10/12/2019.

Ok so I may as well start a Tank thread to track my progression and hopefully get some advice if and when things go wrong, I’m going to be going along at a bit of a slow pace so this probably won’t be the most active thread but bare with me.
I’m starting a Fluval Evo 13.5, it’s my first Tank of any kind, I’ve never kept Fish before not even a Goldfish in a bowl so realise I’m jumping in at the deep end with a Nano Salt water Tank but none of the other types of Fish keeping have ever really appealed to me, I can appreciate a nice Planted Fresh water Tank but there’s just something about the Corals that really attracts me to this hobby.
I know it may be tough but I’ve been reading a lot about Reefing for a good while now and feel ready to get this up and running and I’m really looking forward to it!

I’m running the Fluval Evo 13.5,
Upgraded Return Pump to Ehiem Compact 1000lph,
Stock Lights for now,
Fluval M50 Heater,
No Skimmer,
Will be buying a Power Head when the Tank’s cycled, probably a Jebo SW2,
I’m using Caribsea Life Rock so I don’t get any unwanted Hitchhikers, very impressed with the look of this Rock also!
Caribsea Arag Live Sand,
I’ll be doing a Fishless Cycle seeding the Tank with Dr Tim’s One and Only and dosing with Dr Tim’s Ammonia.
I’m going to swap out the Sponge filter for a DIY Eggcreate Media Basket and run Filterfloss, GFO, Carbon and run some Bio Balls or something in the free Chamber from not running the Skimmer, I’ll only add the Carbon and GFO after the Tank has finished Cycling and when needed.

I’m only going to have two Fish as it’s a pretty small Tank, probably a pair of Clowns, along with CUC and a Shrimp of some kind, I’m thinking Fire Shrimp.
I just want to try and grow some soft Corals really and some LSP of the easier variety, Zoas, Palys, GPS, Xenia, Leather, Hammer and a Duncan, maybe a Montipora Cap down the line if all is going well.
I’m going to add the CUC after the Tanks Cycled and also set up a small QT Tank, then buy and QT the Fish so I have a bit more life in the Tank, then if no medication was used I’ll use the QT Tank for the Corals along with Dipping to try and stop any nasties getting in the DT.
This maybe a little overkill for this small Nano but I’d just like to try and keep it as clean as possible and do my best to avoid as many problems down the line as I can.

Doing it this way is going to take some time so my posts won’t be that regular but hopefully it will all come together eventually.


14/12/2019.

So it begins....

I’ve been leak testing the Evo over the last couple of days waiting for my Rock and other bits to arrive, it came this morning so I emptied the Tank and dried it out, then started aquascaping the Rock on my sideboard.
I had planned to cut a piece of card the size of the Tank bottom and side but as soon as I started unpacking the Rock, forgot all about that and just winged it.
Luckily the Rock was brilliant, I brought the new Shapes variety and it looks superb! It also fits together really well and it didn’t take long to get an aquascape I really liked surprisingly.
When I went to place it in my Tank though it looked as though I may have over estimated the size of it a little and I didn’t think it was going to fit but luckily it went in nicely, there’s one area where the Rock is a little closer to the glass than the 1 inch mark I originally wanted so the magnetic Algae Scrapper’s off the list now and I’m just gonna go with an old fashioned Razor on a stick to keep the glass clean.

Here’s a few pics of the Scape....
After I made it I didn’t realise at first but it looks like a sleeping Dragon, can you see it?

Looking good mate, I have the evo 13.5 aswell and love it its a great little tank to get into the hobby with, it's my first saltwater tank aswell, it has a bit of a learning curve but it's definitely doable just don't give up when things get stressful , some advice I'd offer as a newbie t saltwater is get a refractometer as the hydrometers are quite inaccurate and a bit of a headache when you think your salinity is always off when it isn't really, just the hydrometer giving a false reading, other than that just the diy media basket which you say you are going to do anyway and block the hole in chamber 2 and one you fit the media basket block the top 3 slit holes in chamber 1, good luck bud and there's plenty of help on here of and when you need it

Wednesday 18/12/2019.

