here we go: fluval evo 5

[overseascarson]

Introduction
Good morning (or afternoon, or evening)! I am a college student in California and am excited to be a part of a vast and informative community! Frankly, I'm a noob to reefing; I've only ever done freshwater tanks. However, the only way a person can succeed in a particular discipline is through practice and new experiences. Not to mention, how beautiful the reefs I've seen- if done right- can get. That sold me and I decided that I was due for a new experience.

Background
After moving into my college dorm, I saw my friends decorating theirs with posters, ornaments, and even lights. Why not, I figured, decorate my dorm with something that embodies my passion for aquatics and science? I started cycling the Fluval about two weeks ago. I haven't documented much on it, since I've been 'drowning' in homework. Daily water tests yield pretty average results at this point in the nitrogen cycle. I've also been testing pH and salinity as needed, which are also optimal levels.

Equipment
Currently, I have the stock components (lights, pump, filter media) that were packaged with the Fluval Evo 5 kit. In addition to that, I ordered other components for a reef tank, tools, and chemicals. I discovered that I needed to purchase something that I thought I would never need- but is perfect for a college dorm! I also found out that the mail room staff in my apartment building are starting to strongly dislike me.

Here's a list of my equipment thus far:

• Petco bucket
• Small gravel siphon
• Digital thermometer
• Hygger heater
• Carib Sea base rock
• Dr Tim's One and Only
• API Saltwater Master Test Kit
• API Reef Master Test Kit
• API Tap Water Dechlorinator
• Imaginarium Refractometer
• Aquatic Life RO Buddie*

*This RO/DI unit is amazing! My dorm's water supply has a lot of minerals; simply adding a tap water dechlorinator won't do the trick. In addition to filtering the water, I add the appropriate dosage of API Tap Water Dechlorinator as my water supply contains chloramines.

Plan
Once the ammonia and nitrites level out, I'll start performing weekly water changes of 25-50%. I plan to test magnesium and other trace elements more extensively once the tank matures a bit. Also around then, I'll add a coral or two.

Attachments
The two attached images are of the bacterial bloom on the first night since setting up the tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! What kind of fish and coral are you wanting to add?

 

[overseascarson]

Hi Bailey, thanks for your reply!

I'm not too sure what fish I should add, or if I should add any at all given the tank's volume; in terms of corals, I had some beginners in mind such as Xenias, Zoanthids, and Toadstools. I am considering a snail/shrimp or two.

 

[overseascarson]

Good morning (or afternoon, or evening)! I am a college student in California and am excited to be a part of a vast and informative community! Frankly, I'm a noob to reefing; I've only ever done freshwater tanks. However, the only way a person can succeed in a particular discipline is through practice and new experiences. Not to mention, how beautiful the reefs I've seen- if done right- can get. That sold me and I decided that I was due for a new experience.

Background
After moving into my college dorm, I saw my friends decorating theirs with posters, ornaments, and even lights. Why not, I figured, decorate my dorm with something that embodies my passion for aquatics and science? I started cycling the Fluval about two weeks ago. I haven't documented much on it, since I've been 'drowning' in homework. Daily water tests yield pretty average results at this point in the nitrogen cycle. I've also been testing pH and salinity as needed, which are also optimal levels.

Equipment
Currently, I have the stock components (lights, pump, filter media) that were packaged with the Fluval Evo 5 kit. In addition to that, I ordered other components for a reef tank, tools, and chemicals. I discovered that I needed to purchase something that I thought I would never need- but is perfect for a college dorm! I also found out that the mail room staff in my apartment building are starting to strongly dislike me.

Here's a list of my equipment thus far:

• Petco bucket
• Small gravel siphon
• Digital thermometer
• Hygger heater
• Carib Sea base rock
• Dr Tim's One and Only
• API Saltwater Master Test Kit
• API Reef Master Test Kit
• API Tap Water Dechlorinator
• Imaginarium Refractometer
• Aquatic Life RO Buddie*

*This RO/DI unit is amazing! My dorm's water supply has a lot of minerals; simply adding a tap water dechlorinator won't do the trick. In addition to filtering the water, I add the appropriate dosage of API Tap Water Dechlorinator as my water supply contains chloramines.

Plan
Once the ammonia and nitrites level out, I'll start performing weekly water changes of 25-50%. I plan to test magnesium and other trace elements more extensively once the tank matures a bit. Also around then, I'll add a coral or two.

Attachments
The two attached images are of the bacterial bloom on the first night since setting up the tank.

10/14/24 Update​

Recent Investments
I recently made some additions to my tank which I anticipate will benefit water quality and coral growth down the line.

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
Having acquired the confidence to mix my own saltwater, I bought a bag of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. While I haven't done a water change yet, I did practice mixing the salt and RO/DI water in a 5-gallon Lowe's bucket (I use the Petco bucket separately to store the RO/DI water) to get a feel for matching the salinity of the tank, which sits around 1.026 SG.


ChemiPure Elite
I wanted to upgrade my chemical filtration from the stock carbon media provided with the Fluval kit. After some research specified to my needs and desired stocking, I decided to use ChemiPure Elite in place of carbon. It has been a day since I installed the media and my water is already pristine.


Tropic Marin All For Reef
As my tank starts to mature after I add a few corals, I plan to keep up with dosing trace elements through Tropic Marin's All For Reef. I don't need it immediately, but I felt it would be nice to have on hand.


Future Plans
After I use up the Reef Crystals, I plan to switch to Red Sea Pro salt. That way, I'll have to dose trace elements less frequently as I believe Red Sea contains more of them than Reef Crystals (please correct me if I'm wrong). For now, I'll finish out the nitrogen cycle, perform a 50% water change once everything levels out, and then begin adding corals (and enjoying the fun of dosing trace elements).

 

[overseascarson]

10/19/24 Update​

Water Changes and Testing
I performed two 50% water changes earlier this week, on Tuesday (10/15) and yesterday. Today, after the second water change, I tested 0 ppm for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The attached image shows the results from the second time around.


Current Situation
My tank is entering the ugly phase; I believe my decision to start from scratch with dry rock intensified its effects. I'm not too worried, and I might introduce a clean-up crew of three snails—two Astreas and one Nassarius—and maybe a blue-leg hermit or two. I hope they'll take care of some ugly phase algae (which doesn't look that bad anyway). Per the parameters attached, I believe it is safe to introduce them.

Recent Investments
Also earlier this week, I purchased a Fluval Nano reef light (which offers a broader spectrum of light that is frankly more pleasant to look at in comparison to the stock light) and a top-off kit. I won't be using the light much in hopes that it'll speed up the ugly phase, but I felt it was once again nice to have on hand. I'll give an update once the top-off system is set up and will report how it works. To get an idea of how the flow will look once everything is set up, I installed Fluval's smallest wavemaker (in terms of gph). I have attached images of how I've set up the light and the wavemaker.


Future Plans
As previously mentioned, I hope to introduce a small clean-up crew of about five members within the week. Everything is thus far going the way I've anticipated and researched, so I'll maintain my water change schedule of 50% every Friday.

Hope everyone has a great week!