2021 Fluval EVO 13.5 Saltwater Aquarium Journal

Welcome to the second annual EVO Marine Aquarium Journal!

I keep an ongoing tank journal for both the saltwater EVO and the freshwater Spec V.

Highlights for year two of operation:

  • No significant equipment changes.
  • SNOWMAGEDDON!  The great winter storm of 2021 – one that will go down in Texas weather history.  We were out of power for about three days.  We had natural gas, so I boiled water, put the hot water in 2-liter bottles, and floated on the surface. The tank temp dropped greatly (from 78°F down to the upper 60s), but all the fish and snails survived!
  • We bought a skunk cleaner shrimp (our third try), and the thing died in less than a day.  I love these shrimp, but we might be done trying as they apparently don’t like our tank.
  • The two clownfish (Fanta and Frisco) are doing well – fat and happy.  They like to sleep near the return nozzle. So cute.
  • Coralline has made a significant increase, which is awesome.  It started as a dozen or so pin-head-sized spots in June.  By the end of the year, there are pencil eraser to nickel-sized splotches all over the bottom 2/3 of the black acrylic wall.
  • Purchased our first coral in March – a red Acan.  Followed up with three additional corals by the end of the year (blue acan, hammer coral, and torch coral).

Our EVO 13.5 Saltwater Journal: 2021

1/2/2021:
Changed out 3.2 gallons [12.2 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 29% water change.

Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Siphoned and stirred the sand.

Replaced poly pad filter media.
Replaced the Seachem Phosguard. Used slightly less than 1 Tablespoon.
Replaced the carbon. Used 1-1/2 Tablespoon.

1/5/2021:
Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Stirred up the sand with the pipette.

1/8/2021:
Changed out 2.3 gallons [8.8 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 21% water change.

Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Siphoned and stirred the sand.

1/10/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

I rigged up on old Spec V pump, some hose, and the end of the small turkey baster and made a detritus blaster. Used it all over for about 10 minutes to stir up the sand and blow as much brown algae off rocks as I could. The stuff reattaches within minutes after I blow it off.

1/11/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

1/12/2021:
Replaced the Seachem Phosguard. Used slightly less than 1 Tablespoon.

1/13/2021:
Received order of snails.

1/15/2021:
Changed out 2.8 gallons [10.5 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 25% water change.

Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Siphoned and stirred the sand.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

1/18/2021:
Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

1/20/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG

1/21/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

1/22/2021:
Changed out 3.2 gallons [12.2 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 29% water change.

Scrubbed algae off the rocks – I removed the two smaller ones fully and scrubbed them in the siphon bucket. Siphoned and stirred the sand.

I moved the power head to the back (filter) wall. I also scotched all the rocks away to give the power head more room.

1/27/2020:
Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

1/28/2021:
Salinity = 1.025 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Alkalinity = 7.7 dKH
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Calcium = 415 ppm
Magnesium = 1,305 ppm

This is the first time I have tested since the change to Tropic Marin Pro.

1/29/2021:
Changed out 3.7 gallons [14.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 34% water change.

Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Siphoned and stirred the sand.
Siphoned out the heater and pump section. Cleaned out the pump.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

1/31/31:
Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

2/3/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Replaced the Seachem Phosguard. Used slightly less than 1 Tablespoon.
Replaced the carbon. Used 1-1/2 Tablespoon.

Swapped out the Seachem Purigen Bag for the spare I had clean and ready to go. Will clean up the removed bag and get it ready for next time.

2/5/2021:
Changed out 2.2 gallons [8.5 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 20% water change.

Scrubbed algae off the rocks. Siphoned and stirred the sand.

2/6/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Salinity = 1.0255 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Alkalinity = 7.7 dKH
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Calcium = 410 ppm
Magnesium = 1,230 ppm

The salinity being low may be causing the magnesium to be low as well. I will add some salt water over the next few days to try and get the salinity back up to 1.026.

2/9/2020:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Added copepods from podyourreef.com (Tisbe Biminiensis)

2/10/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG (just a hair over)
I noticed two very small spots of coralline algae on the back wall, down low (close to the sand).

The snails seem to be lowering the diatoms a bit on the rock work (probably the four remaining Trochus).

