Paul31733's Fluval Evo 13.5 - - - First ever tank---

Paul31733

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Hello, as stated this is my first ever aquarium and I am loving learning everyday. I started with a fishless cycle for a month until my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all tested to zeros. I used Seachem tests but have since switched to Salifert. I had a diatom bloom fairly heavy and i then added my cleanup crew. Two weeks after the cleanup crew, I added a purple fire goby. Two weeks after that i added frostbite clownfish.
Not sure about when or if i will add another fish.
Maybe some suggestions on fish and whether I have enough clean-up crew and filtration would be very helpful!

Setup
-Fluval evo 13.5
-hydor koralia nano 240
-hydor theo 50 watt heater
-inkbird temperature controller
-custom cooling fan setup in lid
-stock lighting
-stock pump
-diy media basket in chamber 1

Filtration
-filter floss top of chamber 1
-stock biomax cylinders top sponge slot
-chemipure blue bottom sponge slot
-10 pounds caribsea life rock
-10 pounds caribsea aragonite

Livestock
-purple fire goby
-frostbite clownfish
-emerald crab
-polka dot hermit crab
-scarlet hermit crab
-3x trochus snails

I Will be changing to an A. I prime light as i hear they work well. I am open to any suggestions!!

Future I wish to add an automatic top off.

Any comments or ideas are welcome as I am very new. I have been reading everything and watching everything I can.
Thanks in advance!!
Hope you enjoy!!
Paul31733
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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5-6 hermits and at least 10 of different snails if you upgrade the light - maybe already now.

Sincerely Lasse
Thank you for recommendation. I am planning on installing a. I. Prime this weekend with an acrylic top. I will upgrade my cleanup crew!
 

tjclapp

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Hey! I definitely recommend checking out the noopsyche k7 pro ii over the ai prime... you can get them for 200 with controller, mount, and light on aquariumlowcost.com I’ve had mine for 6 months and have directly compared to my primes... much better.
 
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Hey! I definitely recommend checking out the noopsyche k7 pro ii over the ai prime... you can get them for 200 with controller, mount, and light on aquariumlowcost.com I’ve had mine for 6 months and have directly compared to my primes... much better.
@tjclapp looks like a great light, but I live in Canada and do not seem to have the same options. On ebay it says the k7 would not come in until September. I appreciate your advice but it looks like i am able to get the a.i. Model or the red sea which would be $200 more!
 
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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So this weekend I took a trip to Candy Corals in the Toronto area. I upgraded my light to an A. I Prime with the 18 inch flexible arm.

I also took the advise @Lasse to increase my cleanup crew.
Added

-2 x dwarf blue leg hermit crab

-1 x red tip hermit crab
-2 x nerite snail
-2 x cerith snail
-2 x rosemouth star snail
-1 x margherita snail


I also made an acrylic cover for the tank but will end up modifying with a screen in the center due to evaporation.

I added marine pure gems to media basket 1 underneath my filter floss. Light makes my tank look a million times better!!
If everything runs smooth in another 2 weeks to a month i hope to start adding corals. Any recommendations on setup or good coral for this setup are appreciated.
Thanks and enjoy!!

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Lasse

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As soon as you start your light on at least 50 % of your desired intensity - you can start to ad corals. Most mushrooms, softies, star polyps and other rather "easy" corals. Now in the start - before your introduction of photosynthetic corals and in order to minimize the algae growth I think that´s wise to slowly ramp up your lights. The AI prime have an adaption mode. Put the light to work with your decided light schedule, mixing and and intensity. Find the adaption mode and start with around 30 %. Let it ramp up during a month or so. Beware of how the aquarium develop and how your clean up crew does its job. Make the ramp up shorter or longer based on these observations. feed your fish sparsely.

Sincerely Lasse
 
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Very nice, I run one of these, make sure there are no small gaps in your cover, firefish are renowned jumpers.
Thank you for the advice! I made only the same size hole for feeding as the original lid. Now I just hope my fish doesn't find that spot haha!
 
