Fluval 13.5 build

[LV Aquatic]

Hey everyone,

Welcome to my Fluval 13.5 gallon saltwater build. I am brand new to fish keeping (Intro here) and want to document and share my progress on this tank.

Tank setup:
AI axis 20 pump
Eheim heater
Nero 3 wavemaker
Intank basket (media, carbon/purigen, filter floss)
Inkbird
XP Aqua Duetto ATO
AI prime reef light
Kraken Reef cover
Caribsea special grade 10lb
Caribsea life rock


Stocking plans
Yasha goby w/ pistol, PSW, clown goby or firefish

Tank Plans:
FOWLR tank or Zoa garden only

 

[THE REEF WHISPER]

clown goby don't get they eat Coral all Corals don't get it

 

[THE REEF WHISPER]

I have the same tank as you it's about 4 years old

 

[docscorals]

I actually had one of these as my second tank when wanted to expand my zoa collection. I still have it, but it’s tore down to rebuild once I figure out what I want to do with it. Thinking of an invertebrate tank.

Overall great little tank, but I recommend looking on Etsy. There are a couple stores that make 3D printed filter baskets that force the water to move through mechanical and chemical filtration you may want to use. They even create space for a refugium if you want one. The one downside to this tank is their filter area has small slits in the baffles between sections that allow the water to bypass most or all filtration you add.

 

[kevgib67]

Following, I love your rockscape!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[THE REEF WHISPER]

The downside is that once the media gets filled up like the sponge, there's not a lot of water where the pump is pumping out. I don't know if you guys ever had this problem with this tank but it's so annoying and then like my heater is sticking out of the water. That's the worst thing with this tank The thing is I don't know if I should clean the sponge because the pump is working more than the water can go into the chamber but it's the stock pump

 

[LV Aquatic]

I installed a RODI system to make water changes more convenient. I bought some plywood at Home Depot and used a sharkbite fitting for the feed line. For the waste line I just plumbed it to my upstairs laundry room sink p-trap with a drain saddle. The water is stored as needed in a brute 32 gallon can with wavemaker and heater. When I need to water change I add the salt and water to a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[LV Aquatic]

I ended up painting the back of the tank black after I set it up. The Red Sea kit also showed I was fully cycled so I did a couple big water changes to lower the nitrates.

 

[LV Aquatic]

I got a yasha goby and candy pistol pair along with a couple snails. They already made multiple caves and seem to be happy. The snail thinks he is the king of the tank.