Office Fluval Evo 13.5

[mccune]

I am currently assigned as an SRO in my school district. I wanted to add something to my office in the school to help get kids to stop in and make connections with them. I started this tank in Aug or 18 right before the school year.

I picked up a used Fluval Evo13.5. Got a great deal on the tank but it came with a few scratches which I will try and live with. Let’s be honest we see the scratches no one else even notices.

Equipment

For the stand I am going to be using my old current Solana stand. The stand is black right now but I am planning to paint it a blue grey color called anvil.


I was able to find an Apex lite system and plan to use that to run the system with lots of automation. Still fighting with this as I am having trouble linking it up to my account because I can not get the original owner profile out of it.

I have a Tunze Osmolator that has been sitting around for a few years. I have used these on all my tanks and love how they have built in redundancy.

For the filtration i took everything Fluval and tossed that out. I purchased Intank media baskets and I am going to run filterpads on top then chemi pure blue. I still haven’t decided what to run in chamber two.

For the light I am going to go with Current Maine Orbit with the Loop controller. I may add one of their controllable dc wave makers as well.
I upgraded to an AI Prime HD. I could not get the colors I was looking for out of the current USA orbit, gave it a try for 5 months and had ok colors and little to no growth. Hoping the upgrade will change that.

For the return pump I am going to use the stock one for now and see how it goes.

For my rockwork I am going to use reefcleaners rock that has been in another rank for the last 8 months. Rock doesn’t have any color yet because I never seeded the tank with coraline algae.

 

[mccune]

This is from when the tank was setup in August of 18

 

[mccune]

Some of the first corals that I put in the tank. Corals were doing OK under the Current light but were looking a little drab and washed out

 

[mccune]

These are some pictures from around December when I swapped the light out for anAI Prime HD. The colors looked so much better and more vibrant.

 

[mccune]

A few pics from today. Love this little tank it’s really starting to take off. Only downside it some bubble algae must have came in on a frag so now I am dealing with that. Tossed in a pair of emerald crabs hoping they can help take care of that issue for me.

 

[tupes]

Very nice tank. Looks like a good start. Has it helped yet to get kids in like you were hoping? What state are you working? I'm a 26 in Louisiana.

As for the apex you have to do a complete factory reboot of the system to get the previous owner out

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Beautiful tank and rock work. Will looks awesome when those zoanthics get on the whole rock.

 

[mccune]

Very nice tank. Looks like a good start. Has it helped yet to get kids in like you were hoping? What state are you working? I'm a 26 in Louisiana.

As for the apex you have to do a complete factory reboot of the system to get the previous owner out

The tank definitely has helped with a few kids especially ones on the spectrum.
Besides that I have a group that stop by daily for candy and to talk it has been a nice addition to the office.

I’m in MA

 

[mccune]

Beautiful tank and rock work. Will looks awesome when those zoanthics get on the whole rock.

Thank you. That’s the plan Zoas down that whole center of the tank with shrooms and Lps around the edges

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Thank you. That’s the plan Zoas down that whole center of the tank with shrooms and Lps around the edges

That will be awesome. Some Ricordia Yuma and Florida will be a good choice, a lot of colors and easy to care.

 

[NeedMoreReef]

I’ve always liked the Fluval evo. You have done a great job. How’s the temperature? Are you running a heater? How’s the return pump working out?

 

[mccune]

Ya I’m running a heater and it has been rock solid so far, my only fear is the temp this summer I will have to battle that once temps heat up.
Return pump is ok not great moves water but could definitely use a little more flow from it

 

[mccune]

Having the LPS and toadstool really give the tank so much movement. The kids all really like the toadstool

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I like it!