2/11/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

replacing filter media in the intank media caddy

Salinity = 1.026 SG
Alkalinity = 7.7 dKH
Calcium = 420 ppm
Magnesium = 1,275 ppm

2/12/2021:
Changed out 2.0 gallons [7.6 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 18% water change.

Gently siphoned the front/right corner of the tank’s sand and didn’t touch the rest.

I did NOT touch the rocks. The snails seem to be making headway.

2/14/2021:
Removed the bag of Seachem Phosguard. I’m going to go a time without it to see if I notice a difference (if it’s effective, the algae will get worse).

2/15/2021:
Winter Storm! Woke up to a power outage. Tank temp had dropped to 75. Started swapping out a pair of small plastic bottles (with near boiling water inside) to provide heat. Later, switched to (1) 2 Liter bottle.

2/16/2021:
Day two of power outages. I did the bottle trick several times through the night. Still dropped to 70 overnight.

heating a nano saltwater tank with the electricity off

2/17/2021:
Power back on last night. Temp stable.

2/18/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Salinity = 1.026 SG
Alkalinity = 7.7 dKH
Phosphate = 0.0 ppm
Calcium = 430 ppm
Magnesium = 1,260 ppm

2/19/2021:
Changed out 2.3 gallons [8.8 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 21% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand – especially around the back rock where snail poop is collecting.

I did NOT touch the rocks.

Algae Watch: the brown fuzz algae that we have been battling forever, has never looked better than it does now. Very low.

So many changes recently:
* Change to Tropic Marin Pro from Instant Ocean (1/28/21)
* Added new CUC including (4) very hard working Trochus Snails (1/13/21)
* Stopped using Seachem Phosguard (2/14/21)
* Added copepods (2/9/21)
* Power outages last week that led to wild temperature swings and a tank blackout for a day (probably didn’t have a big effect).
* I changed the light to a custom setting that was more blue than previously used. (1/20/21)

2/20/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

I removed the bag of activated carbon. I’m just trying things out to simplify and see if the tank develops problems or keeps going the same.

2/24/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Salinity = 1.026 SG

Almost no observable brown (diatom) algae on the rocks or the back wall.

2/28/2021:
Changed out 1.7 gallons [6.4 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 15% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand.

3/1/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0.0 ppm
Alkalinity = 8.3 dKH
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Calcium = 430 ppm
Magnesium = 1,290 ppm

3/3/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Started back with the activated carbon. Maybe my imagination, but the water seems a bit cloudy and there is some brown algae coming back in on the back wall.

Added 1 tablespoon of Rox 0.8 carbon.

3/4/2021:
Blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

3/5/2021:
Changed out 1.9 gallons [7.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 17% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand.

3/7/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

3/14/2021:
Changed out 1.8 gallons [7.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 17% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand.

One of our Trochus snails died.

3/15/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

3/21/2021:
Changed out 2.6 gallons [9.9 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 24% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand. Rearranged the rocks to put the large rock in the center.

Salinity = 1.0255 SG

testing salinity with a refractometer

3/22/2021:
Put back in the newer version of the InTank media tray to lower the water level back down. I’m just doing this to fiddle, and the water level with my modified version was a bit high (water was wicking up into the lid frame and making a salt creep mess).

Cleaned out the pump (took out, ran RODI through it, cleaned inside with toothbrush).

Replaced poly pad filter media.

3/23/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG

Nitrate = 00 ppm
Alkalinity = 8.6 dKH
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Calcium = 445 ppm
Magnesium = 1,260 ppm

Blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

3/26/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [6.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 15% water change.

I stirred up the sand (using the water change end but before it was started), then siphoned the junk out of the water column.

Salinity = 1.026 SG

3/27/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Added our first coral – Australian Peerless Acanthastrea “Acan” from Austin Aqua Farms.

3/28/2021:
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

Swapped out the Seachem Purigen Bag for the spare I had clean and ready to go. Will clean up the removed bag and get it ready for next time.

3/29/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.0 ppm (used high sensitivity and it still reads clear [zero])
Alkalinity = 8.6 dKH
Calcium = 440 ppm
Magnesium = 1,230 ppm

3/30/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

4/1/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

4/2/2021:
Changed out 1.8 gallons [7.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 17% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand.

New coral is looking good (as far as I can tell).

4/4/2021:
Noticed the return pump didn’t seem to be flowing as well. Took it out and realized it comes apart (the impeller pulls out). It was clogged up with growth.

