Evo 13.5 - SPS challenge

[tenurepro]

Hi All,
I currently have a SPS dominant Redsea reefer 250 that has been running for the past 2 years. The reefer is running pretty steady now so I thought I was time to experiment with a new build. Rather that going bigger, I thought that trying to get SPS growing in a nano AIO would be more of a challenge

So I purchased this Evo 13.5 gallon AIO with plans to convert it into a lean mean sps growing machine!

Here are my unboxing and first impressions of the system


Stay tuned for more!

 

[Dsnakes]

Awesome I’ll be following along!

 

[TexasTodd]

My Son has been running one for about 9 months mostly lps. I think the PAR meter said mid 200's at top of his rocks. Light needs a bit more blue. He's added the skimmer with a mod to it but still not that great. The setup is a steal on line! Xenia grows like crazy in it.

 

[tenurepro]

My Son has been running one for about 9 months mostly lps. I think the PAR meter said mid 200's at top of his rocks. Light needs a bit more blue. He's added the skimmer with a mod to it but still not that great. The setup is a steal on line! Xenia grows like crazy in it.

Yeah looking forward to experimenting with the system

 

[lbacha]

I'm going to set up the 5g version at work on my desk. It will start with softies but I'm sure I'll frag some of my weeds (montipora) and put them in there as well. I'm hoping the stock lights can get to around 100 par but I'm not sure I've heard some good stuff about these evo's

 

[tenurepro]

Just a quick update.
Tank has been up and running for 2 weeks now.
Everything stock so far. Added a 50w heater in first compartment. I didn’t add the included biological media and carbon. Instead, I took a small bag of sea chem matrix which has been in my Redsea reefer 250 for a couple of years.

I started the tank with water from the Redsea reefer as well, just to ensure that the chemistry is suitable for sps.

For
Circulation, I added 2 korallia nano pumps that I had kicking around... a bit bulky so will likely replace them.

I added 4 sps test frags about 5 days ago. Still alive, but looking a bit faded under the stock lights.

Here is a little video update


Upcoming - installation of a cool ATO that @WallyB made for me!

 

[tenurepro]

So I had a nasty electric shock when I was trying to adjust the heater today. After a bit of testing, I traced it to the fluval return pump that was leaking stray voltage into the tank. Not very impressed with this failure given that the pump is less than a month all.

 

[tenurepro]

Ok, please check out this sweet ATO that @WallyB made for me for the Evo 13.5 - super cool!
Also, and update on the SPS and my plans for lights

 

[tenurepro]

Still testing out the sps waters with my evo. Went with radion lights

 

[Robert McCreary]

smart move! i got the ai prime hd and would have gone with the radion if i knew better and forked out the extra $$$.

 

[tenurepro]

Hi All.
Things are going well. Here is an update on flow and dosing

 

[OffTopic]

Looks like a cool project! Following along

 

[Robert McCreary]

So I had a nasty electric shock when I was trying to adjust the heater today. After a bit of testing, I traced it to the fluval return pump that was leaking stray voltage into the tank. Not very impressed with this failure given that the pump is less than a month all.

my fluval light almost caught on fire before i walked into the office and smelt melting plastic. i thought it was my pc, or water leakage to power cords but it turned out to be just the light i even saw smoke pluming from the feeding port... sigh... there was an issue with the sealing rubber. when they pored the rubber over the light there was an air pocket after a year of use condensation built up and caused it to burn.. light still worked but fluval is sloppy about their quality control. i now have the ai prime hd

 

[tenurepro]

Looks like a cool project! Following along

Thanks

 

[tenurepro]

my fluval light almost caught on fire before i walked into the office and smelt melting plastic. i thought it was my pc, or water leakage to power cords but it turned out to be just the light i even saw smoke pluming from the feeding port... sigh... there was an issue with the sealing rubber. when they pored the rubber over the light there was an air pocket after a year of use condensation built up and caused it to burn.. light still worked but fluval is sloppy about their quality control. i now have the ai prime hd

Yikes sounds awful. How do you like the ai hd?

 

[Robert McCreary]

Yikes sounds awful. How do you like the ai hd?

its a great light of course but i think its a little under-powered if i want to upgrade to a bigger tank like a 60 cube the radion would work in that situation. that is just my ipression on it. from someone who just started in this hobby i think i made a great choice, but i feel as the overal usefull ness for my future intensions are not guaranteed. and will have to spend more money, thats what makes it fail in my book.

 

[sm32589g]

its a great light of course but i think its a little under-powered if i want to upgrade to a bigger tank like a 60 cube the radion would work in that situation. that is just my ipression on it. from someone who just started in this hobby i think i made a great choice, but i feel as the overal usefull ness for my future intensions are not guaranteed. and will have to spend more money, thats what makes it fail in my book.

Would you have gone with a different light?

 

[tenurepro]

Another month with the evo. Sps looking good!

 

[squidarcher]

Another month with the evo. Sps looking good!

Any update on this tank?