New 13.5 Gallon Fluval Evo Build

Hey All,

I've documented https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/beginner-needs-help-cant-get-it-right.241796/ and eventual success managing a small aquarium with the Fluval Spec and, during black Friday, I found a stellar deal on a Fluval Evo 12 (13.5G). I know this tank was built with Saltwater in mind but, as my SO is not interested in giving my aquarium hobby any more space the Evo's was the only possible upgrade.

I'm going to be setting it up as a FW tank, I'll need a new light I assume, but otherwise I do not see it being meaningfully different than the Spec. I'm waiting for InTank to come out with their Evo Media Basket which was so helpful for my Spec.

In the mean time, I'll try to document my journey here. Picture is of the 5 Gallon Spec


Here's What I started with

Standard pump



My current stocking level is
6 Celestial Pearl Danios
4 Cherry Red Shrimp
1 Oto
A few tag-along pond snails
2 Assassin Snails

In my 5 Gallon Spec there was very little in the way of aquascaping opportunity, I got some great Spiderwood and a few Seiryu stones (is that their name or a style?) but it was pretty cramped and didn't look very natural. I'm far from being a pro but having a tank that looks nice, to my best ability, is important.

Last Wednesday I transferred the tanks, took about 2 hours in total, so my fish, some snails and the Shrimp are now exploring their new environment. I'll be adding more rocks and plants as time and funds permit!

This new tank offers a world of difference in terms of possibility for aquascaping. So far I've used the same Spider Wood from my Spec and the same Rocks. I've added some dwarf Anubias to the big rock and bought some variant of Amazon Sword which I superglued to the Spiderwood. I got rid off all the Guppy Grass and Christmas moss from the old tank for a fresh start.




So the question now is stocking - I've got 6 CPDs currently calling the EVO home but I can likely get another 6 nano fish of some kind to compliment them.

Any recommendations?

I've been reviewing the Stocking List for 10 Gallons as its the most applicable to the 13.5 gallon capacity of the EVO. I like the idea of a separate type of fish than just adding 6 more CPDs.

 

My goal is to get to a feel like this, with the wood and sword plants, on a much smaller scale. I have no CO2 setup so I know carpeting is out of the question.
(picture from ( I believe this is one of Tom Barrs tanks)-

 

Anyone have any stocking recommendations?

 

TexasDomer may be able to help. She's a tank stocking queen

 

What are the dimensions of the 13 gal?

Otos need to be in groups, but the question is whether this tank is big enough for a group.

In the meantime, I think you could add more CPDs and shrimp! There may be a few, smaller fish that you could still add.

 

What are the dimensions of the 13 gal?

Otos need to be in groups, but the question is whether this tank is big enough for a group.

In the meantime, I think you could add more CPDs and shrimp! There may be a few, smaller fish that you could still add.

Taken from Fluval's site the specs are

I'm definitely planning on adding more shrimp however I'd like to see if there are any fish that might compliment the CPDs that I could add in a group of 5-6. I was thinking perhaps another Danio or Harlequin Rasbora. Something to help the CPDs come out and play more.

Also, any ideas on vegetation would be had! I like the idea of the Amazon Swords essentially taking over the Spiderwood like in the example pic and I believe, over time, the Dwarf Anubias should virtually cover the large rock on the right. Anything else? I was thinking christmas moss glued to the long tendrils of the Spiderwood like the example...

 

Harlequin rasbora are too big for this tank.

You'll help the CPDs feel more secure if you add more of them. 6 is a very small school, and I'm not surprised they're hiding. If you want them to come out and play more, add more CPDs.

I think an Amazon may get too big for your tank. There are smaller swords that might work better, though those aren't swords in the pic. I think they're needle leaf Java fern.

 

Harlequin rasbora are too big for this tank.

You'll help the CPDs feel more secure if you add more of them. 6 is a very small school, and I'm not surprised they're hiding. If you want them to come out and play more, add more CPDs.

I think an Amazon may get too big for your tank. There are smaller swords that might work better, though those aren't swords in the pic. I think they're needle leaf Java fern.

So I saw that HR had a minimum , why do you say its too small if its 13.5?

You are correct, it is Needle Leaf Java Fern I have, NOT Amazon Sword. My LFS sells them and I'm planning on adding more of those for the same look.

 

Yes, and a 10 gal is too small too. It's not about the gallon amount, it's about the footprint.

 

Yes, and a 10 gal is too small too. It's not about the gallon amount, it's about the footprint.

Ok, forgive me but I'm still a little confused as I'm relatively new to this.

