Oceanic 215 with Solaris Build

Thanks, Nick...everythings doing very well. The flow in the tank is superb. I highly recommend the Pacific Coast Flow Accelerators. Our system is pretty simple, yet my sand is always pure white and very clean. The Vortechs are amazing. I really hesitated at first over the price, but they are worth every penny IMO. Two returns coming off a Dart pump, each split into 2 with Locline and the two Vortechs and I have excellent flow throughout. My coral is coloring up very nicely. I have almost an inch of growth already on the Plana and the base is really starting to purple up. I have my white lights at 35% and my blues at 100% and still the growth is impressive, even though the tank is less than 3 months old.

I'm hoping to get the cabinet finished soon. Basically only the doors have to go on and then a final coat of varnish. My pipefish are doing very well as are the mandarins. I add a pouch of pods about every two weeks at this point to keep the numbers up as the anthias also pick at the rocks all day.

Last night, after lights out, the male squareback was sitting next to the anemone with his mouth wide open and the cleaner shrimp was cleaning inside his mouth. That was amazing to watch. Sometimes I think the cleaner shrimp has a death wish as he hangs out on the anemone all day, but I guess the anemone likes him:

100_2346-1.jpg


New Yuma:

100_2039.jpg


I've added some new coral from ACI. I'll get some pics soon.
 
great Solaris thread

great Solaris thread

Wow! I just finished reading your thread and want to thank you so much for all of your posts. It's so nice to hear some positive and "real world testing" words about the Solaris (since I do have an 48" I series on order) from such an experienced source. This is the most thorough, extensive, and "keeping to the point" threads I've read and I've been through just about all of them. It seems like a few people who don't even own them, enjoy bashing them, strange. Keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to any and all updates.
 
Well, thanks bklynreefdude! I've been trying to keep it to the point and I'm glad I succeeded. I can't be happier with my lights. I will caution anyone who gets them though...they are very powerful on the white light end. Use caution and start out with 100% blue and probably 40-50% white or you will probably bleach out some corals. Gradually build up to where you want to be.

I am really thrilled with both the intense growth and coloration I"m getting. No heat, the tank stays between 77 and 79.

I'm also very pleased with the filtration system as it's set up. My tank is spotless, my params are staying perfect and I was able to do so with a minimalistic system and a very talented husband! I feed heavy and rely on my AquaC to skim the waste out and I'm very pleased with the job it's doing. I'll try to update again as soon as I can get some more pics. Thanks all for your kind words and support. Marcye
 
Just a combo of good cleanup crew and good flow. The combo of the Flow Accelerators and the Vortech's just very gently keep the very top of the sand moving. My cleanup crew is a bit different than you normally see. I use Tongan Nassarius Snails, Trochus Grazer snails, Tongan Cerith Snails, Tongan Conchs, Cortez Mexican Red Leg Hermits (I stay away from blue legs as they are much more aggressive), Atlantic Serpent Stars (not bristle stars), Black Foot Snails and Atlantic cucumbers. The Cucumbers, ceriths and conchs do a fantastic job cleaning the sand. Although these are often pricier than some of the other inverts on the market, you need far fewer of them so they actually are an economical choice with, IMO, a much better survival rate.
 
Marcye, I see you have a few cucumbers added for your cleanup crew. I purchased two Pink Knobby Cucumbers (no idea of genus/species) and they've been hanging on the back of my tank. I first placed them on the bottom but within two hours were at the top of the tank. They haven't moved for days now and are getting smaller and I'm not sure what I should do. Do you have any advice?

BTW - tank is looking wonderful and just let me know when you need some glass work done. Lots going on here but I can always work you in when you're ready.
 
Hmmmm, I think the one's you are refering to are the Pacific variety? I prefer to stay away from those as I've found them to be harder to keep than the Atlantic variety and I had one of that type go bad on me several years ago in my nano and it wasn't pretty. If you see any evidence of them deteriorating, I'd remove them ASAP and stick to the Atlantic variety. JMO.

