Fluval Evo - First Saltwater Tank

[CaptainW]

On March 5th I started my first saltwater tank after a nudge by a coworker. I got a Fluval Evo and I filled it with 3 dry rocks, and some additional media in the back chamber. I got a fluval heater, set to 78, and filled it with saltwater from the LFS. I dosed it with API quick start and added a little bit of raw shrimp to start the cycle. I added a halloween hermit a couple of days later. After a few weeks where I had been sparingly feeding the crab, the cycle completed about 20 days later - I had been testing daily, but brought a sample to the LFS who confirmed ammonia was 0, Nitrate.1, and Nitrate 4 Salinitity 1.025.

I added 2 Ocellaris Clowns and 3 Trochus snails on March 26th. At that point I had some brown algae growth on the rocks, sand and glass, but the CUC has been doing a good job keeping everything under control.

About a week ago the algae turned to green, and to this point everything seems to be running smoothly and healthy. They crew is having a harder time clearing the green stuff off the rocks vs the brown, though. Ammonia and nitrates are staying at 0, and Nitrates about 5. I've been changing out about a gallon every other week and topping off with fresh RODI water from the grocery store sparingly since there hasn't been much evaporation.

My clowns seem to be about the same size, so I'm monitoring them as they hopefully pair up. The white one often seems to be in charge most of the time and is more active, but I haven't seen the black one shake like this before: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/36z6nhlt9QE

Next step is some corals. First I'm thinking GSP on the back of the tank, and something else on the rocks. I'd like to keep this tank as simple/stock as possible. Open to suggestions..

Ever seen a snail bully a hermit?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

On March 5th I started my first saltwater tank after a nudge by a coworker. I got a Fluval Evo and I filled it with 3 dry rocks, and some additional media in the back chamber. I got a fluval heater, set to 78, and filled it with saltwater from the LFS. I dosed it with API quick start and added a little bit of raw shrimp to start the cycle. I added a halloween hermit a couple of days later. After a few weeks where I had been sparingly feeding the crab, the cycle completed about 20 days later - I had been testing daily, but brought a sample to the LFS who confirmed ammonia was 0, Nitrate.1, and Nitrate 4 Salinitity 1.025.

I added 2 Ocellaris Clowns and 3 Trochus snails on March 26th. At that point I had some brown algae growth on the rocks, sand and glass, but the CUC has been doing a good job keeping everything under control.

About a week ago the algae turned to green, and to this point everything seems to be running smoothly and healthy. They crew is having a harder time clearing the green stuff off the rocks vs the brown, though. Ammonia and nitrates are staying at 0, and Nitrates about 5. I've been changing out about a gallon every other week and topping off with fresh RODI water from the grocery store sparingly since there hasn't been much evaporation.

My clowns seem to be about the same size, so I'm monitoring them as they hopefully pair up. The white one often seems to be in charge most of the time and is more active, but I haven't seen the black one shake like this before: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/36z6nhlt9QE

Next step is some corals. First I'm thinking GSP on the back of the tank, and something else on the rocks. I'd like to keep this tank as simple/stock as possible. Open to suggestions..

Ever seen a snail bully a shrimp?

Best of luck with the tank!!!

 

[sadrobotz]

so exciting! I just started my first saltwater tank as well (biocube 32), cannot WAIT to start getting my livestock!

 

[SDReefer77]

Looks like a great start, good on you for taking time and not rushing things...like some of us. I was out of the hobby for 13 years and just started an Evo 13.5 first week of Feb.

Any updates? I'm curious where you are at or if you added any corals.

Nassarius snails are always a great addition to your CUC and are carnivorous so will eat leftover food, plus they will turn your sandbed.

The stock sponge filter in chamber 2 is pretty restrictive and gets gunked up quick. Most people go with an aftermarket media basket and choose their own filter media (I have the 3DOcean baskets, a lot of people have the InTank baskets as they were one of the first to offer the upgrade). The stock pump is slightly underpowered, a good upgrade is the Sicce Syncra Silent .5 (185gph). Stock pump is 135 gph if I remember right.

