Hello. Back into reefing after 8 years!

[CZsTank]

Good day to all reefers.
I am back into the saltwater tank ecosystem after an 8 year layoff.
Even before I left, my knowledge was and still is around the beginner-average area.
My 3 year old has had a fascination with fish recently so I decided to get back in.

We just purchased a Fluval 13.5 reef tank, 3 days ago, and so far it has been ok.
Letting the tank cycle. Bought some sand and live rock from my LFS.
Currently looking to upgrade the lighting system and looking to add the possibility of the Hygger Mini Wave Maker.
I have read nano tanks don't need too much motion, but for the GSP I'd like to get and pair of fish, I think it would benefit the coral and my sand bed.

Any information and help on how to better set up these nano tanks is welcome.
The end result I'd like in my kids tank would be a pair of clowns and some soft coral.
Thank you for your time and happy reefing!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[paragrouper]

Hi and welcome back to the hobby.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[paragrouper]

I have the EVO’s larger cousin, the 32 Gallon Flex.

with the tight fitting lid, a bit more water movement may help. Just make sure you get one that is right-sized for your tank and allows you to easily adjust the flow rate.

 

[dstockwell]

Welcome to the Reef

 

[fishguy242]

Hi, welcome to the reef...

 

[danenelsen]

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board!

 

[jsker]

 

[parclife]

Hey, welcome and good luck on the build! Cool choice in tank

 

[Stephen8169301]

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R! The Fluval 13.5 is a very popular tank. If you go to the build threads forums and search for Fluval you will find many built threads for that tank that will have many great ideas for ways to configure the tank. Have fun.

 

[Nano_Man]

 

[threebuoys]

 

[CoralB]

Welcome !!!

 

[00W]

Great to see you bringing the kids into it. Welcome back to the family!

 

[JC1977]

 

[SDReefer77]

Alright! Welcome back! Fun little tank, and nano's of course are their own animal.

A good option for a light if you want to keep the stock lid is the Fluval Sea Marine 3.0 15-24 inch, the app is straightforward, $154.98 on Amazon. I think it's worth it initially and cheaper than a new lid and an AI prime, plenty of light for GSP's. It fits pretty much flush where the stock one sits. I was under the impression the base fixture itself was 15" so didn't do it for about 6 weeks, but with the arms it's closer to 13" - the stock one is 14". You won't be able to run the filter cover unless you do a little DIY shaving of the mounting arm on that side, but I don't like running that cover anyway to at least provide a little more air exchange. I can throw in a pic if you want.

For flow I would just upgrade your return pump first, you'll need it anyway. Sicce Syncra Silent .5. $42.99. Should be plenty of flow and you can skip the hygger. I've thought about getting the hygger myself as a budget solution to say another inflated price tag AI item, a nero, but honestly don't think I need that much flow. I've got it indirect toward my LPS that are in the more middle and far end of the tank from the returns. GSP are not gonna care much about flow.

I think everyone ends up upgrading the filter with an aftermarket media basket (or 2, with a plug for chamber 2), it just makes life easier than dealing with cleaning the stock sponge. You also get much more flexibility in what media you want to run. I have the 3DOcean baskets, chamber 1 is awesome. I removed chamber 2 to make space for UV. A lot of people use the InTank Basket(s). Random Flow Generator (RFG) nozzles are a nice upgrade too.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!!