I'm not sure of the source. I only picked up 5lbs to seed, so it was not bad financially. I'll post pics when the light shows up.
Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
I'm not sure of the source. I only picked up 5lbs to seed, so it was not bad financially. I'll post pics when the light shows up.
sweet d
Happy,Happy,Happy!
so i have a solana stock pump and 2 koralias one is the old nano and one is a evo nano i have a bare bottom tank and i dont know if what i have is enough flow? im just noticing some ditreus in a few spots in the tank any suggestions to adding more flow would be great i keep zoas and lps mainly but wouldnt mind trying sps in the future. thanks dave
Cloudburst2000
Active member
Hey everyone,
I'm thinking of getting an Ecoxotic aquarium which is basically the 25G Solana aquarium on a different more modern stand and it includes an Ecoxotic LED lighting system. I looked at the Solanas but did not like the stand that came with it. I eventually ran across the Ecoxotic. I believe Ecoxotic and Solana are affiliated so I'm pretty sure it's the same tank...looks exactly the same anyway.
Anyhoo, I'm doing my research before buying anything. I'm thinking of building this tank from scratch. I will be tearing down my current 25g system. I hate the substrate so that has to go. The rock except for a couple pieces I added later aren't all that porous so thinking of getting reefcleaners rock and using the couple pieces I like from my current tank to seed it. I've already moved all livestock from the 25g to my 12g and 6g tanks.
Anyhoo, I'm interested in mods that people have done to the 25g Solana tanks. Has anyone modded the back to include a fuge? Or has anyone somehow put a sump/fuge underneath in the stand. Same question with the ATO. I know the Solana comes with a tiny fresh water reservoir, but wouldn't it have to be filled all the time? Has anyone added a larger ATO under/behind stand? What other kinds of mods have people done to their Solanas?
Besides the Ecoxotic/Solana, I am looking at the Elos Mini (not sure I want to sacrifice 5 gallons though since the mini is only 20G) and the DSA Neo Nano (though I dislike the stand - would have to build a new one and I think at 34G it may be a bit too big for the area). I want an all-in-one rimless system and these all fit the bill. Though most are either a bit too large like the Neo Nano or a bit smaller like the Elos Mini. The Ecoxotic/Solana is the only one I have found that is between 25-30 gallons. If you all know of any other rimless nano all-in-one between 25-30 gallons please let me know.
I'm thinking of getting an Ecoxotic aquarium which is basically the 25G Solana aquarium on a different more modern stand and it includes an Ecoxotic LED lighting system. I looked at the Solanas but did not like the stand that came with it. I eventually ran across the Ecoxotic. I believe Ecoxotic and Solana are affiliated so I'm pretty sure it's the same tank...looks exactly the same anyway.
Anyhoo, I'm doing my research before buying anything. I'm thinking of building this tank from scratch. I will be tearing down my current 25g system. I hate the substrate so that has to go. The rock except for a couple pieces I added later aren't all that porous so thinking of getting reefcleaners rock and using the couple pieces I like from my current tank to seed it. I've already moved all livestock from the 25g to my 12g and 6g tanks.
Anyhoo, I'm interested in mods that people have done to the 25g Solana tanks. Has anyone modded the back to include a fuge? Or has anyone somehow put a sump/fuge underneath in the stand. Same question with the ATO. I know the Solana comes with a tiny fresh water reservoir, but wouldn't it have to be filled all the time? Has anyone added a larger ATO under/behind stand? What other kinds of mods have people done to their Solanas?
Besides the Ecoxotic/Solana, I am looking at the Elos Mini (not sure I want to sacrifice 5 gallons though since the mini is only 20G) and the DSA Neo Nano (though I dislike the stand - would have to build a new one and I think at 34G it may be a bit too big for the area). I want an all-in-one rimless system and these all fit the bill. Though most are either a bit too large like the Neo Nano or a bit smaller like the Elos Mini. The Ecoxotic/Solana is the only one I have found that is between 25-30 gallons. If you all know of any other rimless nano all-in-one between 25-30 gallons please let me know.
Gamepro_inc
New member
I dont know if you are talking about the same light but I have a stunner strip from exotica and the light penetration is crap, it would not work on the solana. Again if its the same LED. Also many people have added a fuge to the back of the system you just need a light source to shine into it some have used underwater lights others use a stick on led lamp to the back glass. I and others have added ATO you just need the right size resivoir to fit under the stand I use a 5.5 gallon tank. others may chime in here. I think the elios are to expensive but thats me you can get a solana tank only and build yourself a stand and save money that way.
After setting up a few AIO tanks (Biocubes) my wife said I could put a Solana in the living room! (she saw one in the LFS set up with the light wood stand and metal halide pendant)
I have had it set up for a month with a few corals and the live rock is takinf off like crazy under the MH lamp. I recently added a lone percula clown that a friend needed to adopt out (he was breaking down his tank) and he looked great in the boxy Solana! This morning I found him dried out on the floor and the only place he could have exited the tank was thru the tiny triangular "hole" at the front corner of the tank. This top is a real pain in my opinion. Has anyone found a convenient alternative that doesn't allow fish to jump out and also has a more convenient opening for feeding? I suppose if I could get a few extra plastic clips from the manufacturer I could have some pieces of glass cut to fit and make my own! Has anyone ever contacted them about this?
