Solana tank owner thread.

[river3847]

I have the disco ball 150W I think is 14K..

question: why the bulb needs to be changed periodically? how do I know that needs a change? how can I tell? I don't notice any change..

my bulb is running since October 2008 .. 12 hours a day. (16 months)

I have the 150w sunpod as well, using the legs and a Phoenix 14K. Most of my SPS are frags on left/right side racks. My SPS growth was fairly minimal until I got my water params in check, especially Alk and PH. I'm using Kalk in my topoff water also. Frags have been growing quite well since. Now I just need to make sure I never get hit by nudis again. I was able to save my frags but the bigger they get the harder it will be if it happens again.

 

[nirvanaandtool]

Change it.
I changed my bulb in my discoball after about 6 months to a Phoenix 14K. Saw much better SPS growth and less algae growth.

 

[dyer_maker]

I have the disco ball 150W I think is 14K..

question: why the bulb needs to be changed periodically? how do I know that needs a change? how can I tell? I don't notice any change..

my bulb is running since October 2008 .. 12 hours a day. (16 months)

Unless you have equipment to test you won't know until you start getting some algae growth. Best bet is to just put it on your calender to change it periodically. I have my tank if a corner by the window and only 5 hours of MH a day. I originally was running in the 8 to 10 range. Everything looks good and is growing well. I think 6-8 is plenty in most cases.

 

[river3847]

Unless you have equipment to test you won't know until you start getting some algae growth. Best bet is to just put it on your calender to change it periodically. I have my tank if a corner by the window and only 5 hours of MH a day. I originally was running in the 8 to 10 range. Everything looks good and is growing well. I think 6-8 is plenty in most cases.

thanks.. so I guess Im due for a bulb change.. after 16 months.

how often I should change the bulb then? every year?

and what is the schedule you have for your lights on 5 hours a day? it would be nice coming from work and see the aquarium.. so let's say 5pm to 10pm is good?

I have it also close by the window but I keep shades closed not sure if the direct sunlight will affect the aquarium.

thanks !

 

[dyer_maker]

thanks.. so I guess Im due for a bulb change.. after 16 months.

how often I should change the bulb then? every year?

and what is the schedule you have for your lights on 5 hours a day? it would be nice coming from work and see the aquarium.. so let's say 5pm to 10pm is good?

I have it also close by the window but I keep shades closed not sure if the direct sunlight will affect the aquarium.

thanks !

12 months is the general baseline however it's generally not the output that's a problem but the light spectrum. I've read the algae thrive on the light spectrum produced by older bulbs. Pretty good article on the subject.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php

I run actinic lighting from 10AM to 7PM and my MH from noon until 5PM. I work from home and have the luxury of checking out the tank during the day. I just starting ramping down the lighting over time doing 1 hour to 30 minutes a week or so until I got to 5 hours. That plus all the indirect and actinic lighting seems to work. I'm thinking about running cycles 4 hours on, maybe 8 hours off. Some theory behind 4 hours is enough to feed the corals and any more is overkill. I just haven't tried it yet nor figured out how I want to approach it with the daylight the tank gets.

 

[ronbis]

My Solana has been setup for about 7 weeks now. I think I've aquascaped 4 different times and I'm finally pretty happy with the rocks.

I sold my 95 and traded the fish and rocks that didn't go in the Solana for frags. Some hair algae came over with the rocks and bloomed but is almost gone now. Our local reef club had a nice frag swap so I have a bunch of frags that I need to mount as soon as I figure out where they are happy - currently they are mostly on the sand but everything seems to be doing well in my mostly stock Solana - I swapped the return pump fo a mj900. And I have an MP-10 and a Koralia 1 for circulation. The stock skimmer isn't blowing me away yet, but it is getting some dark tea skimmate.

Here are a couple of shots:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4405025375/" title="Solana FTS by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4405025375_fe96438f4f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="577" alt="Solana FTS" /></a>

shady acan and ric spot
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4405827932/" title="acans and rics by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4405827932_d337a181d0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="acans and rics" /></a>

clam, purple haze monti - I think, monti digi, goniopora, some kind of monti and a watermelon chalice
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4405062699/" title="Frags 1 by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4405062699_d0d18b63b8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="577" alt="Frags 1" /></a>

Acro Millepora - I think, and an unknown montipora - duncan up top
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4405062751/" title="monti and mille by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4405062751_5dd992605d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="monti and mille" /></a>

Doing 5 gallon water changes every week with RO/DI.
Using carbon and chemi-pure elite
Dosing manually with 2 part, mag, strontium, and kent coral-vite.

