Fluval EVO 13.5g/52l Upgrades - Biofiltration Media!

[@mattevans8238]

Loving your reviews / upgrades. I'm cycling a Fluval EVO 13.5 and you've helped me out alot. Greatly appreciated!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Really glad to hear that...I have a great video on return pump comparisons for the Fluval coming up in a week from tomorrow!

[@ryang.5327]

I have the Fluval as well. I also added extra filter media. I have a protein skimmer in the inflow chamber with a mini heater below. I used both holes in the filter sponge for carbon and placed in the second chamber. Below the carbon and sponge I have a mesh bag filled with filter floss/poly fill. I have another mesh bag filled with Fluval Bio-max media sitting on top of my return pump with the return chamber filled about 2/3rds. My thought was to filter in progression. Large to small then microbe before returning and to protect the return pump from any debris. So far it has worked great!

[@terrydavis7389]

i used the same marine pure gems, took to a friends house with an established reef tank, left in his sump for 2 weeks, then moved them to my tank. Made a big difference for me having them seeded in a well established tank since my tank was so new.

[@satguy]

An aquarium substrate, such as sand or gravel. Is a far superior depository for beneficial bacteria, than anything you can put in any filter.

[@malinoisnation9392]

Maybe. but then why do some higher end reefers and fish keeps keep a bare bottom tank?

[@trevor852]

@@malinoisnation9392 easier to clean at the cost of being ugly

[@lauraowen9837]

This video was so helpful! How often would you give those guys a rinse off? Thanks in advance for the super helpful vid!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I typically swish them around in the "used" water every time I do a water change :)

[@lauraowen9837]

@@TheFishTankGuy thanks so much for the reply I really appreciate that!

[@dudleymanning6900]

How many kg of rock are in your system.

[@kandiceholder782]

We have had the fluval evo almost a year now. Since I found your channel we have been trying to do upgrades. We only have a beta clown fish two cerith snails and red skunk shrimp. We are having issues with brown algea and diatom blooms. We do not have love rock We put in dry rock and it's slowly growing becoming live. We want to add corals and some other crabs. Since I have found channel I have bought the new upgraded return pump, added a addition blower in the tank, and bought the media basket. I haven't received the new media basket but I'm not sure what to put where, the filter floss on top 2nd chamber carbon and 3rd chamber the white filter media rock until I can get the gems that you have in this video?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

First off, congrats on getting a Fluval EVO! It's a great aquarium and after you get past your diatom issues, I think you'll be really happy with it. As for the tank itself, increasing the flow and adding the powerhead will be very helpful, especially when you add coral. When setting up your filter basket, I would prioritize filter floss, matrix carbon, and Purigen. Purigen helps to remove organics from your water, that can cause algae and blooms. A few questions...do you use RODI water in your tank or tap water? And how often are you performing water changes?

[@kandiceholder782]

@@TheFishTankGuy Thank you !!! This is our first tank it's almost a year old now and I love it ! yes we do us RODI water, I have been doing water changes every week. I just did a bigger change 30 to 40 percent because water was getting cloudy and bta didn't look good. I have been replacing carbon bag every two weeks as well. Thank you for all your videos they have helped us a ton !

[@dylanwaugaman9678]

Hey there... thanks for the video. Wondering if you could give me advice. I have had my evo 13.5 set up for a few months now. Everything was going great until a couple of weeks ago the nitrates increased to 40ppm... I've done water changes and such but can't seem to get it down. Any other advice? Is 40ppm dangerous? My coral/fish seem to be doing fine but don't want to ignore it and have issues. Thanks !!!

[@kevinc9251]

I subscribe to your channel and love your demeanor. I have a biocube 32 and do have bio filtration and matrix carbon and phosguard. I do not have a protein skimmer and can you recommend one?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Appreciate you supporting the channel! I can try... I have to ask how you have your chambers setup currently? Do you have space in chamber 1 for a skimmer?

[@kevinc9251]

@@TheFishTankGuy Thanks for writing back. I just have a heater in chamber one. In chamber 2, I have two pieces of reticular foam along with a bag of matrix carbon and phosguard. Then in chamber 3, I have the return pump and seachem sea gel. It’s fine and all but corals aren’t exactly popping. :(

[@TheFishTankGuy]

@@kevinc9251 what kind of corals do you have? Feeding them anything? What's your maintenance schedule look like and have you checked levels lately? You'll want to get a skimmer for the first chamber, and in my experience the v2 of the Biocube skimmer works just fine. Check my channel, I have an unboxing and a review! However, a skimmer isn't necessarily needed for the Biocube, so we should look at what else might be going on. Pictures or videos of the tank anywhere?

[@kevinc9251]

I did checked out your v2 skimmer video awhile back and wasn’t sure If that will fit right in the chamber and can still close the lid. Does anyone tell you that you look like Chris Evans? I should call you Captain Fish.