So, Live Aquaria states that a 10 gallon is the minimum size tank for HR, which should generally mean that a larger tank like my 13.5G would be permissible (35% larger than the minimum). The tank is also long, 22in, rather than high, 15in, which I read was best for giving fish swimming lanes, so my understanding was that this would be a fish-optimized 13.5G tank.

What am I missing?

Also, would an Ember Tetra be a good nano tank mate for the CPDs? I like the idea of having 2 different species if possible.

 

Ok, forgive me but I'm still a little confused as I'm relatively new to this.

So, Live Aquaria states that a 10 gallon is the minimum size tank for HR, which should generally mean that a larger tank like my 13.5G would be permissible (35% larger than the minimum). The tank is also long, 22in, rather than high, 15in, which I read was best for giving fish swimming lanes, so my understanding was that this would be a fish-optimized 13.5G tank.

What am I missing?

Also, would an Ember Tetra be a good nano tank mate for the CPDs? I like the idea of having 2 different species if possible.

First off, LiveAquaria is very inaccurate for tank size recommendations and water parameters, so don't use that as a reference.

And again, footprint of the tank is more important than using the the volume of the tank. A 24" long tank is the minimum recommended for harlequin rasbora, though bigger would be better.

Ember tetra would be fine in a tank this size normally, but I don't think you have room for two decently sized schools and I wouldn't keep them in groups of 6 as that's a very small school and they won't feel as comfortable as they would in larger schools. You will see a marked difference if you add another 6 CPDs vs their current behavior, and 6 more CPDs would be better for them than adding 6 embers.

 

First off, LiveAquaria is very inaccurate for tank size recommendations and water parameters, so don't use that as a reference.

And again, footprint of the tank is more important than using the the volume of the tank. A 24" long tank is the minimum recommended for harlequin rasbora, though bigger would be better.

Ember tetra would be fine in a tank this size normally, but I don't think you have room for two decently sized schools and I wouldn't keep them in groups of 6 as that's a very small school and they won't feel as comfortable as they would in larger schools. You will see a marked difference if you add another 6 CPDs vs their current behavior, and 6 more CPDs would be better for them than adding 6 embers.

Thank you, is there perhaps a better reference that's out there so I can do research when necessary and not clog the forum with all my little questions?

Good to know about the CPDs, I'll definitely look at just building out their numbers. Would 12 be the most I can have in the tank? Is it too many or too few?

I'll add pictures for updates as soon as I have them

 

Where do you get these wild n crazy driftwood?

 

Thank you, is there perhaps a better reference that's out there so I can do research when necessary and not clog the forum with all my little questions?

Good to know about the CPDs, I'll definitely look at just building out their numbers. Would 12 be the most I can have in the tank? Is it too many or too few?

I'll add pictures for updates as soon as I have them

Feel free to ask as many questions as you want here, be they big or little That's what we're here for!

Planet Catfish, Fishbase, and Seriously Fish have good info on fish and their requirements. SF has some tank size requirements, but they're not always accurate.

15 might be a good max! You can always add 10-12 and then add a few more if it looks like there's still room!

Pics would be awesome! I love CPDs

 

Where do you get these wild n crazy driftwood?

I actually bought 2 separate pieces from my LFS and ziptied them together so they look like one single piece.

 

Everyone is starting to settle into their new home. Going to add more plants and CPDs as time permits!

 

Slowly adding more plants. Added some more of the dwarf Sword and added some Coral moss. Also added 5 more CPDs for a total of 10.

Now I am facing this thin hair like algae growing, thoughts on how to rid myself of it?

 

I would say lower the lighting, but it's by a window and that could easily be giving the tank too much light.

 

I would say lower the lighting, but it's by a window and that could easily be giving the tank too much light.

Yea can't really lower the lighting since its by the window, no other spot in the apt for it. Any other options? Not a huge deal if I have to just pull out clumps weekly

 

Would you be willing to put a background on the tank or paint the back? It'll help prevent sunlight from getting in.

 

Your tank looks like it will be stunning once everything fills in. Nice!

 

Would you be willing to put a background on the tank or paint the back? It'll help prevent sunlight from getting in.

Ok so I cut some black foam board and added it behind the tank to cut out most of the natural light.

I'm also starting daily doses of flourish Excel. Lets hope that together helps, as you can see from the right hand wall the hair algae is getting beyond control.

 

You can manually remove it with each water change. That will help.

 

You can manually remove it with each water change. That will help.

I've been trying too, there seems to be enough clinging to each leaf to regrow across the tank.

I've heard amano shrimp might help eat some algae too, thoughts? My RCS ignore it.

 

Not sure if they'd eat that kind.

Take a razor to the tank wall on the right, and remove what hair algae you can. It's such a pain!