Fluval Evo 13.5 For First Saltwater Aquarium?

Freshwater aquariums have been a long time hobby, but I have never considered saltwater (mainly due to cost). Recently, I have been tempted to give the evo 13.5 gallon a try (aside from shrimp tanks, I've also never owned an aquarium below 55 gallons, and would like to try it out), but have heard mixed opinions. Is there anything that you see as better in the general price range? What fish and corals would you reccomend a beginner keep in such an aquarium? Can you even grow anything with the stock light? I've heard many different answers.

 

Smaller tanks are more difficult to maintain salinity levels in, so keep that in mind if you're doing anything under 20 gallons for your first Saltwater tank.

Fluval does make nice tanks though

 

The other issue is that you will be severely limited on stock in a 13.5. Basically Small Gobies, Firefish and Small Blennies would be your options. The other thing to consider is that you are very likely to upgrade and you will have to rebuy all your equipment again since virtually nothing will transfer from a 13.5 to a tank that is 40 gallons or more. And no you won't be able to grow much of anything with a stock light. Even the easy to moderate corals require a fairly decent LED light.

 

The other thing to consider is that you are very likely to upgrade and you will have to rebuy all your equipment again since virtually nothing will transfer from a 13.5 to a tank that is 40 gallons or more.

What does the upkeep time/cost look like from a small tank, to a medium sized one in the 40-50 gallon range? I've been looking at a few used ones that have caught my interest, but as a student I'm pretty hesitant on getting myself into something that will cost significantly more than I planned.

 

I think evo is a very nice starter tank. It's not too expensive and the stock light is enough to maintain low to medium light corals. They may not grow quickly but the light is designed to allow you to have those corals in them. You are going to have to buy other equipment as you probably know if you've been reading the threads here. If you are an expert in Freshwater keeping, then Saltwater isn't too difficult. You just have make stable params a top priority. It may take daily adjustments to do that in such a small tank. I have a 5 gallon reef with fish, so it's doable. I get a lot of heat for keeping 2 clowns in my 5 gallon but hey it's my tank and I'll do whatever I want. You can do the same in the evo. Go for it.

 

What does the upkeep time/cost look like from a small tank, to a medium sized one in the 40-50 gallon range? I've been looking at a few used ones that have caught my interest, but as a student I'm pretty hesitant on getting myself into something that will cost significantly more than I planned.

I am currently going from a 36 gallon to a 90 gallon and here is what is being transferred in terms of mechanical equipment from my old tank:

1 Hydor Koralia 1950gph powerhead

That's it


As far as the upkeep time it is actually higher on a smaller tank since you have generally have more water changes and issues with nitrates building up more quickly. You can definitely save a bundle by getting a complete or nearly complete used setup, just make sure you check the tank for leaks and scratches as both are not good for obvious reasons. I bought a used stand, sump, skimmer and return pump with most of the plumbing for $250 and then bought a new tank (as the one that came with the setup I bought was badly scratched). With the new 90 gallon tank it was just shy of $500 total for that setup. If I had bought everything new that setup would've probably cost close to $1K. For the 40-55 gallon range you can probably do quite a bit better than what I got. In my area I regularly see the 32 gallon Biocubes completely loaded (even has live rock, corals and a few fish) for $350-$400 used. You will definitely spend more than that to get that 13.5 tank ready for fish.

 

You'll get a lot of mixed information and opinions about this. So go with what you are comfortable with.
As long as you are dedicated, patient, and willing to learn about the reefing hobby you'll be successful.

I personally know a local reefer who only started his first fish keeping ever with the Evo 13.5 and he's been running with that tank for a little less than a year now. He has dabbled into SPS (small polyp stony) corals like Acros.... but he has also upgraded his lights to AI Prime HDs to properly keep those SPS corals thriving. Anyways, he's done a great job with his tank and it is packed full of corals.
The stock LED lights that comes with it will be sufficient in keeping and growing some easy corals like, easier to keep Zoanthids/Palys, Pulsing Xenias, Toadstool leather corals, and mushrooms. You can even keep some LPS (large polyp stony) corals like Duncans/Acans up top.

Fish stocking wise: 2 clowns will be okay in it. It has enough foot-print in it to properly house 2 ocellaris or percula clowns.
I know your next questions, how about an anemone? I wouldn't recommend it in a stock Fluval Evo 13.5
Invert stocking: skunk cleaner shrimp, scarlett hermits, trochus snails, cerith snails, etc...

It gets expensive once you start getting into bigger tanks.
Salt, RODI water, pumps, and lights. All quickly adds up.

I typically don't recommend anything smaller than a 20 gallon if you are first starting off in the saltwater hobby. Just because it is a lot harder to the water parameter stable.
But, it is not impossible as well to keep a 13.5 gallon thriving.
Like I said, if you are patient, dedicated, and willing to learn/research... you'll be successful with it.

Other all-in-one tanks to also consider:
Innovative Marine All-In-One tanks. These are nice. Kind of like the Fluval Evo, but better quality. Only draw back is the price point, and doesn't come with lights. So tank and lights alone will run you about $450 for a really good set-up. I have IM tanks and I love em. I'll share pics with you in the end.
JBJ All in one tanks.
Bio-cubes

I think All-in-one tanks are nice because it's pretty much a plug-n-play system for someone who doesn't have a whole lot of time, space, or equipment to do the whole 9 yards of drilling their tank, installing a overflow, plumb, sump, etc.... it can be quite overwhelming with the traditional bottom sump tanks for someone's first rodeo. Also, I know a lot of reefers whose done the whole 9 yards of big tanks, and bottom big sumps and left the hobby... they came back and picked up All-In-One tanks instead because they said "it's just simple."

Here's my Innovative Marine 25 gallon Lagoon (All-in-one) set-up.




Hope this information helps.

 

I think that would be a fine tank. You really don't need half as much equipment on a small tank then a big tank. Its far cheaper to set up a small tank then a big tank, and long term savings are huge. Salt and RO/DI water add up quickly when you are doing 10 gallon water changes for a 40 gallon reef.

For a tank like that you really just need a good powerhead, and a heater. Stock lights you can probably keep low light easy corals like pulsing xenia, zoas, leathers, mushrooms, stuff like that.

Upkeep, if you have a good, understocked system and a small refugium like a AC50 with cheato you could get away pretty easily with water changes every two weeks. If you don't want to bother with buying salt and an RO/DI system on a small tank like this its actually close to the same price to buy RO/DI and saltwater from your LFS if you get good prices.

 

Here's my Innovative Marine 25 gallon Lagoon (All-in-one) set-up.
View attachment 377481

Very nice scape! I like IM tanks.

 

Probably don't even need an extra power-head if you upgrade the stock pump to a better one.