Feds 25 Gallon Lagoon and Evo

[thefeds]

It's been multiple years since my last saltwater venture. I built most of it myself, learning from a friend's tank and online media. I had it up and running for several years and multiple moves.

Fast forward to today and the previous pandemic, I now work from home and got the cravings for another tank. This time I wanted something smaller than my previous 75 Gallon, so I opted for the Fluval 13.5 gallon AIO. Kinda wish they would just make it 13 gallons even, well odd..anyways. Things certainly have changed since 2015. I am battling a bit of hair algae and some other type of algae, but other than that all my frags have sprouted new heads and are growing which, I am happy to see. thanks for looking.

It has been up and running since February 1, 2023. Equipment list is below.

Fluval 13.5 EVO
SICCE Syncra Silent 0.5 Multifunction 185 GPH Submersible Water Pump
VCA Ultimate Nano Tank Return Line Upgrade Kit – Dual 1/4in Flex-Series RFG
INTANK CHAMBER ONE MEDIA BASKET FOR FLUVAL EVO 13.5 - Filter Floss/Carbon/Chemi Pure Elite
Rumble in Chamber two
some sand and some CarbiSea Rock
Nero 3 Powerhead (2000 GPH) - Aqua Illumination
30 Watt Mini Helio PTC Smart Heater
Helio PTC Heating Element Holder
ReefLED 50 LED Light Fixture - RedSea
ReefLED 50 Universal Mounting Arm - RedSea
A3 Apex Jr Controller System - Ipad display
Apex DOS for AWC
Kamoer X1 Pro Wifi Dosing pump - All-for-Reef
Reef Breeders Exo-ATO
Kraken Reef Fluval EVO 13.5 Lid Clear Polypropylene Mesh

Alkalinity: 13.05
Calcium: 420 (ya mon!! hehehe)
Magnesium: 1220
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: 0.53
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 78

I am trying to work on getting things more dialed in.

 

[littlefoxx]

Beautiful!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank looks great!

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Yes indeed looks great, looks awesome and love how well you've done your Cable management. How did you deal with the GHA? @thefeds

 

[thefeds]

Yes indeed looks great, looks awesome and love how well you've done your Cable management. How did you deal with the GHA? @thefeds

Still dealing with it...my snails are slowly eating it. I am saving up for a tail spot blenny in hopes it will eat some. Perhaps also an urchin. I also reduced the white light from 20% to 10%.

Thanks, the cable management is a simple board painted white. I had the Ipad laying around and put it to use.

 

[thefeds]

Here is another shot of my set up. The water jugs are from Home Brew Ohio 5 Gallon Plastic Hedpack with cap. 1 has fresh salt water, 1 has RODI, 1 has waste salt water.

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[thefeds]

some more pictures.

 

[thefeds]

Hello R2R...I added a used Kessil A160WE and some new corals. Please enjoy these new images. My clowns are really curious about the nem :) thank you

 

[thefeds]

So, I have found my RODI water is not the best the hard way. I lost the nem and some other coral. I have since ordered a TDS Tester and a new BRS RODI. My testing has been way off recently and I have been wondering about my water source.

I also replaced the 160 with a A360X. The 160 was not as controllable as I wanted. It could be over kill for my little tank, but if I upgrade to something larger, it will be of use then too. Here is a recent photo dump. some are better than others.

 

[thefeds]

So, sure enough I received my TDS Meter and my RODI supply is displaying 48ppm. My new RODI unit is arriving today and as soon as I get it, I will install and begin making water. I sure hope this helps with the slow growth I have been seeing.

I also did some testing the other day and my Magnesium is low so going to try and boost it. Not sure which method to use as I just have a little nano. Hope to pick up some more corals soon.

 

[thefeds]

RODI installed, making water out of hose connector for now until I can install the new utility sink and paint the laundry room. TDS reading after flushing was 4ppm. Ive already made 5 gallons and still need 15 gallons more. Then fresh salt added and mixed and AWC refreshed.

Now to figure out where to mount RODI unit...

 

[thefeds]

ug! woke up this am to my return pump not running. Water was at 72 degrees. I pulled the pump out, cleaned it with some white vinegar and it started right up. During that time, I had my second heater out in the main display and the heating element rested up on my hammer. Water is circulating now, and the heaters are trying their hardest to bring temp back up to 78 degrees. I can only hope my hammer will be ok as well as the rest of my coral. Light is just turning on and everything is closed up. mostly zoa's, but I do have a nem that is really closed up. I am not sure how long the pump was offline. Will my corals survive something like this? Fish and inverts seem to be ok. I am really worried my corals will not survive. has anyone experienced something similar? thanks for any feedback.

 

[thefeds]

Haven't updated this in a while...Many things have changed. First off, I had to move my office downstairs, that gave me the opportunity to order a new larger tank. I ordered an Innovative Marine 25 Gallon Lagoon! I needed to get some other items as well. Been pretty busy getting things set up, will update as soon as I can.

 

[thefeds]

Well, things have changed. I now have 2 tanks running in the house. The Evo is now in the main room, and my Lagoon is in my office. I've kinda re-done things, order 25lbs of TBS which has been going great!! I do hear clicking so i am pretty sure I have a pistol shrimp. I've added 2 new fish, a cryptic wrasse and a purple firefish. I moved my 2 clowns that I have had for over 2 years into the 13 gallon evo. they have that to them selves. With the other 2 I have a total of 3 fish in my lagoon. Will try and post pics soon if anyone interested. thanks

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Well, things have changed. I now have 2 tanks running in the house. The Evo is now in the main room, and my Lagoon is in my office. I've kinda re-done things, order 25lbs of TBS which has been going great!! I do hear clicking so i am pretty sure I have a pistol shrimp. I've added 2 new fish, a cryptic wrasse and a purple firefish. I moved my 2 clowns that I have had for over 2 years into the 13 gallon evo. they have that to them selves. With the other 2 I have a total of 3 fish in my lagoon. Will try and post pics soon if anyone interested. thanks

Can't wait to see pictures of both of your tanks!

 

[thefeds]

Here's my 25 Gallon Lagoon that has the TBS rocks and 3 fish. comments are welcome :)

 

[thefeds]

and here is the Evo...since it is for the clowns only, I am thinking about adding a clown goby, the green stipped ones, some time.

 

[thefeds]

Going to continue to the 25 Lagoon and EVO journey here from here -

Power went out while on vacation, lost everything​

 

[thefeds]

Day	Alkalinity	Magnesium	Nitrate	Phosphate	Salinity	Temperature
September 6th, 2025	8.2 dKH 09:23	1435 ppm 09:23	13.8 ppm 09:23	0.22 ppm 09:23	34 ppt 09:23	79.4 F 09:23

These settings are for my 13.5 EVO that I have sitting in my living room. It is running with an AI Axis 40 at around 95%. I also have some VCA out puts, and this is all the flow I have. I run an 21" AI Blade Coral Grow with the legs. I have a reef breeders ATO and generic heater. InTank filter floss with a bag of chemi pure elite in the middle.
Current inhabitants are my 2 clowns that I have had for around 2 years. I have some GSP beginning to grow on back wall, I have a 3-4 head duncan and several different zoas. Also, some hermits, snails, a coral banded shrimp (that is ignoring all the bristle worms) and a tiny aiptasia eating filefish (once it outgrows this it will move). A few pieces of rock from TBS and some other rock, no sand.

 

[thefeds]

please excuse the glass and aiptasia...hopefully they will get eaten here in the next few days. I am also planning on water change this weekend and will clean glass then. Thanks for looking.