My Solana Superbrite Build
- Thread starter chad p
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Whysoserious
New member
Nice updated FTS shot. Tank is looking great!
Thanks guys.
Minor update but after 10 days or so I switched the bulb from a Hamilton 14K to a Phoenix 14K. I remember it being quite a bit more blue but in all honesty it wasn't as drastic of a change as I thought it would be.
I actually think I'm going to be really happy with the bulb but I think I've still got to try a 20,000K bulb before I settle on one to stick with. If anyone out there has an old 20K DE 250W bulb that they'd like to donate for a few bucks just to test drive the color that'd be awesome! :spin3:
My early impressions after switching to MH is that I'm starting to see some increased color in some of my pieces that were dull or bleached. Specifically in my Palmers Blue Milli. I can see some nice vivid blue returning on the tip of the cups where they face the light. I've been on vacation for a week and after returning I see some generally better color returning to a few other pieces too. It's waaaay too early to make any judgements at the moment though. I'll definitely update and show some before and after pics if the color continues to improve.
I also added a Koralia (850 GPH) for more flow. I love the added flow but hate the big bulky powerhead sitting in the corner of the tank. I'm sure I'm going to add another MP10 in the next month or two but I still feel like I'll need flow traveling at an angle in the tank that I just can't get with the MP10s. Like my lighting situation, it'll be something I continue to experiment with.
I'll add a FTS soon showing the new bulb along with the chunky new powerhead. Doesn't exactly add to the beauty of the tank.
I'm planning on adding a flameback or cherub angel and possibly a yellow assessor at some point in time. I'm having a hard time finding the flameback locally but I really don't want to order one. :angryfire:
I know it's probably nuts but I'm actually considering adding a RBTA too. I know...small SPS dominated tank + Bubble tip doesn't exactly = recipe for success but...I'm just kicking the idea around. We'll see.
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Thanks calistyle. I'd love to do a lemon drop or just any nicely colored BTA. It just freaks me out a bit. I love seeing an anemone host a couple of clowns. It's one of my favorite things to see in a marine aquarium but the thought of the nem roaming the tank with a path of destruction in its wake spooks me out. I'll have to do some research and see if I want to give it a whirl or not.
In the meantime I'm on the search for a dwarf angel. I guess I'm a risk taker at heart. Livin' life on the wild side. :uhoh3:
martinphillip03
New member
Instead of a different MH bulb, why not add an atinic bulb?
Marty
Marty
martinphillip03
New member
Well my MH light is a pennant so there's no easy way to add actinic bulbs without building a canopy which I'd rather not do. I've thought about adding a violet/blue stunner strip to the back side of the pennant but I'm not sure it would really do the job. Plus I don't want it to look too ghetto-rigged.
Seems like they're still pretty popular now. It's not as blue as I thought it would be honestly. Not sure if it's because I'm pushing it with a Lumatek ballast or it hasn't broken in or what. I can definitely live with it. I'd probably prefer a tad more blue but it's got enough actinic to bring out the color in the coral so it'll work I guess.
I may try a 20K XM bulb. I mean hey...if it's too blue for me or growth slows down I'm only out like $85 for trying it out right?! :eek1:
Spirofucci
New member
Wow! What a nice, clean, beautiful build showing off the Solona 34!!!!
I have one as well and really like it.
I have one as well and really like it.
rovster
New member
Why not add a reef brite strip to the front of the light pointed in. Won't look too ghetto. They have a 12" version which would be perfect for that reflector. They also look somewhat finished. Many people bolt them up to their sunpowers with a simple bracket. You could probably paint everthing white to make it look like it belongs there. Only mentioning this because I have the same reflector and was planning on doing that, LOL! Great build!
Thanks guys!
And thanks for the tip rovster! That looks like a great option. It's actually perfect for what I'm thinking. And I agree...if I painted one of those puppies white it would blend right in with everything. Much more finished look than the ecoxotics and it can be angled right were I want it. I may have to add one of those bad boys. Kind of spendy but I think it would be worth it. Thanks again for the great tip.
And thanks for the tip rovster! That looks like a great option. It's actually perfect for what I'm thinking. And I agree...if I painted one of those puppies white it would blend right in with everything. Much more finished look than the ecoxotics and it can be angled right were I want it. I may have to add one of those bad boys. Kind of spendy but I think it would be worth it. Thanks again for the great tip.
Got it from a guy on ebay. Just came in today. It's a pretty sweet little nem. Nothing that'll knock your socks off but pretty cool. I didn't really want to drop a couple hundred bucks on a an awesome quad color nem because it's kinda experimental. I'm not sure it'll work out and if it doesn't I'll end up taking it to the LFS for pennies on the dollar store credit. Plus if I'm going to drop a ton of dough it'll be for some LE acros.
I'm a little worried because it arrived a little stressed I think. Mouth was open on it about 3/4" or so. It attached right away to base rock after acclimating it though. It started out in a PERFECT spot. Front and center towards the bottom and away from any frags.
Crummy cell pic but you can see it poking out of a crevasse center/left under the Oregon Tort frag:
Here's the nem right after acclimating it and before it moved into the heart of the rock:
It's a little nicer than the picture shows. Unfortunately it's moved deep in the rock, mostly sticking out of the back of the scape. I'm hoping it makes a comeback from the stress of shipping. I'm hoping the Clowns host in it too because if they don't I'll probably get rid of it. For me there's no sense in having the risk of a nem stinging my beloved corals without the clown interaction. We'll see how it goes.
Thank you. I change 4 to 5 gallons every week to 10 days. With a skimmer and running GFO I don't see a need at this time for anything more than that.
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