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Hey everyone!
Just a quick update. I ordered items from 3 different online stores and received my first package in the mail!! Hope to install before the weekend. It is a Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0 pump and an Xt Aqua Duetto ATO as recommended on this forum (thanks everybody!) hope to get the rest of my packages before friday,
Enjoy!
Paul

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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Hey everyone!!
Well over the last week or two I have been busy!
I am finally able to update my build!!

Added

-xp duetto ato
-current usa 660 gph wavemaker
-sicce syncra silent 1.0

Livestock

-teal branching hammer coral
-green branching hammer coral
-sunset rhodactis mushroom
-armageddon zoanthid frag

I also got the aquaforest calcium and magnesium tests to find out whether I would need to dose! They are cool...

Enjoy.
Paul.

(if anyone has any tips for taking better pictures on my android phone it would be appreciated)
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Today I took some advice from the forum and added some more Carib sea Life rock to my rock scape!!
Tomorrow is coral shopping!
Enjoy!
Paul.
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Hey everyone!
Well it has been nearly 4 months of my tank and I am still highly addicted to this hobby. I have had the loss of a purple fire goby but added a Springer I damsel fish.
I have also added a number of corals.

corals added (month ago)

- Australian Duncan frag
- 2 colour variations of Acan corals
- blasto frag
- Tangerine Leptoseris frag (one of my favorites)
- Ponape Birdsnest frag

corals added (2 weeks ago)

- Forest Fire Digital Montipora
- Green Goblin Anacropora

corals added(yesterday)

- Sunset Montipora (encrusting type)
- Aquaman Montipora (encrusting type)
- Keylime Pie Acropora

I recently upgraded my phone and took a short(ish) video of my tank!

I hope you enjoy it!
Please any suggestions or comments welcome!!
Thanks.
Paul.
 
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Would love to see a more recent photo!
Thanks I have not taken any really good photos lately but here is some from now since I am beside my tank lol

I lost my Acropora ( I expect this) but added a Merlin's staff Acro..
Everything else still kicking!!
Moved some around and added some!
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Paul31733

Paul31733

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Not a full update here...been busy. Will do a full update as soon as I can.
I have had a small break out of cyano which I believe is spirulina due to my starting treatment of vibrant.

Here are some growth and coloration pics I just took quickly with phone and orphek lens.

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chrisgold

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Hello, as stated this is my first ever aquarium and I am loving learning everyday. I started with a fishless cycle for a month until my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all tested to zeros. I used Seachem tests but have since switched to Salifert. I had a diatom bloom fairly heavy and i then added my cleanup crew. Two weeks after the cleanup crew, I added a purple fire goby. Two weeks after that i added frostbite clownfish.
Not sure about when or if i will add another fish.
Maybe some suggestions on fish and whether I have enough clean-up crew and filtration would be very helpful!

Setup
-Fluval evo 13.5
-hydor koralia nano 240
-hydor theo 50 watt heater
-inkbird temperature controller
-custom cooling fan setup in lid
-stock lighting
-stock pump
-diy media basket in chamber 1

Filtration
-filter floss top of chamber 1
-stock biomax cylinders top sponge slot
-chemipure blue bottom sponge slot
-10 pounds caribsea life rock
-10 pounds caribsea aragonite

Livestock
-purple fire goby
-frostbite clownfish
-emerald crab
-polka dot hermit crab
-scarlet hermit crab
-3x trochus snails

I Will be changing to an A. I prime light as i hear they work well. I am open to any suggestions!!

Future I wish to add an automatic top off.

Any comments or ideas are welcome as I am very new. I have been reading everything and watching everything I can.
Thanks in advance!!
Hope you enjoy!!
Paul31733
IMG_20200601_185035.jpg
IMG_20200610_174207.jpg
IMG_20200610_175022.jpg
IMG_20200610_174326.jpg
IMG_20200527_174105.jpg
IMG_20200610_175038.jpg
IMG_20200610_174253.jpg
IMG_20200610_174126.jpg
IMG_20200610_174131.jpg
IMG_20200518_184637.jpg
IMG_20200530_171241.jpg
IMG_20200610_174153.jpg
Nice mate can you send me details of the basket you have made in chamber one please. I have an evo myself
 
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