Cleaned the Return Pump: Brushed and wiped all surfaced clean (including the impeller). Ran the pump in a 1:1 water/vinegar mixture for 20 minutes. Then ran in tap water, then RODI water to rinse it.

It flows much better afterwards.

4/5/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Salinity = 1.025 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Alkalinity = 8.6 dKH
Calcium = 435 ppm
Magnesium = 1,290 ppm

4/10/2021:
Changed out 1.3 gallons [5.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 12% water change.

Gently siphoned most of the sand.

I scrubbed the rocks a bit, which I haven’t done in a while. There is some green algae growing here and there.

4/11/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

4/14/2021:
Salinity = 1.0255 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Alkalinity = 8.9 dKH
Calcium = 450 ppm
Magnesium = 1,275 ppm

4/16/2021:
Changed out 1.1 gallons [4.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 10% water change.

Gently siphoned some of the sand surface.

4/17/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

4/20/2021:
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

4/21/2021:
Blew the rocks off with the baster. Scrubbed at the algae on the rocks with a toothbrush.

The algae I’m seeing on the rocks is maybe Red Turf Algae and Green Turf Algae.

4/22/2020:
Salinity = 1.0265 SG
Nitrate = 0.2 ppm (see 2 box matches when looking through side – divide by 10).
Phosphate = 0.0 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.1 dKH
Calcium = 450 ppm
Magnesium = 1,275 ppm

4/23/2021:
Changed out 0.9 gallons [3.4 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 8% water change.

Gently siphoned some of the sand surface.

4/25/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

4/28/2021:
Added a new skunk cleaner shrimp. Temp and drip acclimated. Maybe third time will be the charm.

4/30/2021:
Found shrimp dead this morning. He was stuck in the coral – almost like it was ‘eating’ him. Maybe he died and happened to float into it. Maybe he was getting a snack and got stung. (?).

At any rate, less than two days alive in our tank. I have no idea what happened. Might be our last cleaner shrimp.

5/3/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

5/5/2021:
Salinity = 1.025 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.0 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.6 dKH
Calcium = 445 ppm
Magnesium = 1,305 ppm

5/6/2021:
Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

Red and green turf algae is pretty bad on the highest part of the tall rock.

5/7/2021:
Changed out 1.2 gallons [4.6 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 11% water change.

Gently siphoned some of the sand surface.

5/11/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

5/14/2021:
Changed out 1.7 gallons [6.5 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 16% water change.

Siphoned and stirred up the sand.

Removed more water to expose top of the tallest rock. Put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on the green and red turf algae spots. Let that sit for 10 minutes, then put the excess tank water back in.

5/18/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

5/19/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.0 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.75 dKH
Calcium = 450 ppm
Magnesium = 1,275 ppm

5/20/2021:
Added a new coral from Austin Aquafarms – a wall hammer. Purple ends with green stems. It has two heads. I put back on the (trimmed) plug and put it on the sand.

I used tank water for the dip and acclimation process and replaced with new. Probably amounted to 0.8 gallons [3.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 7% water change.

5/22/2021:
Changed out 1.0 gallons [3.8 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 9% water change.

Gently siphoned some of the sand surface.

5/26/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

5/28/2021:
Changed out 0.9 gallons [3.3 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 8% water change.

Siphoned and stirred up the sand.

Removed more water to expose top of the tallest rock. Put 2.5 mL of hydrogen peroxide on the green and red turf algae spots. Let that sit for 10 minutes, then put the excess tank water back in.

6/4/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [5.9 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 14% water change.

Gently siphoned some of the sand surface.

6/5/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

6/14/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [5.9 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for an 14% water change.

Siphoned and stirred up the sand.

Cleaned out the pump.

6/15/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

6/16/2021:
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

6/20/2021:
Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

6/21/2021:
Changed out 1.3 gallons [5 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 12% water change.

Siphoned and stirred up the sand.

Removed more water to expose top of the tallest rock. Put hydrogen peroxide on the green and red turf algae spots. Let that sit for 10 minutes, then put the excess tank water back in.

6/22/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

6/30/2021:
Changed out 1.3 gallons [5 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 12% water change.

Siphoned and stirred up the sand.

I have the auto-feeder in place. We are going on vacation in a few days for a week.

