hryder77 Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I've been lurking around random articles and posts on this site for the last year or so and now I've finally decided to make a post. So my first saltwater tank was this Aqueon evolve 8, unfortunetly I never created a thread for this tank. I decided to "get out" of the reef keeping hobby about 6 months ago, but I just couldn't stay away. I guess you can say that the reefer inside of me was calling me back haha. soooo with some Christmas money I picked up one of these Here is the perty new tank all un-boxed and shiny. The curved glass is so nice! Though the plastic base and cheap plastic chamber cover aren't all that impressive. I don't think I'll use either. The glass lid that comes with this tank is very well fit and built, SO much better than the common cheap plastic lids that come standard with most AIO systems. The stock LEDs are predictably weak and cheaply built The back chambers are unfortunately little to be desired. Its basically just one compartment, so a lot of modding is in order to really create a true AIO system. The tank comes with an interesting detachable media chamber but its essentially unusable for a reef tank, probably useful for freshwater but not much else. For sure a pump upgrade is definitely in order. I have a pico koralina pump sitting around that will probably work just fine. I'll probably end up modding the back chamber into a cheato and rubble rock filled refugium. I had allot of luck with this method with my previous reef setup. Link to comment
hryder77 Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Last night I managed to set up a par 38 bulb I received in the post. the light brand is an ABI LED Aquarium Light Bulb, a Chinese model. For a $25 dollar light it is very well made, nothing cheap or plastic feeling about it. My last light, a Boost Led PAR 30, was a very nice light. Great colors, bright, well built and compact., I truly regret giving it away with my tank, but that is neither here nor there. Before I bought the ABI LED I had a Skkye 8w reef LED, but I didn't like how "spot lighty" it made my tank look. It was also, especially for my tank size, very hard to maneuver around to do maintenance without taking the whole thing off, and for some reason this lights mounting leg is very awkward to put on and off. Here's a comparison of the two lights: Skkye LED vs. ABI PAr 38 LED So as you can see the spread of the lighting for the two lights are pretty different. The color however is the same, a cool blue color temp. I definitely prefer the Par 38 over the Skkye LED, but for now I'm keeping the Skkye LED on hand just in case the Par 38 dies or whatever. For anyone curious I mounted the LED using a goosneck clamp and a work bench screw in socket. It works very well for now. The light itself is a bit heavy for the gooseneck so a bit of adjustment is needed from time to time. I might invest in a bit heavier duty goosneck clamp if the clamp can't hold up the LED. Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Looking good, great choice on the par38 bulb it looks good and definetly plenty light for anything Link to comment
hryder77 Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thanks! yeah I'm really excited, just need to pick up some nice cured live rock here soon Link to comment
hryder77 Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 Today I bought 3lbs of cured Manado Live Rock from premium aquatics. It should be in next week hopefully, and I'm excited to get things going, its been pretty stagnant and I was getting bored haha I've read some great reviews about the quality of live rock premium aquatics sells. Does anyone have experience with their live rock as well their CUC snails? I plan on buying my CUC from them once things are safe . Link to comment
hryder77 Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 1st week runnig and so far so good! I haven'treally messed around with modding the back chambers. I modded a pipping system so thay i can run my hydro koralina pico in the back chamber and the stock pmp in the front. Though i might judst end up running the hydro pico if all goes well. I did however mod an aqua clear 20 to act as my HOB refugium once i pick up cheato. Its cloudy because i was playing around and shaping the sand to my liking. Carbisea is some really dusty sand. The slightest touch mak e s things really murky. Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Just received my manado live rock from premium aquatics! It doesn't have allot of coraline growth but i did spot a couple sponges! there's some nice colors on this rock, pinks, oranges, and dark purple! I'm very pleased! Probably change the arrangement a bit. I was even debating on weather or not I should break it up, but I like the shape. What do you all think? suggestions on arrangement? should I break it up a bit? Link to comment
chlwodud85 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I like the way it looks now, looks like it has a cave in the middle. How do you feel about the tank so far? (Noise level, filtration compartment size, tank build quality) I just ordered a 5 gallon version of it and waiting to receive it. Link to comment
waldoz Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Looking forward to this build. To bad they did not make a 8 gallon Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 I like the way it looks now, looks like it has a cave in the middle. How do you feel about the tank so far? (Noise level, filtration compartment size, tank build quality) I just ordered a 5 gallon version of it and waiting to receive it. I did move the rock but only to its side just so I have more room to grow coral. Noise wise the stock pump is super quiet, but I modded the back chamber pump using a Hydor pico koralia and it rattles a bit. I still need to make some adjustments so that is not so noisy. Looking forward to this build. To bad they did not make a 8 gallon Its a pretty new line of tanks so maybe if they get popular they'll make a bigger model. I'd love this model to go up to 12 gallons that'd be sweet! Link to comment
waldoz Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Yeah for the price, might be a whole group like the JBJ picotope. Link to comment
chlwodud85 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 You think it's impossible to grow softies with the stock light? Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 You think it's impossible to grow softies with the stock light? Maybe "simple" mushrooms but other softies I'd think not. I'm not even sure of the kelvin readings on the stock light and I don't have a way to check either. I'm using it right now on my betta tank in conjunction to a 14k pc bulb and it looks nice but I doubt its helping grow anything. Over time with any stock setup most people always upgrade lighting Link to comment
Reefer82 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Looks good! PA said they were getting in new Manando this week and since I'm local I was planning to go get some. If my ada does well I may get one of these for my oldest daughters room. 3gal would be perfect for the space. What sand is in there? Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 Looks good! PA said they were getting in new Manando this week and since I'm local I was planning to go get some. If my ada does well I may get one of these for my oldest daughters room. 3gal would be perfect for the space. What sand is in there? thanks reefer82, the sand is just a 5lb bag of Caribbean live sand . Most of it actually ended up in the back chamber haha. Link to comment
chlwodud85 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Hey I just got mine today and I have some water running in it. For some reason I find the pump a little noisy, sounds like my computer running... Also I might want to switch the pump out to a hydor for the extra flow~~ I agree the light is going to be VERY limiting~~ lets see what happens, I'm going to cycle with stock light and upgrade later. Link to comment
waldoz Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Did you get the 3 or 5 gallon? Link to comment
chlwodud85 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I got the 5 gallon, I'm looking at this thing and the quality is amazing except the back chamber is small and the little pump that vibrates even when I have it on the display... Might end up returning it and looking into something else not so noisy Link to comment
waldoz Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Make your own chamber? I saw someone do a 3gl piotope before. Or you could pull it out an put a ac70 on there. Link to comment
Arkayology Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Nice pico! These 3g marinelands are cool little tanks. Link to comment
waldoz Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I was just looking at the first tank pics. How long is that light bar, might be able to get some EcoPico LED Strips in there. Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 I got the 5 gallon, I'm looking at this thing and the quality is amazing except the back chamber is small and the little pump that vibrates even when I have it on the display... Might end up returning it and looking into something else not so noisy strange my 3 was super quiet with the stock pump, try adjusting it so that it doesn't touch the chamber walls. Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 I was just looking at the first tank pics. How long is that light bar, might be able to get some EcoPico LED Strips in there. its probably about 6" long not sure the height. I swapped out that goose neck thing for one of these eco terra light brackets you have to actually mount it to the tank but it looks awesome on these smaller tanks. Link to comment
hryder77 Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 oh and some pics of how my fuge is coming along. My LFS was really cool and gave me a free ball of cheato to get me started. I also got a new light, Azoo Galaxy II. at the bottom of the fuge is some Seachem de-nitrite. I've never used this stuff but I've heard good things. Link to comment
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