My Daughter’s Fluval Evo 13.5 Reef

[56cbr600rr]

Hello all. Thought I would do a build thread on this tank as I initially assumed it would be something we were doing slowly and not get too into.
Originally I spoke to my wife about getting my daughter a fish tank and a clown fish for her third birthday, and my wife did not think it was a good idea. Having a feeling that we would be shut down and stuck at home soon with Covid/state shutdowns I went and bought the tank without her approval and hid it, keeping the receipt just in case.
We did get shut down, I showed my wife the tank and was all Of a sudden a hero!
No, after a 20 year break from a Marine Tank’s I have seem to really got the bug again. No, after a 20 year break from a Marine Tank’s I have seem to really got the bug again So figured I’d share where were at.
Set the tank up April 11 of this year and showed it to her April 12 for her birthday. Here’s a pic of her showing her horse.

 

[56cbr600rr]

After 5 days we added GSP and a green hairy mushroom, which crazily enough is the only thing that has perished in my tank (the green hairy mushroom). It slowly shrank away To nothing.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Now, what’s funny is I told myself from the get-go that I would not modify this tank at all. In my mind I thought I would only change out the pump\powerhead. Along the way you will see that I broke that rule several times.

Here’s a pic about two weeks later where I added Some zoas (Jungle Juice and Rainbow Infusion) and a kryptonite Candy cane coral. The rainbow infusion hasn’t grown at all in the time I’ve had it, the jungle juice has probably tripled the amount of polyps, and the candy cane has since added a fourth head.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Also, from the beginning I did have one clown fish. Ammonia levels never got high at all. I did use Carib Sea live rock That had been cycling in used in my local stores thanks as well
as Caribsea Aragalife sand.

And I did use Bio-Spira. Have to say, it appears the stuff works very very well.

May 4th I added Captain America Paly, Pandora Paly, Rasta, and Hammer Coral. And two Superman Mushrooms and Blue Eyed Blonde Zoas as well.

So far, so good.

 

[...]

Equipment? Are you Dosing Trace Elements: Calcuim, Alkalinity and Magnesium? Water Changes? Any CUC? Sorry for the questions, what is your equipment and have you researched?

 

[56cbr600rr]

Equipment? Are you Dosing Trace Elements: Calcuim, Alkalinity and Magnesium? Water Changes? Any CUC? Sorry for the questions, what is your equipment and have you researched?

At this point Im not adding trace elements at all. My mindset is still keeping it simple. Around the second week r two of tank ownership I added two hermits and a snail, a few weeks later I had another scarlet hermit and two more snails, and then sometime later again as my Tank was going through the cycling dirty’s I added a few more. As of right now I have around six various emails in three or four Hermits.

I truly thought this is where my modifications would stop, with the pump and RFG. Trying to keep things simple.

Also at this point Ive only tested for pH, nitrates, ammonia, and salinity.

 

[Auquanut]

Looks like it's coming along well. I'd keep an eye on that horse though. Seems awful interested in the tank.

P.S. You should reward yourself for being such a great Dad by setting up your own tank. Just sayin.

 

[najer]

I run an Evo as well as my big tank, nice work dad.

 

[56cbr600rr]

May 13. Added a few more corals,and some SPS.



also at this point with you increasing temperatures of finding my tank coming up around 82°. So I got creative and MacGyver’d the hood. Solving one problem and creating another. EVAPORATION.

Here are the hood mods:

 

[56cbr600rr]

Btw, As of now I also have a piece of glass cut for It from Lowe’s. Evaporation problem solved. Temperature is still staying around 78° as well as the LED is now at about 8 inches from the top.

 

[56cbr600rr]

So around
The end of May I did craft my own little box for chamber 2. I use charcoal on occasion and truthfully not sure if I still should or when I should. Any insight to that I’d be appreciated.

Also I’m running a little extra of The Puritan media as well.

June 1 I caved. Bad. I did what I promised myself I would not do. I upgraded the lighting. Added the AI Prime HD16 With the 12 inch flexible mount. The first unit was faulty surprisingly. If the cables moved at all it would lose Bluetooth connectivity. Called AI and they sent me out another pronto and it works as it should. with the 12 inch flexible mount. The first unit was faulty surprisingly. If the cables moved at all it would lose Bluetooth connectivity. Called AI and they sent me out another pronto and it works as it should. Had a little bit of a learning curve with downloading programs and now I have settled on the newer version of AB+. I started at 16 lights to match the wattage of the stock unit and I’m slowly progressing, not using the built-in acclimation mode. I’m at 19 lots now in my bubble tip anatomy is still stretching, so I suspect I will get the lights up as that’s what it needs. Also, when I remove the glass top it seems to settle in and Not stretch therefore showing it needs more light.

Both forming new headS and dividing.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Couple of June additions.

 

[56cbr600rr]

About three weeks ago I picked up an alkalinity test and I seem to be floating around eight. My LFS says this is fine, although I’m still trying to research more this. I picked up a calcium test today by Salifert.. we’ll see how that goes.

And this Trachy Is my last addition.

This coral has me rethinking my whole tank in regards to color. I have gotten rid of all of my leather, Xenia, colorless Favias, and more. I want to focus on contrasting colors, bright greens reds oranges that fuse and melt together.

Will probably add some funky color Acans soon too.

 

[MidnightF66]

Thank you for showing how you did the hood! I have ultra curious cats, and I want to upgrade the currently stock light that the 13.5g comes with.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Thank you for showing how you did the hood! I have ultra curious cats, and I want to upgrade the currently stock light that the 13.5g comes with.

No problem at all. Easy mod. Works. Cheap. Looks “stock-ish”.

I did too (the cats). Just had to let my last one go to kitty cat heaven several weeks ago. But more importantly I have a 3 year old that can not be trusted! Lol. Can’t do an open top.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Guilty of just now spending some loot at dropoffcorals.com. My first online coral order. Fingers crossed.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Looks like it's coming along well. I'd keep an eye on that horse though. Seems awful interested in the tank.

P.S. You should reward yourself for being such a great Dad by setting up your own tank. Just sayin.

I could see that happening maybe in the winter. Maybe a IM NUVO Fusion. Always liked them for some reason.

 

[56cbr600rr]

I run an Evo as well as my big tank, nice work dad.

Thank you!

 

[IntuMarine1G]

May 13. Added a few more corals,and some SPS.



also at this point with you increasing temperatures of finding my tank coming up around 82°. So I got creative and MacGyver’d the hood. Solving one problem and creating another. EVAPORATION.

Here are the hood mods:

This is a great idea. Very well done.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Thought I’d post this frag shelf as well. Ordered it on Amazon and works great. The magnet is impressive, strongest little magnet I’ve ever messed with. For the price and aesthetics I’m happy with it. holds 6.