Top 9 Fluval Evo 13.5 Upgrades & Mods

[@Richs_reef]

Reef tops do great acrylic lids - very happy with my custom one I got 18months ago and it often gets a compliment when reefing friends come to see the tank

[@astroanthobbies3801]

Iv had the 13.5g for 3 years Completed modded it now. Skimmer in first chamber Ato tunze Blocked the tiny hole so water doesn’t get through. Fluval intank chamber in the second one Ehiem compact upgraded pump DIY mesh top lid AI prime light The tank is a mini beast All do is 30% water changes weekly and nothing else.

[@subcon959]

No heater?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Great video as always Alex. A superb tank for beginners!

[@j-plloyd5229]

So i've been researching lots of research on salt water aquariums and I stumbled across your channel, far to say im obsessed and have spent the last week watch so much of your content! Do you have a discord or anywhere for your community to talk, ask questions and seek guidance from yourself or one another? Keep up the great work!

[@ReefDork]

Not as such - the best place is The Prestige Reef Dork Show Facebook page. We pull the most interesting posts from that group and talk about them on the Sunday night livestream. And I'm on the page most days too 🙂

[@j-plloyd5229]

Amazing thank you for the reply! Going to go and follow it now! 😊

[@Michael_k_DK]

Good to see a video from you again and I hope you are feeling better

[@pauldeacon8764]

Great video yet again Alex! 😀👍

[@dbuckley4639]

Enjoying this series. I’m almost a week into cycling my first reef tank - a Fluval Evo . I love it! 😬

[@cantusaurus8530]

I went with the Fluval 32.5 for my first reef tank over 2 years ago, and I definitely have regretted it more over time. The filtration in particular is not very good due to the mods I had to do. I feel the 13.5 is much better in terms of reefing. With all the changes and limitations I had to go through i overall regretted it. But the tank itself looks very cool. I was a newbie and thought that Red Sea and JBJ were the only options available, and I ideally think I would’ve been the most happy with a Nuvo 40 or something similar.

[@MTXCraze]

been loving my 8 gallon. the ato was my first main upgrade but i went with a cheap gravity fed water bottle adapter and a 1.5L water bottle. Them nano's evaporate fast!

[@stuartmccall6044]

ive just brought one of these its the marine upgrade so mine has water inlet at the top and also the bottom, should i leave as is or block the bottom one ?

[@jasonwright1753]

Alex, did you ever go update the filtration? I like the idea of one of these little nanos to compliment our larger tank, i wonder if you considered the media baskets they make for these? If not where do you put the floss if youve removed the stock filter sponge ?

[@ReefDork]

No, I find a simple disposable sponge and some Nyos Phosi-ex does the job nicely. I'll do an update on the Reef Dork Xtra channel soon.

[@jasonwright1753]

@@ReefDork ok thanks

[@kylebeaumont2495]

I have mine setup with a mp10, ai prime, their p2 protein skimmer, marine spheres, and removed all the filtration in the back. Curious to see how yours progresses

[@LewisTommason]

Hi.. quick question… Looking back, which tank would you recommend for a beginner planning on keeping a couple of clownfish and maybe a clean up crew? The tetra starter 105litre or this one?

[@ReefDork]

I prefer the Fluval - I think it's a bit neater. But the Tetra is larger which has it's benefits. I don't think you'd regret either choice though...

[@MrPWalden]

Anybody watching this thinking of doing the same - you REALLY want to be putting your ato sensor in the pump chamber!

[@aritosoto]

Thanks! Even as I was watching the video I was planning to put it in the pump chamber because of the fluval ps2 mini protein skimmer I got.

[@jimgreen83]

Another great video, really like the choice of pump. I removed the lid from mine today as well and added and AI Prime, the tank looks so much nicer but now I want something to cover the equipment like Red Sea have on their nanos

[@hollic8181]

Did you ever make a video on the refugium in the 2nd chamber?

[@ReefDork]

I decided against it in the end - water changes and a filter sponge are doing enough for nitrates

[@hollic8181]

@@ReefDork Thank you for the timely response! Love your content!

