Jager's Evo 13.5 Reef tank

[jaegers_reef]

Hi everyone I thought I'd share my tank and hope you will follow the progress of it. My plan is to post updates a few times a week with changes, questions and progressions as my tank gets established over the next year or so.

I've wanted a saltwater tank for a few years now and after seeing my friends Evo 5 decided to pull the trigger and get one.

I look forward to learning more about this hobby and would gladly appreciate your support and guidance as I set up this reef tank.

Here is my list:

• Fluval Evo 13.5
• Fluval PS2 protein skimmer
• Innovative Marine Spin Stream (not sold on this yet, might change it back to stock)
• Cycled live rock (from a friend)
• Caribsea Fiji Pink live sand
• Redsea marine care test kit
• Salifert calcium test kit
• Salifert magnesium test kit
• Refractometer
• Hydor Koralia nano 240GPH (on order)

I've been tracking my parameters with the aquarium note app on my phone and will post them every few days.

Here is a timeline to get everyone up to speed.

6/23/17 - initial tank setup
6/24/17 - added cleaner shrimp
6/30/17 - added CUC(Astraea snails, Cortez hermits & emerald crab)
6/30/17 - added gold coral banded shrimp
6/30/17 - added Yasha Goby
6/30/17 - had a tiger pistol shrimp and sand sifting star but both were DOA

The location

Aquascape

Livestock

 

[jaegers_reef]

Latest parameters.

I can provide parameters starting from 6/24/17 if anyone wants to see.

I am aware that alkalinity is low, I think my redsea alk test is giving me an incorrect reading I will be testing it with another test kit very soon.

The tank temp fluctuates between 78 and 80 degrees . I keep my house at between 72 and 73 degrees so I think since it's a closed hood system the temp is higher. I noticed that when I was acclimating the livestock with the hood off the temp dropped to 75.7 degrees.

 

[jaegers_reef]

I ordered the hydor Koralia Nano 240 and received the 425. Is that too much for my tank?

Also, is this a good location for the it? Circulation is pretty good I think.

 

[Timothy Ahn]

I think 420 is not too much, but be sure not to point it directly any coral. Nice job by the way! I have the same tank so be sure to check out my build thread.

 

[jaegers_reef]

I think 420 is not too much, but be sure not to point it directly any coral. Nice job by the way! I have the same tank so be sure to check out my build thread.

Thanks for the info! Glad you like it!

 

[reef-rc]

I like the Yasha Goby. Just got one myself a week ago for the Fusion 20. If I didn't already had a yellow watchman paired up with a pistol shrimp, I would have put mine into the Evo.

Looking good.

 

[A_game43]

Good looking nano tank!

 

[jaegers_reef]

I like the Yasha Goby. Just got one myself a week ago for the Fusion 20. If I didn't already had a yellow watchman paired up with a pistol shrimp, I would have put mine into the Evo.

Looking good.

Thanks! The Goby is pretty cool. He's fairly territorial I've noticed, the emerald crab got real close to him during feeding so the goby nipped at him. The emerald crab in return grabbed the goby by the lip! Thank God the goby was able to wiggle out of it!

 

[jaegers_reef]

Good looking nano tank!

Thanks!

 

[jaegers_reef]

 

[jaegers_reef]

Got a few frags today!

Clove polyp

Zoanthids

Rhodactis mushroom

Green star polyps

Xenia

Candy cane coral

I don't know what this is lol

I'm a little concerned that the flow for the clove polyp is too much we will see I guess.

 

[Mikedawg]

Got a few frags today!

Clove polyp

Zoanthids

Rhodactis mushroom

Green star polyps

Xenia

Candy cane coral

I don't know what this is lol

I'm a little concerned that the flow for the clove polyp is too much we will see I guess.

Like the rockwork. Yeah, your corals all pretty much need medium flow and that Koralia 425 is a lot; I use it on a Biocube 32. I've got two Evos and instead of getting a separate circulation pump I upgraded the stock return pump to a Sicce 1.0 rated at 251 gph v stock's 132 gph. It produces about a 20 water turnover rate and will also better drive your Spin Stream without loosing too much flow. And, you won't have to look at another piece of equipment in the display part of the tank. Just an option

 

[jaegers_reef]

Like the rockwork. Yeah, your corals all pretty much need medium flow and that Koralia 425 is a lot; I use it on a Biocube 32. I've got two Evos and instead of getting a separate circulation pump I upgraded the stock return pump to a Sicce 1.0 rated at 251 gph v stock's 132 gph. It produces about a 20 water turnover rate and will also better drive your Spin Stream without loosing too much flow. And, you won't have to look at another piece of equipment in the display part of the tank. Just an option

Thanks! I was thinking of buying that return pump also. I will probably change the power head out for one with an adjustable flow whenever I decide to do that.

 

[jaegers_reef]

 

[jaegers_reef]

I won this WWC swamp thing Favia this evening on eBay and it will be here tomorrow. Now to figure out where to put it. This will be my last coral for a while I think. Where do you guys think it should go?

 

[jaegers_reef]

 

[jaegers_reef]

I'm going to purchase the intank media 2nd chamber basket. What should I put in it?

 

[Tahoe61]

It looks awesome!

 

[jaegers_reef]

It looks awesome!

Thanks!

 

[jaegers_reef]

Got the new reagent from redsea and realized my alkalinity is really low. Kinda freaking out on what to do about it. Has anyone dealt with this problem and tried baking soda?