3DOcean makes a Random Flow Generator (RFG) nozzle for your returns, it's a nice upgrade most people tend to choose for this tank to replace the "duckbills". The 3DO ones are mini, so you get 2 and they fit the dual stock return arms letting you ain them in different directions. A company called Vivid Creative Aquatics make a single one that works well but requires you to remove the stock splitter so it cuts you down to one nozzle. You can always additionally add a wavemaker in the display but I don't think you are going to need the additional flow for a simple tank with low maintenance corals. I haven't added anything for additional flow other than upgrading my return pump and I have LPS on the far side of the tank.

Depending on what you are thinking for corals, lighting might be something to look at, but that's another rabbit hole depending on what direction you think you might want to take.

I'd love to pick your brain since I just got back in myself and there are a lot of people with a lot of fun builds with these. My only real suggestion at this point would be to enjoy and get your feet wet of course, but stick to your guns and "keep it simple". I would still recommend a few upgrades if they are within your budget and I could price out the top ones for you, things that will make your life easier in the long run.

 

[CaptainW]

Looks like a great start, good on you for taking time and not rushing things...like some of us. I was out of the hobby for 13 years and just started an Evo 13.5 first week of Feb.

Any updates? I'm curious where you are at or if you added any corals.

Nassarius snails are always a great addition to your CUC and are carnivorous so will eat leftover food, plus they will turn your sandbed.

The stock sponge filter in chamber 2 is pretty restrictive and gets gunked up quick. Most people go with an aftermarket media basket and choose their own filter media (I have the 3DOcean baskets, a lot of people have the InTank baskets as they were one of the first to offer the upgrade). The stock pump is slightly underpowered, a good upgrade is the Sicce Syncra Silent .5 (185gph). Stock pump is 135 gph if I remember right.

3DOcean makes a Random Flow Generator (RFG) nozzle for your returns, it's a nice upgrade most people tend to choose for this tank to replace the "duckbills". The 3DO ones are mini, so you get 2 and they fit the dual stock return arms letting you ain them in different directions. A company called Vivid Creative Aquatics make a single one that works well but requires you to remove the stock splitter so it cuts you down to one nozzle. You can always additionally add a wavemaker in the display but I don't think you are going to need the additional flow for a simple tank with low maintenance corals. I haven't added anything for additional flow other than upgrading my return pump and I have LPS on the far side of the tank.

Depending on what you are thinking for corals, lighting might be something to look at, but that's another rabbit hole depending on what direction you think you might want to take.

I'd love to pick your brain since I just got back in myself and there are a lot of people with a lot of fun builds with these. My only real suggestion at this point would be to enjoy and get your feet wet of course, but stick to your guns and "keep it simple". I would still recommend a few upgrades if they are within your budget and I could price out the top ones for you, things that will make your life easier in the long run.

Hi SD, I just saw this and it's good timing for an update. Since I posted this, a couple of weeks ago, I lost the black clownfish. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sick-clownfish-next-steps.980678/#post-11297376. I never saw any visible signs of disease or stress but I'm new to this.

The white one has been doing great since then so hopefully it was just bad luck as I've kept on top of testing paramters and having my LFS double check every couple of weeks. It's funny the upgrades you mention because as much as I wanted to keep it stock, over the past couple of weeks I've done a few of them.

Lot of info here but hopefulyl someone finds it helpful or interesting as I have looking at past threads.

Updates:

First I pulled the sponge filter out of chamber 2, and got an inTank media basket for chamber 1. I bought a bunch of Carbon packets from fluval and replace them when needed, and the poly floss that I've been cutting for mechanical filtration from intank. I have a bag of seachem purigen in there, and some marinepure gems in chamber 2 with the heater. I kept the bio ball things that came with it and left them in the bottom of the intank basket. Much easier and cleaner to change things now.

The stock pump was fine I think but I upgraded to a Vivosun 210gph for $15 and it's been great too. Silent. It had too much flow and was blowing sand around, so I lowered the power. I also upgraded to the 1/2in RFG from VCA, I like the cleaner look with it a bit shorter, and single outlet, but had some issues with it sucking air at the joint. I took a lobster claw band and put it over the joint. been perfect since. Now I've got a spare if something goes wrong.