[@andibandi1190]

can you also keep Acroporas in such a tank?

[@ReefDork]

Theoretically possible but realistically no chance

[@kade.b2929]

A little off topic but how is your CBB, what size would you recommend for them.

[@ReefDork]

Mine's good. I prefer to avoid the larger ones, without going too small

[@SanDiegoBoxes]

So when I upgrade the return pump to the TMC Reef Pump, do I keep the stock Fluval tube that goes with the pump? And attach it to the TMC Reef pump?

[@ReefDork]

Yep

[@davidclarke389]

love this series on smaller tanks, helps me set up mine

[@Rookreef]

Vivosun on Amazon! It's 210 gph and fits in the slot. Only 16.99. also pick up a random flow generator for that movement you're looking for. I went with one 1/2 inch instead of two 1/4 in. Does wonderful job. If you don't want to spend the money on a new light right away I also recommend getting a small submersible light that had full led spectrum and pair with the light included for a cheap way to make corals pop.

[@christopherthomson1978]

could you give me a link to the pump as I couldn't find it

[@christopherthomson1978]

also a link to the light you mentioned and flow generator.

[@Fireblade69pb]

Hi I have ai prime setup on my tank. I was wondering if you could do a video on your light schedule please of give some advice.

[@ReefDork]

Made one on my 2nd channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYO2qZ-XbK6IrdU

[@Fireblade69pb]

@@ReefDork thank you so much👍🏻

[@les959]

Thanks Mr dork! busy wasnt happy when i bought the new evo home 😂

[@ReefDork]

😁

[@paulhaggon4539]

Hey what's the name of the auto top off you used again .

[@ReefDork]

Can't remember - think it was the Tunze Osmolator nano though...

[@paulbedson5675]

Hi I'm loving your videos you were one of the first reef guys I followed on youtube and I've learned loads . Cheers 🍻 oh may I ask where abouts I would get the large pad of filter floss please

[@ReefDork]

Just my local Maidenhead Aquatics

[@km7101]

Do you get a lot of condensation on the clear acyclic parts of the jump guard? Thanks in advance!

[@ReefDork]

No condensation but a small amount of salt creep

[@artistic_spaz3724]

I miss my fluval. Here I thought upgrading to a larger tank was gonna be awesome and instead it seems that the headaches are bigger with larger price tags. Ugh

[@Seedyrom247]

Loving this series. The white light doesn’t look as bad as you think. It does “disappear” in those far away shots.

[@bearded-flipflop]

Great little series, although the mods you have made are not cheap! I went with this tank as a cheap bedroom tank for low maintenance corals I.e a bta, some pulsing xenia some mushrooms and some neon green sinularia i do nothing to it apart from feed the 2 clowns and manual top off.

[@hakman239]

Could you just use a skimmer insted of an internal filter on a tank like this

[@grassyfarms4158]

How long has the tank been cycling

[@moshake8221]

What filter floss pad do you use?

[@ReefDork]

Just whatever bulk floss they have in my LFS

[@MrOznek10]

what are the settings on your wave maker? i got the slw5 on a 24gallon but i cant seem to get the flow right...i got some death spots on the other end of my aquarium but my corals dont seem to like when i put the flow up

[@ReefDork]

100% on else mode but you'll need a bigger and/or an extra powerhead for your tank

[@MrOznek10]

@@ReefDork thanks for the reply! I got a coral box reverse nano pump laying around puting out 800 to 10000 liters per hour. But i thought it would be to much, what do tou think about it?

[@Nippa1988]

Off topic here. I can remember you saying about a cabinet light that turns on when you open the doors in a previous video. Where did you get these from?

[@ReefDork]

Ikea - I think they're called Tradfri. But I also use Philips Hue which is much better (but also more expensive)

[@Nippa1988]

@@ReefDork legend thanks mate 🙏

[@reefrichs6719]

You might want to move your Ato float switch to the pump chamber as this is where evaporation is most noticeable compared to first and second chamber on the evo 13.

