13.5 Gallon Build Thread.

[grantfoster02]

Just got this puppy in yesterday. New to the salt water world (but not freshwater). This is my small starter tank. It’s a Fluval EVO 13.5 gallon and I’m already impressed by its practicality. In the back, instead of a skimmer I have rock rubble, because from what I’ve heard, I’m not going to have a big waste load. It will be just a FOWLR tank (maybe) lol. I might change my mind down the road. I will be adding a wave maker in the coming days, just not at the moment. Within the next couple of weeks there will be more pics to come, but for right now it’s cycling.
the way I’m cycling, I am phantom feeding whilst adding seachems stabilty. Is there a better way to do it?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Hey welcome. Lookin great. Welcome crew will prob come through shortly. Lol
D

 

[GHOSTLY]

Just got this puppy in yesterday. New to the salt water world (but not freshwater). This is my small starter tank. It’s a Fluval EVO 13.5 gallon and I’m already impressed by its practicality. In the back, instead of a skimmer I have rock rubble, because from what I’ve heard, I’m not going to have a big waste load. It will be just a FOWLR tank (maybe) lol. I might change my mind down the road. I will be adding a wave maker in the coming days, just not at the moment. Within the next couple of weeks there will be more pics to come, but for right now it’s cycling.
the way I’m cycling, I am phantom feeding whilst adding seachems stabilty. Is there a better way to do it?

Liquid ammonia and stability. I say this truthfully keep me updated

 

[grantfoster02]

Liquid ammonia and stability. I say this truthfully keep me updated

So just regular ammonia I can buy at the store? And how much?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

More.light and flow. U can feed like ur doing. Maybe a little more 1 night to really kick it. U can do a small wc to slow or soften the cycle on the tank if need be. Ur tanks only 13.5 gals.
5 gals would be good.
D

 

[123]

I would buy something specified for aquariums like dr Tim’s ammonia chloride

 

[Sharkbait19]

Welcome to the salty side of the Force! You'll love it on Reef2Reef!

I look forward to following this build! The tank is looking great so far!!

 

[NashobaTek]

Welcome to R2R!! Tanks looking good.
Just take your time..... nothing happens fast in the saltwater world

 

[Bribo12]

Looks great! For a second I got scared this was another post about the “other” evo thread

 

[123]

Looks great! For a second I got scared this was another post about the “other” evo thread

Hahah

 

[Bribo12]

Yep you have to make sure there is nothing added to the ammonia. Are you gonna add any more rock or just the one island look for now?

 

[grantfoster02]

Looks great! For a second I got scared this was another post about the “other” evo thread

Lol

 

[grantfoster02]

Here’s a build update: 5-13-2021

Ammonia spike and cycling happened fastest I’ve seen any of my tanks do. I dropped in cut up fresh shrimp, did parameter tests and all comes out good. So last night, I reintroduced my clown and got a neon blue Damsel and 3 hermits as well. They seem very happy this morning when the lights clicked on. I also added two more rocks because I’ve come to the decision of having a reef. (Exciting I know). I have brine shrimp that I’ve fed them and they seem to like it a lot, but what do you guys suggest on fresh food?
I’ve also found that the top right of the tank is now the clowns preferred spot.
Also, what do y’all think about stocking? Could I put a couple more smaller fish in?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Neon blues are supposed to be really aggressive. Kinda looks like an azure at this angle though (which is peaceful for a damsel).
Good options are a royal gramma, gobies, cardinal fish, and tailspot blennies, to name a few.
Shrimp goby pair would be cool.
Frozen Brine shrimp isn’t the most nutritious, kinda like fish potato chips. Mysis is a better option in that respect.

 

[grantfoster02]

It might be an azure, and I might have read the wrong tag at my lfs. (Glad I did now) he’s not being aggressive to my clown or my hermits which is great. And the mysis shrimp is what I was planning on getting as well. How many more fish do you recommend I put in it? I don’t want to over stock it.

 

[Sharkbait19]

2-4 fish is the standard. Gobies are low waste.
I’m going to have 4 total fish in mine. A lot depends on your maintenance. I do 30% wc a week.
I would make your next fish sand or rock dwellers so that they stay out of the way of the clown and damsel.

 

[grantfoster02]

2-4 fish is the standard. Gobies are low waste.
I’m going to have 4 total fish in mine. A lot depends on your maintenance. I do 30% wc a week.
I would make your next fish sand or rock dwellers so that they stay out of the way of the clown and damsel.

Okay. Good to know. I’m definitely leaning towards gobys.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I recommend a shrimp goby pair. Very entertaining. The shrimp digs a burrow and the goby protects it.

 

[NashobaTek]

My only input is stay away from the mandrins until you have a bigger tank. Gorgeous fish but hard to keep in small tanks due to their diet

 

[grantfoster02]

My only input is stay away from the mandrins until you have a bigger tank. Gorgeous fish but hard to keep in small tanks due to their diet

Good to know. They will definitely be put in my bigger thank that I’m getting in a few months.