EVO 13.5 Startup Questions and Observations

[dmankin]

Hi all. I have a brand-new EVO 13.5 in my home that I am about to bring to life. I have made some observations, and that leads me to some questions that I hope you can help answer.

First, I have purchased a heater to fit in the chamber with the return pump. But it appears to me that the pump that shipped with my tank is physically larger than the one that is shown in the included quick start-up guide. My pump must sit sideways, leaving very little room for a heater. I have a Fluval M50 heater, and even though it would be described as thin, it is still a very tight squeeze to fit in with the pump. Has anyone else run into this, and should I be concerned that the heater is right against the pump?

My next question is how much live sand is needed in this tank?

Finally, how much live rock, and assuming sand & rock take up a percentage of the total tank volume, how many gallons of salt water ultimately occupies the tank/filter area? I am trying to decide how many 5-gallon (empty) jugs to purchase in order to get things going. For now, I plan to purchase RODI & salt water from my LFS, and wonder how many bottles to bring for the initial purchasing. I know there are lots of variables and preferences. I am just trying to get a ballpark idea.

Thanks all. I’ll probably have many more questions as things move forward. Thanks in advance for your replies and advice.

Dave

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Let's see, I'd go with about 5lbs of rock, a 10lb bag of sand and you'll probably need just over 10 gallons of water. You'll probably not use all the sand.

 

[Brandon Rush]

Have the same setup, you can fit the heater in there if you put the pump sideways. I used 20lb bag of sand and 10lbs live rock. Oh and I added the protein skimmer, a definite must.

 

[dmankin]

Have the same setup, you can fit the heater in there if you put the pump sideways. I used 20lb bag of sand and 10lbs live rock. Oh and I added the protein skimmer, a definite must.

Thanks, Brandon.

I have the PS2 protein skimmer as well. The heater is a tight fit with the pump. My pump is bigger than the one they photographed for the quick set-up guide photos. I'm certain the pump & heater are touching. I hope that's not a cause for concern.

My best,
Dave

 

[Brandon Rush]

Thanks, Brandon.

I have the PS2 protein skimmer as well. The heater is a tight fit with the pump. My pump is bigger than the one they photographed for the quick set-up guide photos. I'm certain the pump & heater are touching. I hope that's not a cause for concern.

My best,
Dave

No problem, yea my ADD sets in when I can't match it up to the photo too lol. Make sure too you don't submerge the heater too low as it has a min and max water level line. Not at home right now, but I can try and take a photo of mine tomorrow and show you how I have mine.

 

[dmankin]

Here is how my pump & heater are situated. Seems crazy tight. The photos in the quick set-up guide show the pump turned 90 degrees with the power cord against the glass outer wall. The pump that came with the EVO 13.5 will NOT fit that way... it's too big!

 

[Plauri55]

I have had my Eco 13.5 for nearly a year now. I also am using the Fluval heater but my included pump fits perfectly. Is it possible they included the wrong pump? I would contact them directly:.
fluvalaquatics.com/. I have dealt with them twice and both times very helpful and seemed to want to make things right.

 

[dmankin]

Actually, I did reach out to Fluval when I could not fit the pump as shown in the literature that came with the tank kit. I called their help line, and the woman said it is a known issue, and they receive lots of calls about this. She asked for my email address so she could send me photos of how that chamber should come together. Below are the images she sent me:

 

[Plauri55]

Oh! Sorry they weren't helpful. Obviously I got mine before this issue came up. Good luck getting it going.
Mine is doing well with some nice corals, 2 clowns, a pair of shrimp gobies and a tail spot Blenny. Plus shrimp and a Lettuce Nudibranch and cuc.

 

[marktea]

I'd recommend no more the one 10 pound bag of sand. I have the evo to. The 10lb is literally perfect. To much will take up unnecessary water volume and can lead to potential problems down the road.
For the live rock, I started with 8lbs, but I quickly realized that was not enough. I feel in love with corals and more love rock = more Real estate for corals but less for fish. That is going to be a call you are going to have to make on your own. The amount of live rock is completely up to you and your own preference. I have my evo stocked with 8 lbs and I have it stocked with 15. I can post pics of what it looks like stocked both ways if ud like

 

[Shine5555]

I'd recommend no more the one 10 pound bag of sand. I have the evo to. The 10lb is literally perfect. To much will take up unnecessary water volume and can lead to potential problems down the road.
For the live rock, I started with 8lbs, but I quickly realized that was not enough. I feel in love with corals and more love rock = more Real estate for corals but less for fish. That is going to be a call you are going to have to make on your own. The amount of live rock is completely up to you and your own preference. I have my evo stocked with 8 lbs and I have it stocked with 15. I can post pics of what it looks like stocked both ways if ud like

I would like to see the pictures please

 

[dmankin]

Yes - please post pics! Thanks.
Dave

 

[chuckfu5]

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Welcome.....your going to love your EVO...ITS CRAZY how much money you can spend on such a small tank.

I have the same issue with the return pump and the heater. No big deal. I put a small controllable Jebaeo powerhead in there for random indirect flow and recently upgraded the light to a kessil 360aw. The stock light is fine for softies and maybe some LPS but depending on what you want to do with it you might have to consider upgrading.

Good luck and ask tons of questions!

 

[marktea]

Wow chuck, nice corals!! Any fish ? They're great tanks I love it !

8lbs

Here is the 16.
I recommend looking at a few evo build on Google. Get an idea of things that look good, bad, practical, and make sure most importantly you put your own taste in their! It is your tank, after all

 

[chuckfu5]

A pair of clowns, bicolor Blenny and an out of place banghai cardinal. He was our first fish.

I probably have 40 different coral in this tank. A couple of anemones. My last piece I want is a clam....

 

[marktea]

Hey chuck, what's your opinion on your current stock? I currently have two paired clowns and a purple goby, and I think I might return the goby as he's trying to claim like 50% of the tank lol. Oddly enough my clown isn't interested in showing her dominance

 

[chuckfu5]

Hey chuck, what's your opinion on your current stock? I currently have two paired clowns and a purple goby, and I think I might return the goby as he's trying to claim like 50% of the tank lol. Oddly enough my clown isn't interested in showing her dominance

Fish or coral?

My female clown rules the tank. She tells everyone where to go and what to do. She doesn't bother the cardinal as much. I think it's because he was there first.

If I had to do it again I'd probably leave the cardinal out...he kinda just doesn't fit in.

Corals...its a lot. When everything grows out I will be trimming a lot.

The Alk and calcium demand is already a lot for this little thing.

I dose 5ml of ALK and 1.5 of calcium and magnesium to maintain everything where I want them.

I'm not a heavy feeder so I only change water once a month. When I do though I break my skimmer down and clean it, I've removed the sponge as it's a nitrate factory and also completely tear part the return pump and clean it as well. It gets nasty.

It's awesome though and wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll post some pics tomorrow to show you my new addition.

 

[chuckfu5]

Added a few things...

WWC Interstellar Mushroom

And I finally think I got a good clam from DD that seems to be doing good. A little bigger than I wanted for my tank but it's an amazing Clam and am WAY EXCITED that's it's doing good.

It's a little ticked now because I had to move wit where it was because it was right on the glass.....enjoy!

 

[dmankin]

Very cool!!!

 

[DSC reef]

Here's the evo I set up for my mom. No heater, no skimmer, just live rock and thin layer of sand. Weekly 3 gallon water changes and a marine orbit led light. I do not believe a skimmer is a must. Tank has been up since april, no algae problems whatsoever.