[@ReefDork]

The water level is the same across all 3...

[@MrPWalden]

@@ReefDork not always. You really wanna be moving that the the pump chamber. I’ve been running my evo for over 2 years now and the 1st and 3rd chambers are not always the same.

[@reefrichs6719]

I’ve been running an evo for over 2 years and it definitely evaporates from the last chamber first. Not trying to prove you wrong but I am correct on this occasion.

[@andzesiklenkovskij3696]

Thank you. I look video always many time to me to quick speeking😂😂😂

[@jhaych]

Mine arrived yesterday purely down to you, it makes me laugh compared to my 780l system

[@hakman239]

Iv got a flex 57 marine I used a 1000lph all pond solutions pump for £13 masive difference to stock

[@dereks3207]

on of my favorite upgrades i ever did to this tank was free. get a razor blade and shave off that honeycomb pattern. id advise doing it before you get the tank wet, but it makes the tank look so nice.

[@so_so_reef]

Didn’t know the big blades fit onto the nano, or is this a specific blade for the nano?

[@ReefDork]

I think that's just the normal size blade...

[@so_so_reef]

@@ReefDork no way, the normal size blade for the tunze nano is the blade you have on the other end, 45 mm.

[@Hg149364]

Any particular reason why you’re going for the refugium over a skimmer? Apart from the obvious home for all the weird and cool microfauna

[@ReefDork]

I haven't seen many people say nice things about the skimmer and it sounds noisy which I can't put up with...

[@darrensaquaticsworld]

I like the idea of these as a quarantine tank, as long as your not putting big fish in it I think it has all of what you need in a solid looking package, so easy on the eye and the pocket. I think if I had one and than started upgrading It though i would always be looking over my shoulder wishing I got Innotative marine fusion or a small water box. I know its more money but onecr you start upgrading your kind of in for a penny in for a pound. Just a disclaimer I am running a fusion 20 as a quarantine tank so I may be biased 😄

[@connormoon1094]

What pump would you replace the TMC with out of interest

[@ReefDork]

The TMC one became faulty after a while (intermittent fault so I've retired it and use it as a salt mixing pump). When it first broke, I replaced it with an AI Axis 20. Although that also later developed a fault and had to be replaced under warranty. Jecod is probably the best option...

[@oxuscatterybicolorpersianc2078]

the cover of the fluval evo where can I buy one

[@ReefDork]

Email Fluval

[@ReefDork]

The mesh top I bought? Link in description

[@ncoppens]

The day before yesterday this video popped up with a 3d printed roller mat (manual) for this tank. I instantly thought of you and the fact you probably want one. It looks so cool it makes me want the fluval tank myself. (name of the video = tCxq_Ik8bFo ).

[@BokiXI]

So no protein skimmer?

[@ReefDork]

Nope

[@ISeaLive]

Some solid upgrades. The TMC 500 looks awesome but I can’t seem to find one in the US. I’ve been meaning to add a top as well but I’ve failed to make one several times (future video). Let me know if you would like to try out the roller mat for the filtration upgrade. I also have the media basket files if you have someone that can print for you 👍🏻.

[@darrenrivers1174]

Hi were did you get the wave maker from

[@ReefDork]

Fastlight.co.uk

[@Bulkleybull22]

What should maintenance look like for this tank? Can you maybe do a video on this?

[@ReefDork]

It's on the list of vids to make 🙂

[@Bulkleybull22]

@@ReefDork sweet glad to hear it!

[@AJBAdventures]

Nice upgrades bud Would the ATO float switch not be better off in the return chamber since that will be the chamber that will drop first? Cheers Aaron

[@ReefDork]

A few people have said that and that's definitely the case in a baffled sump but it doesn't seem to make a difference on this tank. Although I need to move a few things round so it'll probably end up moving...

[@antoniobowers7740]

Can you add an Amazon list of items listed in the description by chance? Been souping up our fluval 13 thanks.

[@ReefDork]

Done!

