13.5G Fluval Evo return to reefkeeping.

[OxReef]

Hi all-back in after a 5ish year hiatus. Picked this up in the area and added in a liferock arch/jaebo wavemaker from the box of old stuff I have still. Have an IM ghost skimmer if necessary and ATO waiting and the return is an Eheim Compact 1000.

Letting the new piece of rock get established aka as long as I can wait.

Do enjoy watching the snails go all over on conf calls-looking forward to a yellow watchman goby and if I can find a breeder a young pair of clowns (I used to help the lfs grow out his clowns) along with softy/lps frags. Maybe a basic monti cap/digi. I plan on adding in some additional light. For now trying to keep the hood on.

 

[OxReef]

Small update after meeting a few members for frags and a trip to Nemos. Pardon the cyano-working in it with siphoning and water changes. Debating putting the ghost skimmer in compartment 1.

Also will be putting in 2x9w led strips for more light to bring out the coral colors.

 

[Doberman13]

Check out the breeders corner subforum I believe @Cook and @bobz both have breeding setups going at the moment.

 

[OxReef]

Check out the breeders corner subforum I believe @Cook and @bobz both have breeding setups going at the moment.

Yep sent Bobz a message.

I’m torn on clowns of any size Vs just doing a yellow watchman/fire fish and perhaps another goby but given my tank size two gobies will be a bit much real estate wise.

 

[OxReef]

A few more pictures after a couple lfs stops-yellow watchman goby is in and eating as are the corals. Added in 2x9w led strips-now I need a lens filter for my phone.

 

[OxReef]

A few updates-the ywg perished after 3 days even after eating everyday so ran the tank fallow and monitored levels.

Picked up 5 tank raised occ clowns from @Cook a couple weeks who are all doing great (once they adjusted to the flow). 1 or 2 will stay here, 2 will goto the RSM250 which is cycling and the 1 off will goto a 29g I have yet to setup. Fortunately they are young enough to not bicker yet.

Also added in a fuge light in chamber 2 with some macro algae as well. Have a couple aiptasia that have popped up but will try boiling water Vs kalk due to water volume.

 

[OxReef]

Looking good but need an herbivore for the sea lettuce-I’ll take it over most other algae’s any day though.

 

[jason7274]

Are you using the stock light and the strips for light? I really want to start a 13.5g tank, but concerned about lighting. What size wave maker?

 

[OxReef]

Are you using the stock light and the strips for light? I really want to start a 13.5g tank, but concerned about lighting. What size wave maker?

Correct-stock light plus two additional strips (can send you the ebay link or Amazon though the latter isn’t in stock option-both need screws siliconed for rust but working well). I use a NiCrew dual channel timer for both.

Right now I just have the eheim pump for flow and a RFG nozzle-baby clowns have to get used to the flow. Had a Jebao wave maker on pulse before the clowns. All depends on what you plan to keep. I would get the DCS pump many get for the ability to control flow and feed timer alone Vs the Eheim.

 

[Lex3]

I would love the link for the led strips.

 

[OxReef]

I would love the link for the led strips.

Pardon Our Interruption...

I’ll have to hunt down the Amazon version (slightly cheaper or at least was but barely in stock).

 

[Lex3]

Oh I have seen those! Cool!

 

[OxReef]

Decided to upgrade to a 29G and use the photon v1 light I have. Why not get the tank acclimated to the new light first.

Given up on the lettuce algae but fighting some algae on the frag plugs-will break down and try an emerald crab or other.

 

[bearcatn8]

Pretty tank. How is it going these days? My 11 year old and I just started a Fluval 13.5 about 6 weeks ago. We love looking at pics of more established Fluval tanks to get ideas.

 

[56cbr600rr]

A few more pictures after a couple lfs stops-yellow watchman goby is in and eating as are the corals. Added in 2x9w led strips-now I need a lens filter for my phone.

free app for filter is really pretty good. It's called "Aquarium Cam"

 

[OxReef]

Pretty tank. How is it going these days? My 11 year old and I just started a Fluval 13.5 about 6 weeks ago. We love looking at pics of more established Fluval tanks to get ideas.

I ended up upgrading to a 40B. Mom had a health scare so out of town for a month with the new light bloomed the algae so just started fresh. Loved the tank just like with any small tank maintenance is key.

 

[bearcatn8]

Sorry to hear . . . hope your mom is OK.