Fluval 32.5 Marine Flex crash course

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Muwahha

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For almost the same price, why not get the ai prime? Since you are running without the top cover. I replaced my fluval light with an air prime. You get go with 2 ai prime or 1 prime and 1 light bar.
Only problem is I have to leave the top on because it’s right around the corner from our bathroom. Wives and all their smelly things make me worry about going topless.
 

Purkey Pets

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On another note, don’t go looking for the secondary light bar for this tank. I ended up ordering the wrong one and didn’t realize what a pain it is to find. Ended up ordering the 24” -32” thinking that would suffice. The LED strip itself is about 4” shorter than the stock strip. Then read more and found out the 32” -48” is too long. The only place that currently sells it is Fluvals website. 10 bucks more than the 24”-32” minus the led transformer that they sell for 70 bucks. Pretty sure I’m going to be sending this one back and rethink a replacement light for my tank. Part number you are looking for is 14513, NOT 14515 or 14516. Kind of ticked honestly that they did this.

Yeah the second add-on / replacement light is not priced right with the other lights they offer...the packaging is just a plain white box and doesn't include the $64 transformer. +$170 for the light = $234

The 36" light with same wattage and LED count (just slightly larger housing) that includes mounting legs and transformer in a fancy box = $190

Even the larger 48" light is cheaper at $230
 
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Muwahha

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I ended up just using the light I purchased. I got it for around $140. It actually looks good and everything is responding well to the boost in par levels.

5FA7DA67-BC24-486E-8D88-098F56BC9924.jpeg
 

AndyinAtlanta

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I've had the 32.5 Flex for roughly eight months now, the biggest modification I made was adding cooling fans (just regular small PC fans that run off USB):
IMG_20200906_160115.jpg

In the South house temperatures can get quite high, and having the AC blast 24/7 was inefficient (and was still resulting in the water temperature getting into the upper 82 degree range).

The fans run on low during the daytime hours, completely silent, and temperatures are always around 78 degrees.
 

AndyinAtlanta

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What’s up to all!! Got a question has anybody have a problem with the middle chamber water level just going low even when you top it off?

I run one of those "mini" ATO's in the middle chamber and that stabilized my water levels 100%. It runs down to one of those Home Depot 5 gallon buckets. The ATO placed anywhere else in the tank resulted in the middle chamber water level lowering.
 

wonroc

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just ordered another light bar this week. Plus the place I bought the tank from gave me 20 bucks off a second light.
[/QUOTE]
What do you mean a second light? Is it something that just pops into the case? How do you add another light with this case top?
 
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Muwahha

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just ordered another light bar this week. Plus the place I bought the tank from gave me 20 bucks off a second light.
What do you mean a second light? Is it something that just pops into the case? How do you add another light with this case top?
[/QUOTE]
They give you extra brackets to mount another light to the top. It’s shipped with one light in the middle. You adjust it forward or back to put the new one in the other slots.

DAA12FCE-ADC3-4708-A863-4BE7914966E8.jpeg
 
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Muwahha

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I've had the 32.5 Flex for roughly eight months now, the biggest modification I made was adding cooling fans (just regular small PC fans that run off USB):
IMG_20200906_160115.jpg

In the South house temperatures can get quite high, and having the AC blast 24/7 was inefficient (and was still resulting in the water temperature getting into the upper 82 degree range).

The fans run on low during the daytime hours, completely silent, and temperatures are always around 78 degrees.
Mine was getting relatively warm in the spring until I went with the in-tank media baskets. I kept a the levels back there low enough so there was a waterfall action into the basket.
 