So far so good - getting good growth on my birdsnest and green slimer, the two corals that I've had for about a month.

Strongly considering a DIY LED pendant to replace the disco ball. But I hate replacing something that I have hardly used.

Any recommendations of where to put the corals? I am thinking of putting most of the zoas on the long rock sloping up from the sand on the left. Not sure where the chalice, montis, and others should go.

 

[Davidnano]

I actually have a sunpod that originally was a 70 watt and since i had the 150 watt disco ball as well I rewired the 150 ballast to my sunpod. I did have to change the bulb holder because the 150 bulb is alot larger. I did this because I thought the shape of the reflector housing give bettter light spand than the disco ball housing.

As for when to change a bulb, Ive always been told when you see the corals less open and more nusance algae growing like in the sand bed its time.... or the typically 8-10 months depending on run time

 

[Hooked4life]

thanks.. so I guess Im due for a bulb change.. after 16 months.

how often I should change the bulb then? every year?

and what is the schedule you have for your lights on 5 hours a day? it would be nice coming from work and see the aquarium.. so let's say 5pm to 10pm is good?

I have it also close by the window but I keep shades closed not sure if the direct sunlight will affect the aquarium.

thanks !

I change mine when I start noticing algae growth, which is about every 8 months.

My lights come on at 2:30 p.m. and go off at 10 p.m. It gets a little direct sunlight for about an hour in the morning.

 

[Hooked4life]

ronbis, you're looking good there. I think the zoos would look great on that slope to the left.

I just put an LED light over my AP 24--if that goes well, I'd like to put on over the Solana too.

If you go LED, please post here--I'd love to see what you use.

 

[MVlk]

My Solana has been setup for about 7 weeks now. I think I've aquascaped 4 different times and I'm finally pretty happy with the rocks.

...

Any recommendations of where to put the corals? I am thinking of putting most of the zoas on the long rock sloping up from the sand on the left. Not sure where the chalice, montis, and others should go.

Nice looking start! You are ahead of many. No recommendation from me on the corals... aquacaping is just too personal IMO. However, I think a sun coral would look great in that cave.

 

[cmlewand]

Does anybody know if the AquaC Urchin protein skimmer will fit in compartment 1 of the solana?

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

I change mine when I start noticing algae growth, which is about every 8 months.

My lights come on at 2:30 p.m. and go off at 10 p.m. It gets a little direct sunlight for about an hour in the morning.

Wow, 2:30PM - 10:00PM, guess that wouldn't hurt me to change mine to something like this. Right now I do 10AM - 9PM, but I'm only there from 5PM - rest of night. Is your time frame due to any algae issues or you just think your tank only needs that amount? Its about 8hrs, I don't know what corals and fish are used to? Or need?

 

[Hooked4life]

Wow, 2:30PM - 10:00PM, guess that wouldn't hurt me to change mine to something like this. Right now I do 10AM - 9PM, but I'm only there from 5PM - rest of night. Is your time frame due to any algae issues or you just think your tank only needs that amount? Its about 8hrs, I don't know what corals and fish are used to? Or need?

Over time I've found that works for me. The fish are up moving around as soon as it's light out, so I don't think it affects them. My corals are happy, colorful and growing and I don't have any nuisance algae issues.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

I will have to try this out and see how well my tank responds.

I need to post up my parameters from my test kits, so I can't help figuring out why my SPS corals aren't growing. Or just to get a feel for what my water quality is like; if its bad, good, great, top notch, etc...

I've noticed my pH is roughly been around 8.0 - 8.1, so I've been adding SeaChem Reef Buffer to the tank the past few days, and will try to get it to stay around 8.3, which is what this product says it helps. I've been a bit lazy with my water changes. I have one scheduled for this weekend.

If I do start dosing, and depending on what needs dosing, wonder what if any of you think of or have tried this doser?
I actually have a Reef Keeper Elite, and can setup my own doser with the right pump, this would be an expensive pump but seems to dose slowly and accurately.
Any other pumps that I could use with the RKE that would be just as good but cheaper?

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/brs-2-part-doser-1-1-ml-per-minute.html?utm_source=www.Bulkreefsupply.com+Newsletter&utm_campaign=a71be40a2e-March_20103_3_2010&utm_medium=email#

Also, anybody ever use this stuff?
http://www.marinedepot.com/Prodibio_BIOKIT_REEF_30_Vials_All_In_One_Combo_Packs-Prodibio-PD02331-FIADAOMB-vi.html

 

[Penguintheory]

I am searching around for an answer and I hope someone here can help. Has anyone had or heard of a problem with the solana and a vortec making a wave in the tank? I see so many cautions and how people say their tank broke at the seems so I just want to know it the the solana can handle it.