Ordered my Live Sand today, along with Dr Tim’s Ammonia and these are the last bits I need to get up and running finally!
Well tell a lie, the last thing to get now is the Water and Containers to hold it so I’ll be getting that as soon as these other bits arrive, I’ll buy my own RODI Unit at some point down the line.
I did consider going Bare Bottom as I do quite like the look of this Tank with only the Rock and didn’t think I would, but reckon I’ll still prefer it with Sand.
Also received a few other bits today from Amazon, Mixing Heater, a big bag of Filter Floss and a Turkey Baster, the Red Sea Test Kit is on the way and so is the Dr Tim’s One and Only, should be here by Monday.

Hopefully I’ll have the Tank up and running before Christmas! 
Can’t believe it really, I put off getting into this hobby a few years ago when I was so close to buying a Tank but bottled it at the last minute, after that I thought “that’s it now I’ll never get one” yet here we are

Great looking tank mate, like that scape. These are very good tanks. Had mine on the go for only a couple months now but things are moving nicely. Keep it up and enjoy

Tom


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So I’m having a bit of a nightmare with Heaters (good to happen now before any Livestock are in the Tank), my Fluval M50 wasn’t enough to get it to temp, the QT Heater I purchased has Glass and powder lose and rattling around inside it and my new 100w Ireenue I’ve been so pleased with has stopped heating the water even though it’s lit up like it should be, only lasted a week.
I’ve put my Fluval back in for now and it can hold temp with my heating on but it’s running full time, never turns off keeping the temp at 25.3-25.5 so I’m going to get another 100w Heater tomorrow and hopefully have more luck.

Just wondering is it ok for the 50w to be on constantly or will it burn out?

Received my Inkbird ITC-306T a couple of days ago, set it up and it’s working well, really liking the big Red digital display so I can see the temp and if the Heater is on or not at a quick glance and I think it just looks pretty cool to be honest.

My Ammonia is down to 0ppm!!
Nitrite is also coming down from a spike and is at around 0.5ppm now so I’ve redosed Ammonia and will see where it’s at tomorrow.
Nitrates aren’t to high at around 10ppm so it’s looking pretty good so far (I think).
Also received my Algae Scraper and cleaned the inside of the Glass today, no Algae or anything yet but there was a slight build up of something White which I removed and now the Tank’s looking spotlessly clean, I’m going to cut a little slot out of the Lid so I can remove the Light from it, that way I can keep the Light over the Tank without the Lid being on, making it easier to do maintenance and still see what I’m doing.

All in all a good couple of days.

Cheers Reefermad,


Yeah that’s what I’m gonna do with the Light, I’m just going to cut a small slit for the cable to slip through releasing the Light from the Lid a bit easier.
I’m really impressed with the look from the stock Light, I’ve read usually all in one Systems have pretty naff Lighting but the Evo seems like a great little Tank so far, can’t wait to get some life in there!

Yeah just that little bit where the cable goes through.


I’ve been wanting to block them slots in the Chambers but haven’t gotten round to it yet, I made a Media Basket a couple of weeks ago and have been meaning to pick up a food grade Tub or something to cut up to block them but that’s a good idea about the bank card, I’ll use that instead and get that sorted tomorrow.
I also blocked up that little hole in the middle Chamber that goes through to the DT which definitely looks like it gives better flow in the Sump.


Good to hear that it can hold more Fish!
I’m now thinking of getting a Watchman Gobby to start with after my Cycle’s finished, then adding the Clowns a little later if all goes well.
I’ve never kept Fish before so thought I’d just start off slow and go step by step.
Really looking forward to getting some Corals in there! Probably also pick up a couple of small Zoa Frags after the Cycle and just see how they do.