Fluval 13.5 Nano First SW Tank

[Salty_Fish306]

don't worry about your light for 6 months at least. only thing i would do is get a timer to plug the light into to turn on and off at set times.

Good idea. I want to keep GSP primarily. But open more dofferent softies

 

[Fish Fan]

Is the marine 3.0 from fluval worth getting? Id like to keep a lid on it to combat evaporation. But if i read right. Id have to dirch the lid for a better light

I believe the Marine 3.0 is a more capable light than the stock light on the Fluval, but I really wouldn't bother getting anything now. You have lots of time, and may be just fine with the stock light. You don't have to upgrade at all if you stick with the low light demand corals.

If you want an upgrade that I'd do sooner than later, please get an Auto Top Off (ATO) unit that automatically refills freshwater that evaporates. This goes a long, long way to keeping your salinity stable, which is very important for coral success. It's nothing you need while your tank is cycling, but this would be my first upgrade here

 

[PPBlimpy]

For ***** and giggles. My 13.5 as it sits now. Need to get a CUC in there here shortly. Clowns came out of my 300g.

Will eventually pack with rainbow bubble tips. Have 30+ in my 300g

 

[Salty_Fish306]

Is the marine 3.0 from fluval worth getting? Id like to keep a lid on it to combat evaporation. But if i read right. Id have to dirch the lid for a better light

I believe the Marine 3.0 is a more capable light than the stick light on the Fluval, but I really wouldn't bother getting anything now. You have lots of time, and may be just fine with the stock light. You don't have to upgrade at all if you still with the low light demand corals.

If you want an upgrade that I'd do sooner than later, please get an Auto Top Off (ATO) unit that automatically refills freshwater that evaporates. This goes a long, long way to keeping your salinity stable, which is very important for coral success. It's nothing you need while your tank is cycling, but this would be my first upgrade here

Ive been looking into which ato to get. Alot of choices

 

[PPBlimpy]

Good idea. I want to keep GSP primarily. But open more dofferent softies

stock light will grow GSP without a problem.

ato is a a nice addition but stock lid will keep evap down to a minum

 

[Salty_Fish306]

So i can always add more rock over time?

 

[PPBlimpy]

So i can always add more rock over time?

yes you can but adding dry rock, or dirty dry rock, like someone pulled out of their tank and just let it dry should not be added. it should be cured first. it can cause ammonia spikes and bad things to happen

but if you bought a coral that has a rock attached then cool or a rock straight out of someones tank, you know it was in a tank and ad away. That has its flaws also but pros outweigh the cons. you get a more diversified beneficial bacteria but risk bringing in hitchhikers

research is needed to see what way you are comfortable going

 

[Fish Fan]

So i can always add more rock over time?

I say yes, if you're getting real, wet live rock from your Local Fish Store (LFS).

Please know that the CaribSea "life Rocks" are not real live rock (I think they used an intentionally misleading name), and need to be treated more like dry rock. Dry rock can sometimes cause a bit of an issue with ugly algae when it's first added to a new tank. But it's definitely possible to add more rock to a running tank.

 

[Salty_Fish306]

But going to a LFS or buying rock online. I can just wash and chunk in the tank?

 

[PPBlimpy]

I always suggest to join a local reefing club, get to know people in the group. offer to buy a pound or two of rock from a member with a nice tank, maybe a 1/2 cup of sand. The biodiversity from established tanks helps tremendously.

i keep rock in my sump just for these occasions. helping out local members starting new tanks

 

[Salty_Fish306]

I grabbed a small enough live rock that can fit in the bottom of the return chamber.. Not sure if that would add anything of importance or not. It was a free rock

 

[PPBlimpy]

But going to a LFS or buying rock online. I can just wash and chunk in the tank?

i wanted to buy the pico rock from gulf live rock for my 13.5 G.
5lbs rock and 5 lbs sand from the ocean. some much cool critters and good stuff in it. its like $100 shipped to your door

i ended up not going that route because I had all the tonga branch in my curing bin already and thought the scape may look pretty cool

 

[Fish Fan]

I grabbed a small enough live rock that can fit in the bottom of the return chamber.. Not sure if that would add anything of importance or not. It was a free rock

It's always good to add some real live rock, even if it's a small piece in the back filter section. It helps to bring in more and different microorganisms that are beneficial to the tank.

If you get real, wet live rock, don't rinse it in freshwater, that would damaged the life on it, which is what you want from live rock.

If this is Life Rock or another dry rock, sure, give it a rinse if it's dusty.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

Is the marine 3.0 from fluval worth getting? Id like to keep a lid on it to combat evaporation. But if i read right. Id have to dirch the lid for a better light

If you got the saltwater (Sea) series tank kit I believe it comes with the 3.0 series marine light and if you get the fluval lighting app you can set spectrum and off on times

 

[Salty_Fish306]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/show-size-plate-coral-rock-1-piece-real-reef-solutions.html
That's what I got. Cause it's on the cheaper side. But will save money and get more before too long.

 

[Salty_Fish306]

No I didn't. I got the EVO series

 

[PPBlimpy]

yes that is labelled live but if it didn't show up WET in a towel or underwater it is rock that will become live over time.

 

[Salty_Fish306]

Nope was dusty af lol

 

[Salty_Fish306]

I always suggest to join a local reefing club, get to know people in the group. offer to buy a pound or two of rock from a member with a nice tank, maybe a 1/2 cup of sand. The biodiversity from established tanks helps tremendously.

i keep rock in my sump just for these occasions. helping out local members starting new tanks

Always down to buy some stuff from people. There aren't any local groups that I can find near Little Rock, Arkansas but. Will look into this more.

 

[Fish Fan]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/show-size-plate-coral-rock-1-piece-real-reef-solutions.html
That's what I got. Cause it's on the cheaper side. But will save money and get more before too long.

Yeah, that's similar to the CaribbSea Life Rock I was talking about, there's nothing wrong with using it, it looks good right away, but just treat it like a dry rock.

Are you familiar with cycling a new tank using dry rock, bottled bacteria and a source of ammonia?

No I didn't. I got the EVO series

Right, but did you get the Fluval EVO Marine series? Was the box it came in more blue or more green/yellow?