Jump to content
Top Shelf Aquatics

Fluval Sea Evo V - First attempt at a pico Reef!!


Ckane2

Recommended Posts

Started this tank March 4, 2018. The tank itself is a 5 gallon Fluval Sea Evo 5. I have tried small saltwater tanks before but this is my first attempt going by the book (cycling/patience). Any criticism, tips or advice would be great!

 

Equipment:

-water pump upgraded to AQ600 (doubled flow to ~160 GPH)

-50W heater

-10W LED with 37 11000k day and actinic lights 

 

Stock:

~3.5 lbs of live rock

-6 line wrasse 

-CUC of 4 hermits 

-GSP (purchased a week ago, looking very healthy so far)

-supplemental phytoplankton

 

Filter:

-sponge filter

-Phosgaurd

-activated carbon

-ceramic filter rings 

 

Notes:

-Tank cycled, but only a month old so still waiting for some new tank syndrome (bryopsis, hair algae, coraline algae and possible diatoms sighted)

-Most likely adding mushrooms and pulsing Xenia, and possibly a small clown 

~20% changes about twice a week so far to keep water parameters in check

-Eventually adding wave maker for extra flow and upgrading light

761CB48E-E4AA-49B6-A590-974BCB89985B.thumb.jpeg.5e21bf56b24a18b53badaec75320c7e6.jpeg

DEB993DF-F3D7-4575-B6A4-79110C22D230.thumb.jpeg.6d6b7c89821eca455ed773c48a305986.jpeg

E3569995-FBDE-4630-A469-035B83F06AD1.thumb.jpeg.b3df4f90089f85a108d835b8002b20dc.jpeg

A4CED3A6-D2E8-47D8-92DE-132A258D7472.thumb.jpeg.8f8553d160bd5ce9a44125d12a28a30c.jpeg

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Yeah rockscape is looking good and everything is goeing well so far. Only critisims are just be careful with the GSP as it will take over your whole tank also the 6 line will need a bigger tank when he gets bigger.

Good luck with the tank!

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

Updates:

  • GSP is fully attached to rock
  • Got a few small mushrooms and a red montipora frag to try and start growing more corals
  • had some algae growth hasn’t gotten out of control yet
  • thousands of copepods on glass, and amphipods in rocks
  • Interesting growth of some plant/algae on glass, I’ve been cutting it every once in a while but I’m not sure exactly what it is

2597EDB8-6B1D-4B3C-84FB-9436F07509B0.jpeg

2E2E343E-7207-450F-B884-A73798336839.jpeg

5D406D7D-E7F0-4FB9-9CFC-A179075CCE73.jpeg

Link to comment
  • 9 months later...
  • 6 months later...
12 hours ago, Alyciac327 said:

Did you ever end up upgrading the lighting or did the stock lights work out fine for these corals?  

I upgraded the light to the Current USA LOOP system. It’s controllable and has a timer so it automatically runs sunrise, daytime, sunset, and moonlight and you can control settings for each. This system also lets you connect Current USA eflux wave pumps. Not that the stock light wouldn’t have worked, but I think this one does a much better job and I don’t have to turn it on and off everyday. Here’s and updated tank pic too getting great growth and most of my corals. I think I got that lighting system for like $90 

A6898FC2-5C5C-476C-94BD-68B78E8B0180.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

November full tank shot

 

Hard to believe this 5g tank is going on 21 months up and running and has gone through 2 moves. GSP is growing out of control, but this tank is just an experiment and practice for bigger tanks in the future so I’m going to let it grow out a bit more. My salinity stays right around 1.025, and I’ve never tested any other parameters. I also blindly dose Brightwell Reef codes A and B and it definitely has helped my SPS (bad practice though I know). I 100% believe that the only reason this tank is going smoothly is because I have never missed a weekly water change and keep a very close eye on the tank daily. Very pleased with my first reef 😎

1B8C0DDD-3EB8-4DCB-A4CA-942B7C31B47B.jpeg

  • Like 3
  • Wow 1
Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

Just another update photo for my Fluval Evo V. Honestly can't believe this thing is still running strong and I haven't had many problems. Will be 2 years old March 4th. Recently got the Intank filter media basket and I like it, makes changing filter floss and cleaning out the sump chamber much easier. As you can see the GSP has almost completely covered the back glass, Hollywood stunner chalice is growing onto the glass, and my pink and gold's are colonizing the right side of the main rock. This tank has been quite an experiment and I am still patiently waiting to upgrade, clearly this is getting a little cramped with corals.

 

mXopd9ziRtCEG53uDiwmPw.thumb.jpg.318589d3a2fe301edff951c2f0e672c7.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Your tank looks great! Would you mind posting your current equipment list, and maintenance routine? I am just starting an Evo V and am looking for whats working for people.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
8 hours ago, markertk said:

Your tank looks great! Would you mind posting your current equipment list, and maintenance routine? I am just starting an Evo V and am looking for whats working for people.

Thanks!! My tank actually will be 2 years old tomorrow 3/4/2020 so now is a good time to do an update. 
 