The doors are finally on but I want one more coat of the stain and then a coat of matte varnish. Once everything's in place I want to work on the glass panels. I can't wait!!!! I've found some other pics I'm liking, so once I get past all the rest I'll be in touch!!! Those will certainly add a beautiful finish:)
 
Trust me Marcye I really respect your opinion. You didn't get where you are with your store by giving "so - so" advice. I'll keep my eyes on them for sure. They look good and seem to be filter feeding and not sifting the sand and cleaning the rocks as I had expected. Maybe they're just acclimating to the tank - I can only hope.

Oh, I can wait either on the glass work. I ordered a few more styles of glass (darker blues) just in case you decide to go in that direction. I can always use it on other projects but you have first dibs :D.
 
Well, there is a filter feeder type that's pink as well. They will need lots of very small micron food several times a day to maintain.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11866888#post11866888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Me No Nemo
Well, thanks bklynreefdude! I've been trying to keep it to the point and I'm glad I succeeded. I can't be happier with my lights. I will caution anyone who gets them though...they are very powerful on the white light end. Use caution and start out with 100% blue and probably 40-50% white or you will probably bleach out some corals. Gradually build up to where you want to be.

I am really thrilled with both the intense growth and coloration I"m getting. No heat, the tank stays between 77 and 79.

I'm also very pleased with the filtration system as it's set up. My tank is spotless, my params are staying perfect and I was able to do so with a minimalistic system and a very talented husband! I feed heavy and rely on my AquaC to skim the waste out and I'm very pleased with the job it's doing. I'll try to update again as soon as I can get some more pics. Thanks all for your kind words and support. Marcye
Click to expand...

Just spotted this thread looking for Solaris info.. looks great bro...
I also noticed that you use AquaC, I recently switched to one (thanks to Melev's help) and I could not more happy, especially with the waste collector...
Keep up the great pics...

BTW I am assuming you have the generation before the new I4's which are coming out... do you think there are gonna be major differences?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11876115#post11876115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefArtist
Trust me Marcye I really respect your opinion. You didn't get where you are with your store by giving "so - so" advice. I'll keep my eyes on them for sure. They look good and seem to be filter feeding and not sifting the sand and cleaning the rocks as I had expected. Maybe they're just acclimating to the tank - I can only hope.

Oh, I can wait either on the glass work. I ordered a few more styles of glass (darker blues) just in case you decide to go in that direction. I can always use it on other projects but you have first dibs :D.
Click to expand...

If you are doing the glass work, be sure you include her avatar into the mix. :D
 
Me no nemo,
I was looking at your full-tank shot on page 10. It looks really nice. I did notice that along the back wall you can see light and dark bands that correspond to the placement of the LED banks in the Solaris. Have you noticed any areas of the tank, especially in the rockwork, where you're not getting great light coverage?

We're considering getting an I4 when we set up our next tank, but this was one of the concerns I had.

Thanks,
Dave
 
Hi Dave, yes, there are some bands on the very top. I've just chosen to space my SPS up there so they fall directly under the lights. Not really much of a problem IMO, as the light fans out to full cover fairly high up. Also, depends on how high up you mount the lights and how high up you build your rock. I would say balancing that against the growth and color I'm getting and the pluses of no heat issues, the cloud cover, moonset, moonrise, sunset, sunrise and the ability to dial in the light colors to individual preferences, it's a minor problem. Even the corals that span large areas on top don't seem to be affected by it at this point. I'll try to get some shots of that when I get more pics so you can gauge for yourself if it would be a negative for you. I've really not had anyone who's seen the tank in person call it out as a problem. On the one pics where it's pretty obvious, I believe the sand still hadn't settled and I had the white lights up pretty high.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11878726#post11878726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
If you are doing the glass work, be sure you include her avatar into the mix. :D
Click to expand...

Marc, do you have a Disney obsession:)
 
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