My Solana Superbrite Build

[Dendrobates]

Great build thread. Your equipment and organization are a source of inspiration during my build. I have the same skimmer with high hopes.

Are you running into any issues with your Cherub in a reef tank? I'd like an african flameback but have heard they like to nip polyps and clam mantles.

 

[Dendrobates]

Double post, so how did you feed your electrical cord through the metal bracket for the light?

 

[chad p]

Great build thread. Your equipment and organization are a source of inspiration during my build. I have the same skimmer with high hopes.

Are you running into any issues with your Cherub in a reef tank? I'd like an african flameback but have heard they like to nip polyps and clam mantles.

Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm sure you'll be happy with the skimmer. I bought it with the thought that I'll have a hair trigger and if I wasn't happy with it I'd pick up a SWC Xtreme 120. Never had to spend the extra money because this one works just fine.

As for the Cherub...unfortunately I lost it. I moved it straight to a QT tank. It went from picking at my fake plants in there to hiding in PVC pipe constantly and refusing to eat so I moved it to the display tank. It was dead the next morning. I had a nightmare of a time quarantining fish. I'll try one again down the road but it'll go right to the display.

As for them picking at corals and clams, it's always hit or miss but that particular dwarf angel is reef safe more often that not according to multiple people's experience. Never a sure thing though.

Double post, so how did you feed your electrical cord through the metal bracket for the light?

On my current light it is just taped to the side of the bracket because it's too fat and not pyable enough to fish it through. On the Sol it was fished through using the kind of cable that you use to hang pictures with. It was pretty big pain but was worth it to get a nice clean look. Thanks for following along! :beer:

 

[orly20]

Hi chad
Any updates??

 

[chad p]

Hi chad
Any updates??

Well...it's been a while hasn't it? But honestly it's just been a matter of letting things grow out. I did change back to LEDs. After moving back to L.A. I considered going back to LEDs rather than facing the possibility of having to invest in a chiller. During the move my bulldog chewed the cable running from the ballast to the light in 3 places. I was furious but I repaired it. However, a couple weeks later the bulb stopped firing. I think it was an issue with the metal bending in the socket as I changed bulbs. Anyways, I figured rather than repair it and being without a light for several days I might as well try going back to LEDs.

Overall, I was happy with my switch from the Sol to the 250W Hamilton. However, I wasn't blown away by the difference. That being said, I'm already considering repairing my halide and going back to it after having a Hydra for a couple of months.

I definitely can't make a judgement on the Hydra yet. I've been battling a brutal fight with cyano so I've gone through a couple lights out periods right while I was acclimating so...not a great mix.

The cyano continues to be a pain. I tried everything but finally had to turn to medication. It worked but it's currently lingering just a tad. I use a skimmer, GFO reactor, zero TDS water etc etc. It started right after the move when I used RO (but not DI) water for top off for a 4 or 5 day period. Even after returning to good practices it's been a battle. So frustrating!

I lost my AquaVista Orange Crush for unknown reasons. I wouldn't say anything is growing out extremely fast but some of my fastest growers have been my Cali Tort, green milli, orange digi, AquaSD milli.

Right now I have a black snowflake, snowflake, 6 line wrasse, 2 green chromis and a skunk cleaner shrimp. I had a fire shrimp for a while but lost it. I don't know why but fire shrimp just don't seem to last for me. I like the look of them but won't be adding another one.

I've actually been considering selling off the tank. I've been busier than ever lately with work and youth baseball etc etc. Add to that the cyano, issues with the halide breaking, ATO just stopped working, water sloshed out in a recent earthquake which is a source of paranoia while temporarily living at the in-laws on nice hardwoods etc and the work/enjoyment balance is sort of up in the air at the moment.

All in all it's chugging along though.

Here's some fairly recent photos. I had to turn the lights super white to get decent shots.

 

[orly20]

Wow! Let me just say that your tank is looking great and doing a great job with the tank despite all of your recent challenges! Keep your head up and be proud with how far your tank has come. I have enjoyed reading your build with all of ups and downs. I also have a 34 Solana and I am blesses that it has turned out to be the most fun I have had in the hobby in the last 25 years. Now I'm getting the itch to upgrade but I'm in the process in buying a home so I gotta hold off.
Good Luck and I really hope you stick with it.

 

[chad p]

Thanks orly. I appreciate the kind words. I think I'm going to switch back to the halide and give it some time before deciding whether or not to sell it off. Not in a hurry.

 

[crabmonster]

I basically want to do everything you did here with the stand and custom light mount. It's an intimidating project for someone who just bought her first screw driver last year, even if it's a very powerful-looking light pink one.

I purchased a 30 gallon JBJ Rimless Nano Cube and AI Hydra about 6 months ago. I ended up returning the JBJ stand designed for my tank. (It was the worst thing I've ever bought online, and I have an online shopping problem!) I found another stand on Amazon, which feels much sturdier and looks a lot nicer for half the price too.

The only problem with the stand is that I thought I'd be able to easily remove the legs and set the base of the stand directly on the floor. Turns out you can't. I decided to risk it after doing a simple stress test, and it's been working so far... fingers crossed.

What I like most about your setup is the custom mount. I like that the rail runs along the back of your aquarium rather than the side and that your light lines up horizontally rather than vertically. It not only looks nicer, but also gives you a better lighting distribution. None of the AI accessories or any other accessories out there let you accomplish these two things.

I might try to do something like you did here, but probably using wood instead.