Solana tank owner thread.

[kevantheman35]

Do you have the sponge in the overflow? When mine was missing i had some micro bubbles. Raising the water level in your rear chambers might help. I keep mine as high as it can possibly be without the tank overflowing when the return is off.

Just a quick question (I'm on page 8 of the thread so far but fast forwarded since I am having a problem).

I've had my system running for a few months now, and I bought it used so everything was established. Had it torn down and re setup within hours so not much NTS, if any. My problem is this: Even with the skimmer off I'm still getting a few micro bubbles coming from the loc lines. Even though I've checked the return pump, as well as it's connections to the loc lines, what could be causing these micro bubbles? All the plumbing is submerged, and I really hesitate to silicone the connections to correct this. Does anyone have any potential input? I had hoped it was just me re-angling the lines but it's been several weeks and I believe they would've slimed up by now.

I think the next step is a vinegar bath, then replacing the pump to loc line tubing before I go so far as siliconing the connections. What do you think?

 

[double_g2k]

Bingo Problem solved. I had a small piece of sponge in the overflow, so I cut a piece the size of the entire inner overflow and within 20 minutes no more micro bubbles. Thanks

 

[ILLiDaN]

ok ill get pics up as soon as my cycle ends

but i added a panorama pro fixture using the

hinged tank mount...great idea but now i can't fit in a hang on back skimmer

i was thinking about doing SPS what would be the best skimmer that i could do?

 

[double_g2k]

My eyes hurt

My eyes hurt

Wow... finally done the 83 page thread! I feel like such a pro now

This is my second Solana, had the first one in '09 and shut it down last summer. Ran it all stock + reactors and Vitamin C dosing for the zoa garden. I feel like ver 2.0 is gonna be on steroids after reading this encyclopaedia!

Currently running 2 K1's but am upgrading to a Koralia Evo 1400 and will sub that out for one of the K1's. K-evo will mount against the 2nd chamber, no dry dock needed there. I'll keep the other k1 for surface agitation.

1st Chamber is about to be emptied- Just picked up an SWC Extreme HOT mini! I plan on running a small heater, and carbon in this chamber as well as having the skimmer return in it.

2nd chamber has my osmolator photocell and chemipure elite, as well as my skimmer intake. Removing/ cutting the top grate to accomplish/accommodate this.

3rd chamber has another small heater (in the event one of the two die), top off safety float and water feed, and stock return. RO/DI resevoir is a 5 gallon empty IO salt bucket with holes drilled in the lid for the tubes. Doesn't look too bad!

Through some creative thinking I've got pumps, return, ATO, and skimmer wired into one powerbar, and lighting + heaters on another. This way I can flip the switch on powerbar 1 and perform any maintenance/feedings without interrupting the lights or the timers they're on.

30lbs of Fiji LR, 20 lbs of LS, some nice palys/zoas, acans, frogspawn (orange torch coming next week) and other odds and ends corals for the moment. 2 false percs, 1 yellow coris, and a wardii goby who is similar in sand sifting to a diamond goby, but much nicer to look at.

Lighting is a 150w MH aquapod with 6x lunar LEDS. MH is on from 4pm-11pm each day. I've supplemented ghetto style for actinics, bastardizing a tetra Glo 30 blue leds for some colour pop. these literally do nothing for the livestock until I upgrade the supplemental lighting.

This has been running (with me) for about 2 months now, and I have another 10lbs of marco rocks cooking to add a few pounds at a time in June/July. I just needed more flat display rocks

Once the SWC is done breaking in and I get it swung around to the back of the tank I'll post a FTS. For now, thank you all very much for a great read!

 

[scubasamdo]

Here are some picts of my setup.
MP10, Tunze 9002, media basket, tunze ATO, Radion LED w/ diy light rack, Kalk added to top off water. Assorted LPS and SPS. Had the system for the last few months. Came w/ rock and a few z&p's. Added the rest - things seem happy. RBTA split, duncan had to be thinned.

 

[jdavenp3]

This thread brings me back to my Solana I had to break down a few years back. It was back when the Starfire was first introduced by Current. Loved that thing.

 

[MMOORE0324]

My Solana

My Solana

Hey guys :wavehand:

About a month or so ago I picked up a used Solana 34. So far I am just loving it. Here is a link to my build thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2156734

I kept all the sand, about 5 lbs of rock, and 20gallons of water from the orginal owner. By doing this, I eliminated much of the cycle. I did have a small diatom bloom which quickly died out.

I'm running my tank pretty much stock. I actually like the stock skimmer. I think it does a good job after a simple mod to the pump. I pull out a cup of dark skimmate about every three days or so.

The reef will be SPS dominated along with a heavy fish load. I feel that a good fish population is important for a successful reef, even with a small tank.

I do 10-15% weekly water changes to keep up with Ca and dKH for now. It helps with keeping nutrients low as well.

A few things I plan to add:
1) BRS dual reactor for carbon and GFO
2) 150w Phoenix 14k bulb
3) Vortech MP10

I will try to update this thread along with my build thread as my reef progresses.