Corals:

A few days after the clown died I was about to head into knee surgery so may have rushed things a little more than I'd like wanting to have something to look at stuck home, but it's been perfect since. I added a frag of GSP, 2 zoas, and a gorgonian. All of them seem to be doing great and as expected the GSP has grown quickly and I've split it up to spread over more area faster. Looking forward to it covering the back wall. I'd like to add a hammer, torch, or something that looks like that next if the shop thinks I'm ready.

Fish+CUC:

I didn't want to have only one clown in there, so I picked up a yellow watchman goby, and shrimp combo. They weren't a pair but I acclimated them together and within an hour they found each other and have been active, building, and eating since. I'm glad I didn't get one that hides all the time. They do well with the clown too. I think if it's not too crazy I'd like to add another free swimmer like a cardinalfish as a final addition.

My Trochus snails and hermit were doing a great job w/ the glass, rocks, and wall but the sand bed was a bit dirty so I grabbed 3 nassarius snails. I'm not totally sold on them.. The sand definitely looks cleaner but I don't love the slime all over the place and not a fan of 6 snails roaming my glass. May try to trade out for asingle conch, and pray my hermit stays docile.

Minus loosing the clown.. this is going better than expected. Any feedback welcome.

Paramaters/Maintenance

I'm changing about 1g a week with LFS water, and topping off (minimal evaporation w/ stock lid) with bottled RODI water, but have just purchased a rodi buddy and reef crystals to start doing my own thing once my last 5gal runs out.

I've only tested Ammonia and Nitrite/Nitrate since 4/22 and all are normal (0,0,5) but the shop had me at:

ALK- 121
pH - 8.0
Phos - 0.0
Ca - 396
Mg - 882
Ammo - .1 (had just fed)
Nitrite - 0.0
Nitrate - 5

Pics:

 

[CaptainW]

Took part in the WWC coral sale and scored some nice additions to the tank.

Just added some zoa frags, a rainbow hammer, and a birdsnest. All seem to be acclimating well in just a couple hours.

 

[OctaviusBrine]

Might wana get those calcium and mag numbers up. looking good otherwise tank looks good as well.

 

[OctaviusBrine]

You also shouldn’t have nitrate in your tank still are you sure that was a correct reading?

 

[CaptainW]

Might wana get those calcium and mag numbers up. looking good otherwise tank looks good as well.

I neglected to mention that I have been using reef crystals and changing water since then with higher nutrients trying to bost calcium alk and mag. Would you suggest doing more than that?

nitrate I haven’t tested in a few days but last I did was 5ppm. nitrate has been at 0 for a while. I’ve read 0 ppm nitrate can be bad?

 

[OctaviusBrine]

Oh I’m sorry I read that wrong I meant nitrite sorry about that. I would just try to slowly get the calcium up a little higher but definitely work on your magnesium. I’m sure with using the reef crystals that will help though esp if you’re consistent with your water changes. I noticed once I got my mag levels up I got a lot more new growth on my torches and hammer skeletons.

 

[OctaviusBrine]

You also shouldn’t have nitrate in your tank still are you sure that was a correct reading?

Nitrite not nitrate but yours is ok so disregard lol

 

[CaptainW]

Oh I’m sorry I read that wrong I meant nitrite sorry about that. I would just try to slowly get the calcium up a little higher but definitely work on your magnesium. I’m sure with using the reef crystals that will help though esp if you’re consistent with your water changes. I noticed once I got my mag levels up I got a lot more new growth on my torches and hammer skeletons.

Thanks - so far everything seems to be acclimating well, and alk etc is rising.

 

[OctaviusBrine]

That’s great to hear. Keep up the good work it’ll pay off just keep it stable.

 

[OctaviusBrine]

Also keep your eye open for some coralline once that starts growing you know your on your way and your levels are stable.

 

[CaptainW]

Also keep your eye open for some coralline once that starts growing you know your on your way and your levels are stable.

Thanks! I have seen a few purple corraline spots pop up on the rocks already so that's good. There is a fairly uniform green layer on them and some purple mixed in that matches what came in on my frags/snail shells.

 

[SDReefer77]

Sorry, I dropped off there. Bummer about the black clown. I'd gladly send you my female - she's a terror lol.