And just to get some other opinions what is everyones favorite setting on a vortech in a solana?

 

[dyer_maker]

I haven't had any problems making a wave in the Solana and actually had it that way for about a month. The only problem I ran into was the wave can be pretty significant and you can have water overflow the tank. I now generally run reef crest and sometimes change it up every once in awhile.

 

[MVlk]

I will have to try this out and see how well my tank responds.

I need to post up my parameters from my test kits, so I can't help figuring out why my SPS corals aren't growing. Or just to get a feel for what my water quality is like; if its bad, good, great, top notch, etc...

I've noticed my pH is roughly been around 8.0 - 8.1, so I've been adding SeaChem Reef Buffer to the tank the past few days, and will try to get it to stay around 8.3, which is what this product says it helps. I've been a bit lazy with my water changes. I have one scheduled for this weekend.

If I do start dosing, and depending on what needs dosing, wonder what if any of you think of or have tried this doser?
I actually have a Reef Keeper Elite, and can setup my own doser with the right pump, this would be an expensive pump but seems to dose slowly and accurately.
Any other pumps that I could use with the RKE that would be just as good but cheaper?

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...1be40a2e-March_20103_3_2010&utm_medium=email#

Also, anybody ever use this stuff?
http://www.marinedepot.com/Prodibio...Combo_Packs-Prodibio-PD02331-FIADAOMB-vi.html

My BRS dosers are being ordered tomorrow. They actually just sent me an email that they are on sale. The BRS ones are ~$10 more than the Drews but I like the BRS labeled products. There price seems average for most dosers I have seen.

I'd lay of the Reef Buffer. It can cause some issues with Alk. If you have not already, I'd read Randy's articles on pH and water quality. Among his good information is the problem with store bought buffers and an important fact that a pH of 8.0 is really not an issue. Below about 7.8 is when you need to be concerned.

 

[laverda]

I will have to try this out and see how well my tank responds.

I need to post up my parameters from my test kits, so I can't help figuring out why my SPS corals aren't growing. Or just to get a feel for what my water quality is like; if its bad, good, great, top notch, etc...

I've noticed my pH is roughly been around 8.0 - 8.1, so I've been adding SeaChem Reef Buffer to the tank the past few days, and will try to get it to stay around 8.3, which is what this product says it helps. I've been a bit lazy with my water changes. I have one scheduled for this weekend.

If I do start dosing, and depending on what needs dosing, wonder what if any of you think of or have tried this doser?

If you are adding SeaChem Reef Buffer, you are dosing already. You are basically adding ALK to your system with the SeaChem Reef Buffer. You can cause problems doing that if you do not know what your parameters are. Ph is not that critical. The ALK level is much more important to our systems. If your ALK and Mag are correct, then the PH should be fine even if it is a little low.

 

[Hooked4life]

I will have to try this out and see how well my tank responds.

I need to post up my parameters from my test kits, so I can't help figuring out why my SPS corals aren't growing. Or just to get a feel for what my water quality is like; if its bad, good, great, top notch, etc...

I've noticed my pH is roughly been around 8.0 - 8.1, so I've been adding SeaChem Reef Buffer to the tank the past few days, and will try to get it to stay around 8.3, which is what this product says it helps. I've been a bit lazy with my water changes. I have one scheduled for this weekend.

If I do start dosing, and depending on what needs dosing, wonder what if any of you think of or have tried this doser?
I actually have a Reef Keeper Elite, and can setup my own doser with the right pump, this would be an expensive pump but seems to dose slowly and accurately.
Any other pumps that I could use with the RKE that would be just as good but cheaper?

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/brs-2-part-doser-1-1-ml-per-minute.html?utm_source=www.Bulkreefsupply.com+Newsletter&utm_campaign=a71be40a2e-March_20103_3_2010&utm_medium=email#

Also, anybody ever use this stuff?
http://www.marinedepot.com/Prodibio_BIOKIT_REEF_30_Vials_All_In_One_Combo_Packs-Prodibio-PD02331-FIADAOMB-vi.html

I agree with the others about the buffer. Nothing wrong with your pH at 8.0-8.1 as long as it's stable.

 

[rick4him]

Here is my window frame from HD covered with bird netting which does not block as much light as the screen material. I prefer the bird netting from Lowes made by Dupont as it was a little heavier and held its shape.

Hey quick question. Have you had any issues with jumpers with the big holes that is in the bird neeting?