Aqueon Evolve4 set up

[mosspearl]

I got an Aqueon Evolve4 today on sale at Petco. I know it's acrylic, but I notice it has some tiny scratches near the top and on the corner. Is this common for this model? If so, will they show up when it's filled? I hope I don't have to take it back. I'm already envisioning what to do with it.

Anyway, assuming it will be safe to use, here are two options I have for hardscape. What do you all think?

Driftwood:



Rock:



This has replaced the 2.5 gallon I was setting up on my desk. The 2.5 has moved on to a side table to hold a betta.

[picotank]

If the scratches are in the water you will not see them.
I like the drift wood.
Have Fun

[mosspearl]

Thanks, Picotank! That's a relief. This is my first Aqueon.

Driftwood: 1 Rock: 0

[DefStatic]

Rock

Rock beats Paper, and paper is made from wood, so ROCK FTW!

[mosspearl]

Too funny, DefStatic! LOL

Driftwood: 1 Rock: 1

[seuadr]

i have the big brother tank, the aqueon evolve 8. in the corners there were.. like hairline fractures right at the bend. i think it is from the forming process. you can not see them at all with it filled with water, as others have mentioned.

[Jarek Strzechowski]

Iwagumi Rock ftw +1

[mosspearl]

Glad to know it's normal, seuadr. Thanks! I've heard about placing sponge in the outflow to slow down the flow... what about putting sponge behind the intake? I'm planning on some microfish and some shrimp in this tank. Don't want any of them sucked into the filter. :P

I admire the iwagumi style, Jarek. However, I like the tall plants in the back, so it will probably be a mishmash. Planning on some chain sword, pennywort, anubias, watersprite, and some floating greens in there.

Oh, and the tally:
Driftwood: 1
Rock: 2

[seuadr]

Originally Posted by mosspearl

Glad to know it's normal, seuadr. Thanks! I've heard about placing sponge in the outflow to slow down the flow... what about putting sponge behind the intake? I'm planning on some microfish and some shrimp in this tank. Don't want any of them sucked into the filter. :P

i've set up my own DIY setup for my tank (one of my ghost shrimp ended up down in the sump with my pump somehow?!)



i have added a little plastic shelf (cut up a dollar store bin to make it) that fit in the sump to hold bio blocks (on the right, a mixture of new ones and existing from my other tank) and then added a second mechanical filter on the left to slow down the flow, this is with the pump turned all the way down. after i found the shrimp in my sump, i put a piece of scrubby pad over the intake to keep the shrimp from slipping in there! it seems to be working (thus far).

[mosspearl]

Thanks for the picture, seuadr. That's a good idea.

[hecto33]

i found that cutting the whole back separators and area to hold the filter pad and just attack a HOB filter worked best for me, then you hae all the extra room to put biomedia and a carbon or purigen bag.

[mosspearl]

Weren't you afraid of cracking the plastic, hecto33?

[seuadr]

Originally Posted by hecto33

i found that cutting the whole back separators and area to hold the filter pad and just attack a HOB filter worked best for me, then you hae all the extra room to put biomedia and a carbon or purigen bag.

or you could slide the pump in under the filter housing, extent the tubing and put the bio media in the space the pump used to be.

[DefStatic]

If you dont use those rocks, I will take them off your hand!

[mosspearl]

I put the rocks in my betta tank, Def... pic attached. I've got another piece of wood I'm testing now. I'll take a pic later today. I had planned on using it with a piece of lace rock, but the lace rock was bigger than I thought. It took up almost the whole space. Now it's all cloudy, even though I rinsed it. Apparently not good enough.

Betta tank: