evolve 8 reef tank

[ionbling]

im new to the sight. i just got a 8gal evolve tank and just starting the process. i havent had a saltwater tank for many years and have never had a reef tank. i will post pictures soon. if anyone else have an evolve 8 reef tank i would love to see pictures to get ideas.

[Wmich2008]

There have been a few evolve 8 threads around. Just search for some. What are your plans for the tank? Livestock plans?

[ionbling]

here is a pick put water in today. live stock will be few crabs, candycane shrimp, manderian or watchman goby, and a pair of clowns

[Wmich2008]

I would not attempt a mandrin. They need more room and a large pod supply. In a tank that size I would just do a pistol/goby pair.

[ionbling]

thanks for the info. what corals will work best

[TundraGuy]

You can always upgrade this tank by adding a hang on back ac70 then you can add things like carbon.

[ionbling]

i have an extra hangon the back so i might do that. any ideas on corals that will work well?

[Wmich2008]

You could do about any corals. Sps, Lps, softies, I just wouldn't pick anything that grows fast unless you are upgrading soon.

[ionbling]

i just ordered a led reef bulb that has 7 lights 3w each.

[ionbling]

changed the rock in my tank cleaning crew going in tomorrow. how soon can i put corals in?

[d2mini]

Looks good. I wouldn't add anything until your cycle is complete.

[ionbling]

how will i know when the cycle is complete

[ionbling]

new friends

[ionbling]

more

[Dmoody]

Is that a tomato with an occ. ?

[rusty-spoons]

Is that a tomato with an occ. ?

Ooh my

[ionbling]

Its a cinnamon with a common

[Dmoody]

Keep an eye on the cinnamon. He's liable to tear that occelaris up.

[saltwaterguy718]

Bad choice on clowns. I would seperate them before it's to late for the Ocellaris
. Mixing the two in such a small tank is a disaster waiting to happen.

[saltwaterguy718]

Also, did you say your not sure when the cycle is complete? You have to test your water to determine when it's safe to add fish. I don't mean to come across like a dick but these are live animals were talking about.

[terrypercula]

I'd just like to point out that you're on a great forum with a TON of experienced reefers and you should use that to your advantage as much as possible. If you have any questions always feel free to ask on here. Even PM me or any other reefer on here with a question and i'm sure they'd be more than happy to answer. You just need to slow down and be more patient. I'd take the clowns back let the tank cycle and go with a small goby and some inverts. To answer your question you need to test your water to know when it has cycled. Never add livestock when your ammonia level is anything over 0, it causes harm to them and that's something we all don't want.

[ionbling]

the tank is cycled i have had it tested. he isnt aggressive yet but i am watching him.

[Sugar Magnolia]

the tank is cycled i have had it tested. he isnt aggressive yet but i am watching him.

Watching him isn't good enough. You need to remove one of those clowns. It's not a matter of "if" the tomato will kill the occy it's WHEN. The tomato clown is not at all suitable for that size tank. They are one of the larger species of clown and a full grown female can reach 5-6"

[ionbling]

I am taking him out

[ionbling]

cinnamon is gone so what would be a good tank mate for him.

[Sugar Magnolia]

A high fin banded goby, yasha haze goby, neon goby, green and red clown goby...all good choices.

[ionbling]

thank you

[ionbling]

cinnamon clown gone replaced

[ionbling]

is this better

[danderso]

I have a 7.5 gal. And I just have a neon dotty back. I wouldn't put a second fish in. I don't think there is enough room for them to be happy.

[ionbling]

even with fish this small?

[PeTe PoLyP]

I have a 7.5 gal. And I just have a neon dotty back. I wouldn't put a second fish in. I don't think there is enough room for them to be happy.

You probably can't keep another fish with that neon dottyback anyways. They're about the most aggressive fish out there.

[ionbling]

Good point my fish are about as calm as they come

[chillwill007]

Nice lil tank if anything I think u should add some kind of shrimp. There is a bunch of real pretty colored ones. Or like an anemone shrimp and put in a small maxi mini anemone.

[ionbling]

If I put in an anemone will it hurt corals?

[danderso]

You probably can't keep another fish with that neon dottyback anyways. They're about the most aggressive fish out there.

