Fluval EVO 13.5 build

Timbo13

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It's been 2 weeks since I set up my EVO, so I figured I'd write a build thread to keep track of my progress and gain invaluable support and ideas throughout this journey. I already know I've made a beginner mistakes (rushing).
I set the tank up on October 15, adding about 6.5 kg of CaribSea aragalive Fiji pink, about 4.5 kg of CaribSea life rock and a bottle each of biocom 21 and 78. (It's the Japanese equivalent of Fritzyme)
Prior to adding the water I changed the pump to an Eheim 1000 and put an inTank media basket into chamber 1. I'm using a heater I had on an old tank for now till I get an Eheim Jager.
I'm keeping the stock lights and hood for now.

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Timbo13

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After doing some reading and considering all the bacteria I'd added to the tank, I added 2 small clownfish after the tank had been running for a few days.
After about a week of running the tank was showing 0 for ammonia (red sea test), 0 for nitrate and a little nitrite. Temperature, salinity, ph and calcium have all been constant. Also, if anyone saw my post about not being able to find a suitable adaptor to connect a US size thread to a Japanese faucet, my solution is in a photo below.

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Timbo13

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When the tank was 8 days old I added 3 nassarius snails and a fire shrimp. Everyone has been getting along swimmingly in the tank. Also started to get diatoms around this time. One of the snails is acting a bit weird.... I though nassarius stayed in the sandbed.
Also picked up a Fluval timer to control lighting while I'm at work. I'm running it from 2PM to 9PM with the fade in/out option.

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Timbo13

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About 4 days ago, I added what I'm thinking will be the last of my CUC for a while. A smaill turbo snail and 2 sittaka snails (the Japanese version of a trochus). They managed to wipe out most of the rock diatoms overnight.
Only really left with diatoms on the sand bed.

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Timbo13

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Being the impatient amateur that I am I went to pick up a small GSP just to see how it would go. I ended up finding a "coral assortment plate" on sale, I thought "Why not?" It had a small clove polyp, GSP, xenia and a few zooanthids on it. I wanted to pick up some GSP anyway and this was only $20 more expensive. As I was leaving there were 2 cheap frags in the window so I bought them too. I think one is recordia and one is some kind of mushroom, but I'm not sure. If someone could tell me what they are I'd appreciate it. They are images 17 and 18.
Also, I broke to coral assortment plate apart (on purpose) and spread the corals out on the bottom of my tank. Within an hour of placing them in my tank they all opened except the xenia. (obviously the 2 I don't know what they are didn't open).
I know I shouldn't have been impulsive.
If anyone has any suggestions on tank placement for these corals after they have settled, please let me know.

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Timbo13

Timbo13

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Below is what my set-up looks like. Everything is tucked under a small desk and I just take the RODI unit to the bathroom and connect it whenever I need to make water.

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Timbo13

Timbo13

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So things have been going well with the tank. Parameters are really stable and diatoms look like they are gradually beginning to fade. Coral additions seem to be settling in well. It seems I have a new uninvited tank mate. A snail of some sort. It's super tiny. Some eggs have appeared in the side of one of the rocks....hmmm
I'm really enjoying having this tank/new hobby. Even though the tank is new and still reasonably empty I could just watch it for hours. I hope this motivation continues for years to come. I'm currently contemplating turning my old Fluval Flex 9 gallon into another nano reef tank, with a YWG/shrimp pair and a tailspot blennie.

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@Timbo13 everything looks great, but i would have waited abit longer to add all the livestock. Even though you added lots of bacteria right away, you should wait at least 2 weeks to add clownfish, and the corals i wouldve given a few months. Good to hear everything is doing great though.
Fluval Flex 9G with a YWG/shrimp pair? I wouldnt recommend it... Its a very small tank, chemistry can change in the blink of an eye. In a 9 gallon I would probably just do corals, maybe a a small neon goby to it.
The key in the hobby is patience, patience, patience. Life takes time, but life always,uh, finds a way. (see what i did there? Jurassic park reference?) Lol anyways best of luck, keep us updated.Ive thought about getting the Evo 13.5g
 
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Timbo13

Timbo13

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Thanks for the advice. I'll skip the YWG/shrimp pair. If I do convert the 9 gallon do you think it'd be big enough for a tailspot blennie?
Also, do you have any idea what that snail is and what the eggs might be from??
 

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Welcome to R2R, nice looking tank :)
 

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Thanks for the advice. I'll skip the YWG/shrimp pair. If I do convert the 9 gallon do you think it'd be big enough for a tailspot blennie?
Also, do you have any idea what that snail is and what the eggs might be from??
mmm... tailspot blenny prolly not. Neon gobies or clown goby, or even pygmy coral croucher would go really nice in a 10g. They stay small, super entertaining. Check out the pymy coral croucher. About $60, but its an epic fish.
 
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Timbo13

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mmm... tailspot blenny prolly not. Neon gobies or clown goby, or even pygmy coral croucher would go really nice in a 10g. They stay small, super entertaining. Check out the pymy coral croucher. About $60, but its an epic fish.
If the tanks too small for a tailspot blenny, I might just hold off till I get a bigger tank. The Evo is a great AIO tank. It's the first AIO I've had. All my freshwater tanks run cannister filters. I really like the clean look of the tank. It's worthwhile for the price.
Thanks again for your input.
 
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Timbo13

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Not much has changed... just being patient. I've noticed a huge amount of things going on after dark, Hitchhikers from the GSP etc.
Had to remove a ctenophore yesterday, was worried it would multiply and I'm planning on adding some copepods into the tank at a later date.
After listening to advice and giving the future some thought, I've decided that I'm going to turn my Flex 9 gallon into a frag tank in preparation for a reefer 170 when I move house. I figure it'll give me about 1-2 years to grow some corals, work out lighting and learn more about coral keeping.
I'm already dreaming of the 170....

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I'm not really sure why I haven't said it before, I love your scape. :)
I also run an Evo as well as a bigger tank.
 
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Timbo13

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So I've made a few small adjustments this past week. I bought an inkbird temperature controller as well as a smart lite ATO. It's attached to a camping water dispenser which holds 12 liters, so I shouldn't have to worry about it so often. Also had to remove the back lid because I wanted to add an Eheim 50 watt tru temp heater. Winter is on the way and I've read Eheim make quality heaters. It wouldn't fit properly otherwise. Fish etc are all doing well except the larger clownfish keeps picking on the smaller one. I hope they sort it out soon.
Oh, I also decided to bite the bullet and get the intank media basket for chamber 2 as well. If the AI prime LEDs go on sale either Black Friday or Cyber Monday I'm tempted to upgrade the lighting.... although it does get cold where I live so I'm also kind of tempted to keep the stock lid.
 

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Timbo13

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Really!! That would be much appreciated. The way that I did mine still leaks. I'm using an aquticlife RODI buddy. It came with some adaptors but they are in US sizes.
If you think it would fit, I'll send you my address.

Thanks for helping
 
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Timbo13

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Been a few weeks since I posted last. Been battling cyano. I picked up a Jebao sw-2 wave maker to increase flow and decreased my lighting by an hour a day to try and stop it. Been doing 20% water changes instead of 10%. Also picked up 2 electric blue hermits. I was hoping they would clean up the cyano but they haven't touched it.... Also added a duncan coral, it's been doing really well. And a big thanks to Matchpoint89 for sending me an adapter to attach to an RODI unit.
Parameters are still looking good.

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