EVO 13.5 Newbie Build

norimaki · Jan 23, 2023

New Build - just starting up, little over a month into.

norimaki · Jan 23, 2023

Just joining the group. I have a new EVO 13.5. I had a saltwater tank many years ago, since then mostly fresh water tanks. Right now I have 2 40 gallon breeder tanks. Planted community tanks. I may in the future think about converting one to a reef. But for now, just want to the get the EVO 13.5 going.

The tank has about 1/2 to 1 inch of CaribSea Arag-Alive reef sand and Dry Rocks (red coat), using Brightwell reef salt. The tank ran about two weeks and then I did a round of Dr Tims (One and Only) for two weeks. And this week (week 5 since setup) I added 2 misbar caramel clowns and some clean up crew . So far so good, they seem to be calming down and exploring tank a bit more.

I am doing weekly water changes, using Glacier water from Krogers and Brightwell salt, trying to keep salinity around 1.024/5. Using a mix of test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. I have used API reef tank kit for some, but not thrilled with accuracy of tests. I see others recommend Red Sea test kit, may switch to it.

Modifications I have on EVO 13.5 are the IN_TANK for Chamber 1& 2, and Sicce 1.0 pump. I am using InTank filter floss, bio media and carbon from Fluval for now. Thinking of switching to ChemPure, instead of Fluval carbon.

MNFish · Jan 23, 2023

This is looking good!
What is you plan for corals?

norimaki · Jan 23, 2023

MNFish said:
This is looking good!
What is you plan for corals?

Just starting to do some research on corals, couple more months before I can add them in.

uhgster1 · Jan 24, 2023

Hold off on the chemipure until your tank matures a little if you’re going to get coral. I’ve learned over the years that overfiltering in the beginning while your tank is establishing itself slows down the maturation process. I love chemipure but it is brutally effective at stripping phosphates and we now know that you need a little bit of phosphates and nitrates in a reef tank. I actually ended up removing my chamber 2 media basket and skimmer. I have a basket n the first chamber with matrix and floss and 1 nano chemipure packet. But my Fluval is on its 2nd year.