Equipment:

-water pump upgraded to AQ600 (doubled flow to about 160 GPH)

-50W heater (still the same heater I started with)

-Current Orbit Marine LOOP IC Led, max output of 21 watts 

-Current eflux 660 gph accessory pump, only run at 10%

-InTank Evo V media basket with filter floss and ceramic filter rings (and few month old carbon and phosgaurd that probably isn’t active anymore)

 

Stock:

~3.5 lbs of live rock

-Clown that’s been with me for almost the full 2 years, feed small pellets and occasionally frozen brine

-CUC of 1 hermit, 3 astrea snails and 1 margarita snail

-Skunk cleaner shrimp

-Monti cap

-Monti digi

-GSP

- 4 or 5 zoa morphs

-shrooms 

-Hollywood stunner chalice

-devil’s hand leather 
-dose small amounts of zooplankton for corals 

 

2018-Present:

7EB20E92-E684-41EA-A788-B84BCBC33D14.thumb.jpeg.bca2df93648404e6658247477652b830.jpeg

My biggest piece of advice is weekly cleaning/water changes. I use distilled water and instant ocean reef crystals to make salt water, and I haven’t missed a water change since I started the tank 2 years ago. Salinity runs right around 1.024-1.025 per Hanna salinity and temp checker. 
I’m very thorough with my weekly cleanings and will clean/scrape glass, use a toothbrush to brush off pumps, clean detritus off sand with siphon, and use a turkey baster to clean off the rocks. Filter floss is also changed weekly along with anywhere from 10-25% of the total water volume depending on how it looks to me (I am a huge believer in the eye test). If I get GHA growth on a frag I’ll dip in hydrogen peroxide/water mixture which usually gets rid of it. 
Also I blindly dose 1 ml of Brightwell reef code A and B about every other day for my stony corals. I dose about 0.5 ml of Brightwell’s CoralAmino every other day. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment

I am positive that my OCD and strict water change habits are the only reason this tank has developed the way it has. I have had problems though

- 6 line wrasse did not work, had to be returned

- 2 clowns did not work and one clown was harassed badly until returned 

- shrimp pisses off all of my corals often bc he doesn’t have much space, cool looking but not recommended 

- GSP will take over everything so be cautious. I have to scrape pieces off and throw it away on a monthly basis so it doesn’t get on my main rock/pump

-I’ve lost a small hammer coral frag, purple stylophora didn’t grow/color up well, I’ve melted some zoa’s, lost a large green mushroom 

- Temp fluctuates much more than I’d like 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Your tank is beautiful! Happy two year tankiversary!! Thanks so much for the nice update, appreciate the info and inspiration as I’m starting mine. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Updated FTS 4/15/2020. Quarantine has made life pretty strange, but school work and my tank still keep me very busy. Oh yeah and we got a puppy, anybody on here like dachshunds? 6DF19D0C-55D6-477E-A1C3-850BF08F0DF6.thumb.jpeg.e95ceae9040e7ef78e39185e0f9ef8e3.jpeg08852A62-674A-4929-B1A4-6B4C488B941E.thumb.jpeg.0c126337c880ffaf0027a5b59c2a2160.jpeg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
8 hours ago, Ckane2 said:

Updated FTS 4/15/2020. Quarantine has made life pretty strange, but school work and my tank still keep me very busy. Oh yeah and we got a puppy, anybody on here like dachshunds? 6DF19D0C-55D6-477E-A1C3-850BF08F0DF6.thumb.jpeg.e95ceae9040e7ef78e39185e0f9ef8e3.jpeg08852A62-674A-4929-B1A4-6B4C488B941E.thumb.jpeg.0c126337c880ffaf0027a5b59c2a2160.jpeg

Your tank is looking amazing and that may be the cutest puppy I’ve ever seen! ALMOST made me and my fam want another dachshund, but we can’t forget Smokey, our stubborn little coffee and hot dog stealer! He was one stubborn little doggo. How’s your puppy’s temperament? 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...
On 6/10/2020 at 8:45 AM, debbeach13 said:

Today I am checking on many of the Evo 5 gallon tanks soooo how is it going? 

947D039A-EAF1-4A72-9D27-4188AA8FA5B6.thumb.jpeg.5767ade4b9ee15aba3b4caf830d09626.jpeg037543A2-7AFA-4A3A-A209-5A2EC984F068.thumb.jpeg.66d02a7bbb5ed3ef920e9c3f90a2674c.jpeg4CCD45CB-CD29-4487-8F06-238E23DBF105.thumb.jpeg.3008c4e516bf939f08cdafef14df8d73.jpeg

 

It’s going.. had my Current USA Eflux wave pump seize up and have been going without the extra flow for probably a couple of months now. My corals definitely aren’t doing as well as the were, especially the digi on top. Finishing up schooling so I’ve been very busy. Just ordered a new pump to get some extra flow going here and hopefully get the SPS healthy again. Patiently waiting until I can set up my Nuvo 10, I really like zoa gardens so I might jam it full of zoas we’ll see. These pink and golds are thriving though as you can see, started as a small frag of not even 15 polyps. These pics were just taken this evening. 

  • Like 3
  • Wow 1
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recommended Discussions

×
×
  • Create New...