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Muwahha

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I used the auto aqua smart ATO. Works wonderfully with a 1 gallon jug of top off water. I go through a little more than a gallon a week of water.
 

wonroc

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The fans run on low during the daytime hours, completely silent, and temperatures are always around 78 degrees.
So you cut a hole and mounted the fan??
Is your lower temp a direct result of the fan. Just ordered one. Temp hovering between 79.4-80.2
 

AndyinAtlanta

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So you cut a hole and mounted the fan??
Is your lower temp a direct result of the fan. Just ordered one. Temp hovering between 79.4-80.2
Yes, it was almost immediate. Since adding the fans I haven't hit 79 degrees once. My tank was getting as high as 82.5. I do need to replace about 2/3 of a gallon of water a day now due to evaporation.
 

rockdiver

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Just bought this tank. Any updates or advice ? There was alot of good info in this thread.
I like the media baskets and will get them, the fans I will watch see if i need, the ATO definitely.
Upgrade the pump ? Anything else ?
Waiting for my ro/di so hopefully next weekend will fill it.
I came back into this after many years out. Had a 90g before but figured I would start small this time and maybe work my way up. Seems alot has changed at least in the lighting dept.
Any info would be great.
 

rockdiver

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Ok i bought this tank and I cannot find the skimmer that goes with it anywhere. I had 1 ordered and they emailed me today saying they are out of stock and it will be a month before any come in.
Any ideas where or a different skimmer to use.
Thanks
 

dhewitt879

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What do you mean a second light? Is it something that just pops into the case? How do you add another light with this case top?
They give you extra brackets to mount another light to the top. It’s shipped with one light in the middle. You adjust it forward or back to put the new one in the other slots.

DAA12FCE-ADC3-4708-A863-4BE7914966E8.jpeg
[/QUOTE]
What size lights did you go with here? I got the tank without a light and bought the 24-36" 32watt light for the main light. I wanted to get another light but the one size smaller, I don't know if it will fit. I will only have a couple clowns and bubble tip anemones in this tank.
 

#R_TST

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What’s up to all!! Got a question has anybody have a problem with the middle chamber water level just going low even when you top it off?

Upgrades:
Jebao 2500 pump
2 Jebao OW-10
Tunez 9001 skimmer
2 Orbit Marine LED “so using Fluval marine led”
LED grow light for chaeto
Ink-Bird Temperature Controller w/ Fluval heater
2 intank media basket

25 lbs of ApurpleReef black-out dry rock
40 lbs of ApurpleReef Orchid Coast live sand
20 lbs of Real Reef Branch Rock

Pics from July

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Pics from now

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There’s a video on the fluval site about the lower water level and how it functions.
 

#R_TST

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Ended up with the return nozzles pointed left/right at the sides with the powerheads (in each back corner) shooting into the return flow just right to create a turbulence all over the tank.

My next step is to remove the top section of plastic divider on the filter media chamber, its preventing the water surface from flowing into the media basket. May also cut the plastic screen area if that doesn't work.
Do you happen to have a picture of your powerhead and nozzle placement? And a pic of the mods to the filter media chamber that you made?
 

#R_TST

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If you keep the lid that came with the Fluval Flex 32.5, where do you run the cables so it sits correctly? What powerhead placement are you finding best for flow with the curved front?
 

rockdiver

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I removed the lid and bought some current usa light best thing I did. That lid was a pain !
 

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Purkey Pets

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Do you happen to have a picture of your powerhead and nozzle placement? And a pic of the mods to the filter media chamber that you made?
16068606087214147567162689915584.jpg

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If you keep the lid that came with the Fluval Flex 32.5, where do you run the cables so it sits correctly? What powerhead placement are you finding best for flow with the curved front?

16068607509018132735212742702483.jpg



Flow patterns will vary depending on what rock structures you have, but aiming at the front glass will blow sand around, especially after upgrading the return pump. I pointed my return nozzles outward left/right and powerheads in back corners pointed into return pump flow to create turbulence

Removed pieces from the overflow strainer and support tabs to allow unrestricted surface flow, pulling surface film into the inTank media baskets

Adding the additional light is easy, both cords route the same location as original. I zip-tied mine to the hook to keep it in place
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

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