The Aquarium
The Fluval Sea Evo XII 13.5 Gal Kit is a very nice starter Nano Tank Kit that is designed to be easy to maintain, be capable of keeping corals and looks fantastic.
This aquarium is designed to fit on any counter top, dresser or desk in your home and allows you to easily get up close to the aquatic action.
The dimensions of the aquarium are:
22in L x 11.5in W x 15in T
Included In The Kit:
14K Reef Capable LED Lighting System
132 GPH Fluval Return Pump
Mechanical, Biological & Chemical Filtration Media
Around $170.00
Click HERE for More Details at Amazon.com
Extras Needed:
Protein Skimmer
Aquatic Life 115 Mini Internal Protein Skimmer
Many owners of the Fluval Sea Evo have been upgrading to this protein skimmer after purchasing the original Fluval-recommended skimmer.
This protein skimmer removes waste far better, does not produce microbubbles like the Fluval skimmer, and drops straight into place.
Heater
Eheim Jager 50W Thermostat Heater
The Jager range of heaters from Eheim are in my opinion the best heater you can buy.
I have been using them, alongside the Finnex HMX range for years and it is the only small heater I will buy.
The 50W version is perfect for this size tank and slips neatly into the return pump compartment.
Substrate
CaribSea Arag-Alive Sand Substrates
Live sand forms the perfect base for your new aquarium. I have always used and recommended the CaribSea Arag-Alive range of substrates as they are packed with Beneficial Bacteria.
My aquarium uses the Bimini Pink Live Sand but everyone has their own preference.
For this aquarium, a 10lb bag will cover your base by approx 1”.
See the range by clicking below.
Rock
Dry Rock/Live Rock/Life Rock
Rock forms the basis for not only your aquascape but also a place for your Beneficial Bacteria to colonize and form your Bio-Filter.
Creating a habitat for your livestock and a place for your corals to grow on is a fun part of setting up your new aquarium
For this aquarium, a 10lb mix will give you an open swimming space, whereas 20lbs will give you more to play with.
You do not have to use it all!
See the range of types and shapes by clicking below.
Salt
Instant Ocean Sea Salt Mix
To have a saltwater aquarium you need to have salt mix to turn freshwater into saltwater. There are many, many excellent brands of salt on the market but I have been using Instant Ocean & its Reef Crystals brand for many years and I love it.
I like to recommend Instant Ocean because it comes in a range of sizes to suit every aquarium, it mixes well, it’s very consistent and the pricing is reasonable
For this aquarium you will need 1 cup of salt for every 2 gallons, so around 6-7 cups will be perfect for your initial fill, then you will need more for regular water changes.
I love getting my salt from Amazon.com because of the free shipping – Nowhere else comes close to this!
From $12.00
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Basic Setup Total: Approx $310.00
Cost Break Down:
Aquarium: $170.00
Protein Skimmer: $45.00
Heater: $24.00
Substrate: $14.00
Rock: $45.00
Salt: $12.00
These are just the basic costs to get this aquarium started. Different rock or salt will adjust these prices slightly.
Taxes will also need to be added depending on your location.
Upgrades:
ATO – Automatic Top-Off System
AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro
Keeping the water level at a constant height in your aquarium is paramount for maintaining correct salinity in your water. Because your aquarium is small it does not take much evaporation to increase your salinity.
Manually topping off your water every day gets old, quick, then there are the times you go on vacation!
I would never own an aquarium without an ATO. They are super easy to install and run and this one, in particular, is tiny, reliable and has great reviews!
Wavemaker
Aqamai Wifi Controllable Wavemaker
This is the smallest wavemaker in its class making it an excellent fit for the EVO XII. A multi-directional, magnetic mounting system allows you to place and direct this pump anywhere you wish, while keeping it relatively out of sight.
The Wifi connectivity, 6 various operating modes and adjustable flow from 370-1070gph will ensure you can dial this in perfectly to suit whatever corals you add.
Thermometer
Digital Thermometer
Monitoring your aquarium water temperature is very important, especially so in a small aquarium like the EVO XII.
This small device can sit discretely behind the aquarium and give you an accurate reading each time you walk past the tank.
This one has no alarms to alert you of High or Low Temperature, but is a great addition to help you keep your tank parameters stable.