A few developments in the tank lately:
* We have baby snails hatching. I’ve seen three and they are shaped like Trochus.
* The pump/heater sections are full of tiny white things hanging on the glass. It appears they are sponges.
* There are dozens of spots about the size of pin heads on the back (plastic) wall. I checked and they are not sponges – it appears it is coralline algae. Also a few spots on the return nozzle.

7/1/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

7/11/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Tank did very well while on vacation. Only a bit more hair algae on the rocks. Otherwise, no changes. Not even much algae on the glass.

Makeup water was almost empty, so that’s about 2 gallons used over 9 days. (House was kept around 80 degrees).

Salinity = 1.026 SG

7/17/2021:
Changed out 1.8 gallons [7.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 17% water change.

Siphoned the top layer of the sand.

Removed the filter caddy and cleaned. Siphoned out the filter and heater sections.

Removed the carbon and the purigen.

7/18/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

7/21/2021:
Swapped out the Seachem Purigen Bag for a clean one.

Salinity = 1.025 SG
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.00 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.45 dKH
Calcium = 450 ppm
Magnesium = 1,290 ppm

7/27/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

7/28/2021:
Ammonia = 0 ppm (I did this as a check of the test kit)

7/30/2021:
Changed out 1.4 gallons [5.4 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 13% water change.

Siphoned the top layer of the sand. Stirred up the sandbed.

8/2/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

8/8/2021:
Blew detritus off rocks and sand with the baster.

8/10/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Added new Acan coral from Austin AquaFarms. It’s blue with green centers. Acclimated and dipped with the same process as I’ve done in the past.

I’ve been feeding heavier to see if I can influence the nitrate and phosphate up above zero.

Coralline on the back wall is looking better. “Chicken pox” all over with some of the spots getting bigger (from pin point to a few pin heads).

8/12/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0.5 ppm (have a nitrate reading for the first time since cycle.)
Phosphate = 0.03 ppm (phosphate reading above zero for first time since cycle.)
Alkalinity = 9.9 dKH
Calcium = 455 ppm
Magnesium = 1,275 ppm

8/14/2021:
Changed out 1.3 gallons [5.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 12% water change.

Siphoned and stirred the sand.

8/15/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

8/20/2021:
Changed out 1.3 gallons [5.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 12% water change.

Siphoned and stirred the sand.

Removed more water to expose top of the tallest rock. Put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on the green and red turf algae spots. Let that sit for 15 minutes, then put the excess tank water back in.

Salinity = 1.026 SG

8/21/2021:
Blew detritus off rocks with the baster.

Used the tweezers to remove as much of the green turf algae as possible. Some of it came off surprisingly easy. The red turf algae on the other hand, is stuck on there good. It has turned orange from the hydrogen peroxide treatment on 8/20.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

8/24/2021:
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0.5 ppm
Phosphate = 0.03 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.75 dKH
Calcium = 460 ppm
Magnesium = 1,335 ppm

8/31/2021:
Blew detritus off rocks with the baster.

9/1/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

9/3/2021:
(Tested prior to water change)
Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0.5 ppm
Phosphate = 0.03 ppm (I used the high sensitivity method first and it came to 0.12 ppm but I didn’t have confidence as there was so much fluid in the container I couldn’t fully dissolve the powder reagent. Retested with conventional method.
Alkalinity = 10.05 dKH
Calcium = 470 ppm
Magnesium = 1,290 ppm

Changed out 1.4 gallons [5.2 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 13% water change.

Deep siphon of the sand bed.

9/7/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.
Swapped out the Seachem Purigen Bag for a clean one.

Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 1.0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.1 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.9 dKH
Calcium = 460 ppm
Magnesium = 1,320 ppm

The red acan is receding along an edge. (The other two corals look great.) I wanted to test to check what is going on. Everything seems ok except phosphates. I might want to perform a larger water change next time to get that down and start again with weekly water changes (instead of the bi-weekly that I’ve done for the past few water changes).

A few days ago, I bumped up the peak light intensity. This might have been part of setting this coral off (it is toward the center/side with more direct light than the other two corals). I reset to the previous program to lower the intensity.

9/9/2021:
Added a new coral from Austin Aquafarms – an Indonesian Gold Torch. It has a single head. I trimmed the plug a bit and placed it on the lower front rock. (Furthest from the filter sections).