Only issue I'd see with the YWG is the adult size might be a little large for this tank, they get up to 4", but your livestock and rockscape is limited so maybe not too much of an issue. I paired a Yasha goby with my tiger pistol due to their smaller size. In terms of another free swimmer, Cardinalfish are much happier and active in small groups so I wouldn't necessarily suggest that path. Honestly the tank really is so small it's a tough choice, most of these fish ideally should be in at least a 30G. I ended up adding a 6 line wrasse for my 4th fish, it wasn't my original intention to have a 4th fish in this tank but I also wanted a free swimmer with a different activity type than my clowns. I've always loved 6 lines and they are a jack of all trades for your tank, great pest control.

Otherwise looking good! I agree on parameters, ALK, Ca, Mag can come up a bit. ALK is important for Ph buffering and to allow absorption of Ca as well, so definitely dial that in. Sounds like you've been addressing that with crystals and water change cycles. I typically do 2x 1G a week but my tank is heavier stocked than yours. All for Reef is a wonderful product, pricey, but you won't use much so it will last a long time. The Coralife Nano part A/B honestly isn't bad. The containers suck (caps tend to leak) but for a simple, inexpensive product it is a good place to start for nutrient/trace element dosing. The product is very forgiving in terms of potentially overdosing in the nano as well since on the flip side...too much ALK is not good.

Glad you made the upgrades, those are the big ones. A cheap 12-15" light strip is a great retrograde for the stock lid. Suction cup it to the bottom front and just run it on blue on a 12 hour cycle 7a-7p or 8a-8p (most of them have a built in setting) , then get a timer for the stock Fluval light and run it maybe 10a-6p since it only turns on to full spectrum. This will at least give you some sort of dawn/dusk cycle. Or the Fluval Marine 3.0 15-24" fits in the stock lid, the mounting arms float where the stock light sits so it won't allow you to run the filter side cover unless you shave some of the arm off. Better light, maybe more than your corals need, but it's programable via bluetooth. They run about $140-160.

 

[CaptainW]

Sorry, I dropped off there. Bummer about the black clown. I'd gladly send you my female - she's a terror lol.

Only issue I'd see with the YWG is the adult size might be a little large for this tank, they get up to 4", but your livestock and rockscape is limited so maybe not too much of an issue. I paired a Yasha goby with my tiger pistol due to their smaller size. In terms of another free swimmer, Cardinalfish are much happier and active in small groups so I wouldn't necessarily suggest that path. Honestly the tank really is so small it's a tough choice, most of these fish ideally should be in at least a 30G. I ended up adding a 6 line wrasse for my 4th fish, it wasn't my original intention to have a 4th fish in this tank but I also wanted a free swimmer with a different activity type than my clowns. I've always loved 6 lines and they are a jack of all trades for your tank, great pest control.

Otherwise looking good! I agree on parameters, ALK, Ca, Mag can come up a bit. ALK is important for Ph buffering and to allow absorption of Ca as well, so definitely dial that in. Sounds like you've been addressing that with crystals and water change cycles. I typically do 2x 1G a week but my tank is heavier stocked than yours. All for Reef is a wonderful product, pricey, but you won't use much so it will last a long time. The Coralife Nano part A/B honestly isn't bad. The containers suck (caps tend to leak) but for a simple, inexpensive product it is a good place to start for nutrient/trace element dosing. The product is very forgiving in terms of potentially overdosing in the nano as well since on the flip side...too much ALK is not good.

Glad you made the upgrades, those are the big ones. A cheap 12-15" light strip is a great retrograde for the stock lid. Suction cup it to the bottom front and just run it on blue on a 12 hour cycle 7a-7p or 8a-8p (most of them have a built in setting) , then get a timer for the stock Fluval light and run it maybe 10a-6p since it only turns on to full spectrum. This will at least give you some sort of dawn/dusk cycle. Or the Fluval Marine 3.0 15-24" fits in the stock lid, the mounting arms float where the stock light sits so it won't allow you to run the filter side cover unless you shave some of the arm off. Better light, maybe more than your corals need, but it's programable via bluetooth. They run about $140-160.

Thanks for the feedback - I did have a similar concern on the YWG. I'll cross that bridge when I get there whether it's a tank upgrade or rehoming. Awesome you got the wrasse, that's what I wanted to get but was convinced otherwise. I thought my clown needed a new friend so I added a replacement. It's a darwin about 1 n long. As soon as I threw it in the beating started, but after the first night (almost separated them) and a couple of minor rippped fins, it's been pretty smooth sailing for them. It was added 5/19 so 4 days ago and last night was the first night they slept in the same spot. they stay close to each other and both dance like the last two and I'm pretty confident they are at least headed in the right direction to pair up. Not going to add any more fis.