[@nanoreefer1622]

I didn't bother with a power head on my evo I just got the ehime compact 1000LPH return pump. I don't like seeing equipment in the display as it is a small tank.

[@laVeukz]

I bought the 600 and yes it does vibrate and hulk like crazy maybe I have a bar one

[@mickrobinson8150]

I have the same tank no fish just corals a brittle star fish two crabs which i feed and snails so no cover, stock pump which I don't mind as this tank is in my utility, jecod eco sow-4 4000 L/H turned to low setting. Red sea RSLED50 to replace the original which I like. A little carbon in the stock sponge but with extra filter media from my main tank. I've had to watch my water parameters but everything is perfect.

[@rturner99]

What's the link to the reef dork extra channel?

[@rturner99]

Found it, in about us

[@enzomontini758]

Onlyfins??

[@EIY_Kumar]

gonna ask an irrelevant question regarding this aquarium. Do you see a change in KZbin viewer traffic or views in general depending on the time you are posting.. like 8 pm videos get more views than 4 pm or something like that.. Do you prefer that type uploading at a specific time ?

[@ReefDork]

I started at 4pm on a Friday because that was roughly when BRS did back in the day but also because that's when most of my viewers are online and that gives the whole weekend for people to watch the video. Sunday after about 3pm is busy too.

[@EIY_Kumar]

@@ReefDork Thank You Sir ❤❤❤❤ Highly Appreciated

[@anglingaddict3877]

Love it

[@FlokieLooney]

got any updates?!

[@ReefDork]

I broke this down and moved the livestock to a Cade nano about 6 months ago - the Cade is behind me in the intro to my videos now

[@auroracarsales2966]

Can you add links into the description please for the items

[@ReefDork]

Will do

[@monx1983]

Can make a video of transitioning a tank from freshwater to saltwater. I have a 60x30x25cm rimless nano tank that I want to convert to saltwater marine tank.

[@JakeDogg-RIP]

Woof 🐶

[@christopherthomson1978]

I find it nuts the price of things like the lid it's half the price of the whole tank. it's like the media basket upgrades costing like 50 pound for piece of plastic.

[@jburtlanders]

I would move the ato to the return pump camber to be more accurate

[@nijingnima124]

they charge 200 rn, not that cheap

[@aquatichighs]

I wish fluval would just make a more advanced system. For the price of the upgrades you can almost get something that’s more than twice as good.

[@PersianChristianity]

Hello Alex when will the algae refrugium video happen because you said weeks down the line 😂 its been 8 months

[@ReefDork]

Probably never! I like the simplicity of a sponge and gfo.

[@phaedonio8720]

plz do invertabrates

[@enzomontini758]

The money you spent on upgrades 🤯😱 u could almost get a Red Sea 250 inc lights wavemakers and skimmer

[@ReefDork]

Roughly £500 on upgrades...

[@enzomontini758]

@@ReefDork it’s gunna b a gd looking tank #long time subscribed

[@AS-qi7iu]

best fluval upgrade is the inTank media basket, well worth every penny

[@oxuscatterybicolorpersianc2078]

I feel that it is too expensive for what it offers

[@evanbrumback6496]

Hi

[@enzomontini758]

😣 never block that hole !!! !!! It’s the emergency if u don’t top off the tank water won’t enter the overflow the hole is there to let water in so the pump dosnt burn out and the heaters don’t explode!!!! Please include a disclaimer ,,, if the water level drops in the main display the filtration chambers stay full !!

[@ReefDork]

I like to live dangerously 😎

[@MrPWalden]

Blocking the hole is fine - as long as you have an ATO (with sensor in the correct chamber) 👍

[@enzomontini758]

@@MrPWalden but being a beginner set up aimed at new hobbyists I feel this is bad advice blocking the hole 🕳 if there ATO failed or they didn’t buy one a mistake like this could end there passion for the hobby

[@DKLordByron]

there isn't much left of the Fluval kit, I'd rather see how it does without all the upgrades.

[@ryanm347]

Normal wave maker £15 so much better

[@Dawg99999]

Too much faffing