My Solana build

[Ding2daDong]

Just putting together the build of my solana aquarium system. I got a really good deal for the whole package from cultivatedcoral dot com and couldn't pass it up.

Here it is, fresh out of the box.

Now during leak test

Building the stand was rather time consuming but easy. The directions assume you know where half the screws go to and some of the screws that are made in China are really cheap. FYI just go to homedepot and buy new screws for the lighting assembly. Here is what happened to mine.

They broke in half while going through the wood.

I will have more pictures to come.

Enjoy

-Matthew

 

[Ding2daDong]

Here it is all together with the stand, tank, and light. I choose caribbean live sand and used the whole 20lb bag.

More pictures to come of it filled soon.

-Matthew

 

[Ding2daDong]

The water is in aswell as some small tonga liverock. This is the stock lighting but in a week or so I will be getting a 150w double ended phenix bulb.

Enjoy

-Matthew

 

[kdblove_99]

looks real good!

 

[mx36]

Looks good, I like the way you aquasaped it.

 

[bratliff]

Looks awesome! I really like the clean lines. I wish I could do an open top tank, but, I have visions of my cats going scuba diving. :rollface:

 

[Cubby23]

I just ordered a Solana. I think all the models come with a glass top.

 

[Nano Chris]

That is a nice setup, i just don't care for the look of the pendent though.

 

[Cultivatedcoral]

Matt,

The Solana looks awesome. The aquascaping is excellent!

Nick

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13246443#post13246443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nano Chris
That is a nice setup, i just don't care for the look of the pendent though.

Yea I didn't either but it slowly grew on me.

Nick thanks for the kind words.

-Matthew

 

[Ding2daDong]

Something new came in from cultivatedcoral.com

And now for some updated pictures. The skimmer is still breaking in so their are alot of microbubbles but now they are almost all gone.

Still setting everything up but will post new pictures soon enough.

-Matthew

 

[Ding2daDong]

Video of Solana with vortech mp20 with a steady wave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2ytoAaQzuw


I also switched out the stock bulb for a phenix 14k which looks much better.

I started to get a diatom bloom and will pickup a little clean up crew tomorrow.

Enjoy!

-Matthew

 

[pimpinitup6969]

Tank is sick!!!! the aquascaping is awesome..... i might get one for myself now
Matt

 

[CamBarr]

does the mp20 blow your sand around alot???

 

[reefsahoy]

matt, i like your rock work! what type of corals are you gonna keep? what temp is the water running at when max and how much evap is happening? what temp is the room that you're keeping the tank in? i'm also considering getting one but would like to use a diff light like this.

or

thanks

thoughts, suggestions?

 

[mermaid damsel]

Nice........cant wait to see it totally set-up!

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13274421#post13274421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefsahoy
matt, i like your rock work! what type of corals are you gonna keep? what temp is the water running at when max and how much evap is happening? what temp is the room that you're keeping the tank in? i'm also considering getting one but would like to use a diff light like this.

or

thanks

thoughts, suggestions?

Thanks. My tank will house mainly sps with a couple zoanthids/softies and an anemone. My temp is getting to about 81 degrees F. max during the day. I have to fill the two little bottles for ATO daily but it will soon be replaced with a tunze ATO.

Honestly the aquarium is so clean without putting a fixture with legs on it I would go with the stock light. I didn't like it at first but it grew on me so now I have it. Also from the test done in the solana build thread, it seems that the stock 150w lighting is almost as good as a 250w light with a different reflector. I don't need the heat or extra electricity.

hth

-Matthew

 

[ReefWreak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13274421#post13274421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefsahoy
matt, i like your rock work! what type of corals are you gonna keep? what temp is the water running at when max and how much evap is happening? what temp is the room that you're keeping the tank in? i'm also considering getting one but would like to use a diff light like this.

or

thanks

thoughts, suggestions?

I've used the one that hangs over before, and was not a fan of it. Unless they've changed the design recently, then there is no true glass cover for the HQI bulb, it merely just has a plastic C almost around the side of the bulb that faces the tank, but anything reflected off the reflector didn't have anything covering it, however I didn't notice it harming anything in the tank.

I'd be very careful with halides over a small tank (anything under 30g or so) because in my experience I had it make a small algae outbreak explode from the increase in light hitting the tank.

I really like the second light posted, the 20" Sunpod since it has both the halide and the LEDs for either sunset or moonlight. No reason to run them while the main is on, but it's a nice effect, it has a cooling fan that keeps it somewhat cool, and it seems better quality than the other one. The first one has a fan, but mine died after about a year, never got salt or dust in it, just died.

 

[reefsahoy]

what is the temp in the room that have the tank in? how quiet is the tank pumps/skimmer/aquarium when running?. considering putting in my bedroom so it needs to be shhhhh, ultra quiet like no noise.

thanks

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13273923#post13273923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CamBarr
does the mp20 blow your sand around alot???

Not one bit. When I had the mp40 on another tank it did blow some of the sand around though.

hth

-Matthew