerhead?

 

[Norcoreefer]

Why don't you just get a more powerful circulation pump instead of a powerhead?

You aren't reading what I'm saying properly mate. I'm not going to explain the entire ergonomics behind the evo 5 and the challenges of finding a return pump for them that is adequate. A wavemaker is not the choice because they are all too strong and too big. So yes the return pump is the thing to change but nothing fits.