I used tank water for the dip and acclimation process and replaced with new. Probably amounted to 0.8 gallons [3.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 7% water change.

clownfish in a saltwater nano

9/12/2021:
Blew detritus off rocks and stirred up the sand with the baster.

Changed out 1.7 gallons [6.3 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 15% water change.

Removed more water to expose top of the tallest rock. Put hydrogen peroxide on the green and red turf algae spots. Let that sit for 10 minutes, then put the excess tank water back in.

9/13/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

The blue acro has receded a bit since Sunday. I’m not sure if it was too much hydrogen peroxide yesterday or a stinging effect from the new torch coral. To be safe, rearranged the three corals in front to give more space between blue and the torch.

9/17/2021:
I removed the plug from the torch coral and glued (using super glue gel) it to the rock work.

9/18/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [5.9 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 114% water change.

Siphoned detritus out of the filter sections.

9/21/2021:
Blew detritus off rocks and stirred up top layer of sand with the baster.

9/22/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

9/23/2021:
Salvador (blue acro) is looking better – back to being full and not so receded near edges. I think it’s that the light is getting brighter (It has been in acclamation mode since getting the new torch).

9/24/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 1.0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.1 ppm
Alkalinity = 9.6 dKH
Calcium = 455 ppm
Magnesium = 1,290 ppm

9/27/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [6.2 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 15% water change.

Siphoned sand bed around corals (especially dirty).

Blew detritus off rocks with the baster.

9/28/2021:
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.

9/29/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

10/8/2021:
Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

Changed out 1.9 gallons [7.2 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 17% water change.

10/9/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

10/22/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [6.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 14% water change.

Deep siphon clean of the sandbed.

10/23/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

10/29/2021:
Changed out 2.1 gallons [8.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 19% water change.

Light siphon clean of the sand.

11/2/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.
Replaced the carbon. Used 1 Tablespoon.
Swapped out the Seachem Purigen Bag for a clean one.

11/3/2021:
The blue acan is closed up today. It seems it didn’t like all the filter media being changed out yesterday. Maybe some residual chemicals left in the cleaned Purigen.

11/4/2021:
Changed out 2.4 gallons [9.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 22% water change.

Deep siphon clean of the sandbed.

Cleaned out the pump.

11/7/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

11/14/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

11/19/2021:
Changed out 2.1 gallons [8.0 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 19% water change.

11/21/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

11/30/2021:
Changed out 2.9 gallons [11.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 27% water change.

Deep siphon clean of the sandbed.

Treated top of tallest rock with 1.5ml of hydrogen peroxide to kill off the red turf algae.

Swapped locations of the hammer and red acan corals.

12/2/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

12/6/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [6.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 15% water change.

Light siphon clean of the sandbed.
Scrubbed the rockwork with a toothbrush.

12/7/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

Replaced the carbon. Used 1-1/2 Tablespoons.

12/11/2021:
Stirred the sand and blew off the rocks with the pump/baster nozzle.

12/12/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [5.9 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 14% water change.

12/13/2021:
Salinity = 1.026 SG
Nitrate = 0.5 ppm
Phosphate = 0.03 ppm
Alkalinity = 8.75 dKH
Calcium = 450 ppm
Magnesium = 1,245 ppm

I noticed the ATO is not working. Will have to top off by hand until I fix or replace.

Replaced poly pad filter media.

12/14/2021:
Moved the ATO sensor from the freshwater tank to the marine tank.

12/20/2021:
Changed out 1.4 gallons [5.2 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 13% water change.

Light siphon clean of the sandbed.

12/21/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

12/26/2021:
Changed out 1.6 gallons [6.1 Liters] (of 11 gallons) for a 15% water change.

Light siphon clean of the sandbed.

12/27/2021:
Replaced poly pad filter media.

We are leaving town today for Christmas Vacation until 1/2/2022. I have setup the fish feeder. Automation of the ATO, temperature controller, and lighting should take over until we get back.

2 thoughts on “2021 Fluval EVO 13.5 Saltwater Aquarium Journal

  1. Which tropic Marin salt did you switch to? Are happy with it?

    1. I’ve been using Tropic Marin Pro since the start of 2021. It is very good. Consistent, clean, and puts parameters about where I want them.

      I plan to stick with Tropic Marin Pro for the future.

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