Unusual upgrades on a fluval evo 13.5

[mister_pikel]

Hey! So I got into saltwater a little over a month ago and I got the fluval evo. I love the size and look of the tank and it’s the perfect size for me as it fits on my nightstand. As I did more and more research I learned it’s much easier to have a higher water volume so I considered adding a sump but wasn’t sure how I would do that. This is what I ended up doing:
Drilled 3 holes in the back of the tank
Took out the back wall that made it an AIO
Built a 20 gallon sump under my bed
Hooked up hard plumbing from the tank to the sump under my bed
Installed an ATO
Upgraded the return pump to a sicce 1.0
Fluval marine 3.0 light
i ordered a new return head and RFG tips for it
200W heater
A couple pounds of ceramic rings in the sump
Homemade screen lid

and I’m debating if I should get a wavemaker but I’m looking for a tiny one (100-200 GPH)

how do you think I did? Any suggestions or input?

 

[Derrick0580]

Seems like you could have spent less money on a larger tank to do all of that. I mean if you’re happy with it who cares! I think a lot of people are attracted to the evo because they advertise it as a coral supporting tank right out of the box. I’m not gonna lie, this is why I bought mine, however when the light pooped out at less than a week old and petco and fluval both said to call the other that they weren’t responsible for the problem, I ended up going with the ai 16 hd prime and it all went down hill from there for my wallet!

 

[mister_pikel]

Seems like you could have spent less money on a larger tank to do all of that. I mean if you’re happy with it who cares! I think a lot of people are attracted to the evo because they advertise it as a coral supporting tank right out of the box. I’m not gonna lie, this is why I bought mine, however when the light pooped out at less than a week old and petco and fluval both said to call the other that they weren’t responsible for the problem, I ended up going with the ai 16 hd prime and it all went down hill from there for my wallet!

I can’t tell you how many people have told me to just get a bigger tank but I just really like the look of the Evo with the rimless design and how it kind of has that floating look as well as it perfectly sits on that table and I didn’t buy the tank new I got the tank the stand the rock the sand and some API testing kits for only 130

 

[Derrick0580]

I can’t tell you how many people have told me to just get a bigger tank but I just really like the look of the Evo with the rimless design and how it kind of has that floating look as well as it perfectly sits on that table and I didn’t buy the tank new I got the tank the stand the rock the sand and some API testing kits for only 130

Yeah, rimless tanks just look cleaner and less cheap!

 

[shakacuz]

interesting spot for the return, otherwise looks good!

 

[mister_pikel]

I’ve never used a sump before or drilled an aquarium and there’s so much conflicting knowledge out there so this just made the most sense to me. If it works it works ‍

 

[J.chemicals]

your first month tank will not look the same after some time. The first year is the hardest, Good luck my friend! Happy reefing.

 

[J.chemicals]

interesting spot for the return, otherwise looks good!

If that sicce pump fails, H2O under the bed XD step on it first thing in the morning and you're golden

 

[mister_pikel]

your first month tank will not look the same after some time. The first year is the hardest, Good luck my friend! Happy reefing.

Thanks! If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s a whole new ball game than freshwater so I’m just strapping in for the ride

 

[mister_pikel]

If that sicce pump fails, H2O under the bed XD step on it first thing in the morning and you're golden

Huh?

 

[J.chemicals]

if the pump stop working, it back siphon

 

[J.chemicals]

Second thing I found on youtube.

 

[mister_pikel]

if the pump stop working, it back siphon

Ohhh, sorry I was confused. I ordered a new return nozzle that is 6” long and I’m gonna work it more upwards and the sump is a 20 gallon but only filled about 2/3 so the water is forced through the baffles so once I get the new return nozzle in the mail in a couple days even if it did siphon back it wouldn’t be enough to overflow the sump but for the next couple days it might be enough to get a gallon or two on the floor so I do have to be careful

 

[iamahab]

Hey! So I got into saltwater a little over a month ago and I got the fluval evo. I love the size and look of the tank and it’s the perfect size for me as it fits on my nightstand. As I did more and more research I learned it’s much easier to have a higher water volume so I considered adding a sump but wasn’t sure how I would do that. This is what I ended up doing:
Drilled 3 holes in the back of the tank
Took out the back wall that made it an AIO
Built a 20 gallon sump under my bed
Hooked up hard plumbing from the tank to the sump under my bed
Installed an ATO
Upgraded the return pump to a sicce 1.0
Fluval marine 3.0 light
i ordered a new return head and RFG tips for it
200W heater
A couple pounds of ceramic rings in the sump
Homemade screen lid

and I’m debating if I should get a wavemaker but I’m looking for a tiny one (100-200 GPH)

how do you think I did? Any suggestions or input?

Nice job! I'm glad I ran across this. Looks like you've been very busy

 

[J.chemicals]

Ohhh, sorry I was confused. I ordered a new return nozzle that is 6” long and I’m gonna work it more upwards and the sump is a 20 gallon but only filled about 2/3 so the water is forced through the baffles so once I get the new return nozzle in the mail in a couple days even if it did siphon back it wouldn’t be enough to overflow the sump but for the next couple days it might be enough to get a gallon or two on the floor so I do have to be careful

absolutely perfect, hey man, I have made multiple mistakes too, and still making some. It's all about enjoying the hobby ^_^.

 

[ReeferCO]

Hey! So I got into saltwater a little over a month ago and I got the fluval evo. I love the size and look of the tank and it’s the perfect size for me as it fits on my nightstand. As I did more and more research I learned it’s much easier to have a higher water volume so I considered adding a sump but wasn’t sure how I would do that. This is what I ended up doing:
Drilled 3 holes in the back of the tank
Took out the back wall that made it an AIO
Built a 20 gallon sump under my bed
Hooked up hard plumbing from the tank to the sump under my bed
Installed an ATO
Upgraded the return pump to a sicce 1.0
Fluval marine 3.0 light
i ordered a new return head and RFG tips for it
200W heater
A couple pounds of ceramic rings in the sump
Homemade screen lid

and I’m debating if I should get a wavemaker but I’m looking for a tiny one (100-200 GPH)

how do you think I did? Any suggestions or input?

Fellow Evo owner. This is a really cool idea! I totally agree with you on the sleek look of the evo. The elevated foot and overhanging edge really do set it apart. I will be following your progress. Way to go on trying something different!

 

[CollectOyster04]

Little projects like this are always fun. I have done this in the past with a small biocube that was given to me without the light/lid. Except it was plumbed into my bigger system instead of its own sump. With the versatility of a sump, to me it makes small tanks like this more fun. It's amazing how much more room you seem to have without the false wall for the aio. My biocube was so much more enjoyable (almost zero maintenance being plumbed into another system) this way.
Definitely will want to to get your return closer to the top of the tank. Not sure if that's a normal bulkhead or not, if so, you may be able to extend with pvc before the loc line. Current setup will lose about half your water to the sump during a power failure. To much risk for me personally.