The corals all visually seem to be doing well - seeing growth, and I've been testing the water watching levels rise as I do water changes, usually 1-2x a week. Unfortunately I noticed my first pest yesterday, so I ordered some aiptasia-x that will be here tomorrow. I'll do a full test soon but I've just been going 1 by 1 lately.

On the lights: I ordered a fluval timer off ebay that works with this tank. it's the "Fluval Dual LED Aquarium Lamp Timer." It works well with the light, and I can ramp it up and down to improve dawn/dusk. I think it's a 30min ramp.

One thing I'd like to add is some smaller blue/colored lighting to either side of the stock light attached to the stock lid that I can control via app just for better viewing. Any suggestions on that?

 

[CaptainW]

5 month update - things have gone well, minus a couple of minor setbacks.

Since the latest post I've added a Fluval marine 3.0 light andan Fzone ATO both of which I'm happy with. I plugged the setup into a smart plug and now I can control everything with Alexa, which has made water changes easier.

Also added a Duncan coral that seems to be very healthy and moved the hammer to a lower light/flow area.

The clowns still bicker, but get along most of the time and aren't violent. One thing I didn't expect to see was the small male fighting back - not aggressively, but a little fin nipping after he's been pushed around a bit.

Minor problems:

Fell off on water changes for a few weeks while traveling which let the phosphates rise to .3 and nitrates got to 10. Everything seemed ok, but I changed out my purigen packet for chemipure blue one. While dosing a little alkalinty (4ml every few days) Alk went to 9.6, and nitrates/phosphate bottomed out. My birsdnest was dying, and hammer looking unwell. I pulled out the chemipure blue, put the purigen back, and everything seems to be normal again.

Mg had risen to 1133 but Ca still too low at 360. I have not tested either in a while. Have only been testing alk, nitrates, phosphates which now are all at good levels.

The big mistake was not noticing my heater had been off for a few days during that time. Luckily it was hot out, but my AC got the water into the low 70s. I need to order a temp monitor.

Did a 3gal water change, and turned the heat back on and things are bouncing back nicely.

My shrimp has taken a liking to my frag plugs and pulled 2 of my zoas under the rocks. I recovered one last week and another yesterday.. IDK how but they seem to be alive.


Cool to see the progress/growth over the last couple of months:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

5 month update - things have gone well, minus a couple of minor setbacks.

Since the latest post I've added a Fluval marine 3.0 light andan Fzone ATO both of which I'm happy with. I plugged the setup into a smart plug and now I can control everything with Alexa, which has made water changes easier.

Also added a Duncan coral that seems to be very healthy and moved the hammer to a lower light/flow area.

The clowns still bicker, but get along most of the time and aren't violent. One thing I didn't expect to see was the small male fighting back - not aggressively, but a little fin nipping after he's been pushed around a bit.

Minor problems:

Fell off on water changes for a few weeks while traveling which let the phosphates rise to .3 and nitrates got to 10. Everything seemed ok, but I changed out my purigen packet for chemipure blue one. While dosing a little alkalinty (4ml every few days) Alk went to 9.6, and nitrates/phosphate bottomed out. My birsdnest was dying, and hammer looking unwell. I pulled out the chemipure blue, put the purigen back, and everything seems to be normal again.

Mg had risen to 1133 but Ca still too low at 360. I have not tested either in a while. Have only been testing alk, nitrates, phosphates which now are all at good levels.

The big mistake was not noticing my heater had been off for a few days during that time. Luckily it was hot out, but my AC got the water into the low 70s. I need to order a temp monitor.

Did a 3gal water change, and turned the heat back on and things are bouncing back nicely.

My shrimp has taken a liking to my frag plugs and pulled 2 of my zoas under the rocks. I recovered one last week and another yesterday.. IDK how but they seem to be alive.


Cool to see the progress/growth over the last couple of months:

Glad to see the tank is progressing nicely!

 

[OctaviusBrine]

Agreed looking good!