That's another reason I only have one :-)

[ionbling]

Just opened

[chillwill007]

Maxi minis are small carpet anemone and dont have real long tentacles like bulb tips or others. And you can get great colors

[ionbling]

i think i will get a maxi mini soon

[ionbling]

green spotted mushroom

[ionbling]

new frogspawn

[ionbling]

new set up for better flow

[ionbling]

I have a par38 7 light blue and white 27w do you think this is over kill.

[Pinhead159]

I have an evolve 8 as well. Subscribed to see progress. Watch cleaning it as it scratches super easy

[ionbling]

put on pictures of yours

[Pinhead159]

here is mine. I have been doing tons of reading the last 2 weeks on here and realized I have made many mistakes as I am a complete newbie at this. Pretty sure the tank has a higher load than should based on reading. I plan on making a build thread (don't want to hijack your thread) to show the progress as I have taken pics along the whole way. Here is a pic from about 2 weeks ago though.

[ionbling]

it looks really good im adding a torch coral tomorrow

[cpbirds407]

Pinhead, what is that yellow (Kenya tree looking) coral?

[Pinhead159]

All of the large trees are Kenya trees. It has grown great and has good movement which I like.

[ionbling]

what light are you using over yours pinhead?

[Pinhead159]

Green Element EVO 12" LED. I use the rails and not the clamps and fits perfect on top.

[ionbling]

I was looking at that light

[Pinhead159]

a friend suggested to me who had a pico and his corals were doing well. I think there are a few colors that may not be as good as others but i also have mine on a bookshelf at my office so I can't have a larger set up. it does get relatively warm but for $35-40 i feel it was a good deal. The stock light switch drove me crazy so i replaced it first week.

[ionbling]

I have a par38 27 watt on the way I'm just waiting it's been over a month from china

[Reef Man Dan]

Love this nano tank!

[ionbling]

for the money you cant beat it. I am thinking of getting a evolve 4 for my desk at work.

[ionbling]

new mushroom

[ionbling]

frogspawn

[Jrbutitta]

I had an evolve reef tank up and running for over a year. At one point i had two clowns and a four line wrass as well as a pistol shrimp, asteria snails, and some soft corals. I used the cora life t-5 mini on top of the tank as a light. I'm am surprised looking back on it, that i did not loose any of the fish. my nitrates never dropped below 40ppm and my corals were not healthy. This is a great starter tank, if i may i just want to reiterate what some members have already pointed out... be patient! Im still a nano tank guy but I have upgraded to a 29 gallon HQI biocube and am currently using the evolve 8 as a nurse tank.

[ionbling]

i am upgrading in the summer and the evolve 8 will become a frag tank.

[ionbling]

i have a hitch hiker clam on a zoa frag is there anything i should do with it?

[The Derelict]

I really like how yours is coming along. I picked an Evolve 8 up recently myself, as I saw it for clearance and couldn't pass it up. Seeded a little from my other tank and set it up with a mated orchid dottyback pair. It has been going well for me so far! Here's a couple shots of mine.

[ionbling]

new additions

[ionbling]

more additions

[ionbling]

new

[wmitchell96]

Did you have to do anything to this tank? Any modifications?
It is priced much cheaper than a Nuvo 8, and I am wondering if it is necessary to cough up the extra $100. Is it reef ready basically

[ionbling]

the only thing you will need to do is upgrade the light. the light with it is very weak. It has a 2 chamber filter and i wish it had a 3 but deal with it. Great tank and my corals grow great

[ionbling]

just got my new beamswork light 9w 6white 3 blue also a new hammer and large poly

[ionbling]

hammer

[ionbling]

large polyp

[Pinhead159]

light makes a huge difference!

[atteb66]

Watch your clown with the little goby I once had them together in a 10 gal he made short order of my sexy shrimp and clown goby.

Also take your time with the coral additions don't add to much to fast

Good luck

[ionbling]

im not adding anything else till i get my 55 reef going this summer.

[atteb66]

I know how hard it is to just want to put everything you want all at once, its truly a hobby of patience. You will soon enough find out what works for you and what does not. Everyone is different.

Good luck to you ..

[ionbling]

thank you i am always looking for good input