Enjoy!

 

[MMOORE0324]

Just a couple of quick pics.

Semi top down

My daughter at the reef

I'm picking up a couple of frags tonight so I will post some pics of those later.

Enjoy


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[double_g2k]

Swc

Swc

I've been running the SWC HOT mini for a few days now and this thing is a mini beast! Whomever said that HOT's are a different breed than in tanks for a nano sure had it right. I've had to raise the water level in chambers 1 and 2 to accomodate the intake tubing for the skimmer, but only slightly. Sadly this links the two chambers water surface together. I'll address this below.

I plan on running a small PH back there with all the open space and now still water surface. Since carbon is going in tonight in chamber 1 it will also cause some nice agitation there as well as eliminate the calm effect on the surface in the back of the now two connected chambers.

I'll keep ya posted

 

[MMOORE0324]

I've been running the SWC HOT mini for a few days now and this thing is a mini beast! Whomever said that HOT's are a different breed than in tanks for a nano sure had it right. I've had to raise the water level in chambers 1 and 2 to accomodate the intake tubing for the skimmer, but only slightly. Sadly this links the two chambers water surface together. I'll address this below.

I plan on running a small PH back there with all the open space and now still water surface. Since carbon is going in tonight in chamber 1 it will also cause some nice agitation there as well as eliminate the calm effect on the surface in the back of the now two connected chambers.

I'll keep ya posted

Could you post a pic of how you have your skimmer set up? I am very interested in this skimmer, but would like to see how you have it installed.

Thanks

 

[double_g2k]

Pics

Pics

Pretty straightforward. I haven't added the PH in the back or the carbon yet. Took a shot to show you location as well as just how much free space is back there. Suggestions for how to best use it?

 

[MMOORE0324]

Pretty straightforward. I haven't added the PH in the back or the carbon yet. Took a shot to show you location as well as just how much free space is back there. Suggestions for how to best use it?

Thanks. Looks great. I think I'll defiantly pick one up. What site did you order yours from?


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[double_g2k]

I didn't order from a site. Since I'm north of the border I'd get nailed with duties etc. so I walked into my LFS and grabbed it. $169.99 is what they're goin for on both sides of the border.

 

[drdoolittle]

Hey guys.. I'll be setting up a solana 34. I have been thinking of removing the back panel. Has anyone successfully removed it and installed an external evorflow? If so, any advice and pictures?

 

[Bedlamer]

My thoughts on this is to price out what the new Solana 34 without the rear chamber is going for, then do a little research and figure out what you can get for the one you currently have. The rear chamber ones are no longer being made, so they should command a half decent price. I wanted a rear chamber one—and they discontinued it before I pulled the trigger, then eventually came back with the chamberless model. So by just getting a new tank you may or may not be out a few bucks, you get the tank you want, and so does someone else. I’ve never gotten to pick at one other than to gaze longingly at one in the LFS last year—so someone else will have to pipe up and tell you how difficult it is to remove the dividing wall if you instead choose to go that route.

 

[Bedlamer]

By external overflow—to clarify--are you referring to having one fabricated into the back of your tank, or simply adding a Hang On the Back (HOB) style overflow? If you are looking for a HOB these guys http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html make one including some nano sized ones, and nano sized sumps. I have no personal experience with them—but they look pretty!-lol

 

[calistyle]

Hello All!

I have my Tunza 9002 installed and just setup my Ecoxotic 18' LED lighting yesterday. I'm running them at about 60% for now to see how things adjust coming from T5's.

I plan on moving my MP10 to the back/middle as soon as I can convince StevieT to make me a custom one!

 

[double_g2k]

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

Is that a dark knight clownfish I see in there cali?

You aquascape is very 3 D, how are the corals adjusting to the new lighting?

Here's a shot of mine about a week ago.

Believe it or not, with almost no coralline on the back that mystery acro I bought for ten bucks (back left) is starting to colour up nicely with purples from the brown a$$ brown it was in the store. It's inspiring me to add a few more SPS as I accidentally knocked a branch off, and it's growing back wonderfully.

The platygyra brain is an interloper (pretty big for that tank!) It's getting cut down to size at my reef club's next meeting....the fragfest

 

[double_g2k]

Wow that is a horrible pic. I'll see what I can do about that soon

 

[calistyle]

Is that a dark knight clownfish I see in there cali?

You aquascape is very 3 D, how are the corals adjusting to the new lighting?

Hello Double G2K!

I have the following fish:

ORA Domino Clown
ORA Snowflake Clown
ORA Spotted Mandarin Goby
ORA Yellow Assessor

I really want a ORA Dottyback, however it's probably too risky with my Assessor. So far (2 days) the LED has done well. I have it running at about 60% and plan on moving the top purple torch coral to a lower level.

Your tank looks good! Lot more coral that I have! I'm still learning about all my coral options, so taking it slow.

More pics?!