I have had it set up for a month with a few corals and the live rock is takinf off like crazy under the MH lamp. I recently added a lone percula clown that a friend needed to adopt out (he was breaking down his tank) and he looked great in the boxy Solana! This morning I found him dried out on the floor and the only place he could have exited the tank was thru the tiny triangular "hole" at the front corner of the tank. This top is a real pain in my opinion. Has anyone found a convenient alternative that doesn't allow fish to jump out and also has a more convenient opening for feeding? I suppose if I could get a few extra plastic clips from the manufacturer I could have some pieces of glass cut to fit and make my own! Has anyone ever contacted them about this?
Gamepro_inc
New member
Most just take off the glass and use the clips and build a screen to fit if you keep the glass on with the MH you are gonna have heat problems anyway. This could be why your clown jumped out... too hot.
This is a very old picture but here is a pic of mine with the screen
This is a very old picture but here is a pic of mine with the screen
Thanks for the suggestion! I now remember seeing pics on this site with screen vs. glass. My temp is set at 78 and gets up to 80 by the time the MH shuts off. Never had any problems in the past with a 2 degree shift-figure that is probably less that what one sees in shallow reef areas under intense sunlight. I do like the fact that the glass minimizes evaporation. Also I have a yellow headed jawfish in the tank and will have to move him if I use eggcrate. Maybe I can find some plastic screen with smaller holes! BTW, what is the extra light you have there? Like the way it clamps on and fits just behind the MH!
Gamepro_inc
New member
2 degree shift isnt bad at all thats suprising with all the heat from the MH. I get up to 80 in the summer and thats with a fan and a screen. by the way its birdnetting sold at lowes not eggcrate that would be ugly. You just make it like you would for a window, just get the 1/4'' netting not the 1/2'' that will keep the jawfish in. The light was a 20" T5 I used for actinic supplement but I switched it out for LEDs I just wanted to mimic dawn/dusk cycle, like I said its an old pic from in the beginning.
pompeyjohn
New member
Hello all,
I just picked up a solana and transferred the content of my aquapod 24 at the weekend. I am currently running two nanotuners par38 60deg 20k bulbs over it.
I am pretty sure I am going to need another light. Although all seems happy in the tank at the moment.
For coral growth would you recommend another 20k, or should I get a 12k?
I am absolutely loving the solana by the way - what a great tank!
I just picked up a solana and transferred the content of my aquapod 24 at the weekend. I am currently running two nanotuners par38 60deg 20k bulbs over it.
I am pretty sure I am going to need another light. Although all seems happy in the tank at the moment.
For coral growth would you recommend another 20k, or should I get a 12k?
I am absolutely loving the solana by the way - what a great tank!
hello fellow solana owners,
im sure this has been asked several times in this quite lengthy thread but im gonna ask it again....i have the thirty-something gallon solana with the 150w MH that came with the tank and i think its time for a new light, i got the tank used, not really sure how old the light is but i just want the piece of mind knowing it is a fresh bulb....that being said what is the best bulb to get for this tank, right now all that is in it are some zoas basically. i think the guy said it was a pheonix bulb but im not sure what bulb temp to get should i go with 12k?
thanks in advance,
austin
im sure this has been asked several times in this quite lengthy thread but im gonna ask it again....i have the thirty-something gallon solana with the 150w MH that came with the tank and i think its time for a new light, i got the tank used, not really sure how old the light is but i just want the piece of mind knowing it is a fresh bulb....that being said what is the best bulb to get for this tank, right now all that is in it are some zoas basically. i think the guy said it was a pheonix bulb but im not sure what bulb temp to get should i go with 12k?
thanks in advance,
austin
OH maybe take your sponges out... take the one out for the overflow, the one on top of the tray in the 2nd chamber, and maybe take the tray out of of 2nd chamber and see if anything is on top of or below the lower tray in the the 2nd chamber. I quit using the overflow sponge and had to substitute something else for my blue sponge because they would clog stupid fast when it seemed like they shouldn't be. They were holding water back from making it to the 3rd chamber which caused the display to raise up too high while the 3rd chamber was way too low.
This is an older picture... but should give you an idea.
a question about the second chamber...
how does this tray come out as i would like to make it a fuge as some have done does this just slide out like the tray that holds the two stock top-off bottles, i havent tried taking it out yet
cool thanks ill have to do that when i get home
kevantheman35
Member
i have the pheonix 14k. I also have 4 other bulbs that i have never even tested because the pheonix looks so good
the Undone guy
New member
I just purchased a 6 month old Solana. While cleaning it I noticed the clear plastic side began to separate from the skimmer, so I just pulled it off. Is it required to operate properly? I haven't ran it yet so I have no idea. If it IS required what would be the best way to put it back on? Thanks!
I believe you need that clear panel for the skimmer to work properly. It may still work but likely not as well. You may get excess micro bubbles in the display. They are not that well built but they do perform ok given the quality issues. Mine pulls out a decent amount of sludge. I have noted that the black panel on mine is starting to come free from the skimmer. Plan on repairing that on the next major cleaning in December. I have only been running for 6 or so weeks but have planned to pull everything out of the back chambers once a month for a good cleaning.
Gamepro_inc
New member
Has anyone built a DIY LED fixture for their Solana and if so do you have a write up for it. How is it working and is there anything you would do different. Do you have any issues with certain corals. Basically tell me everything.
My Solana skimmer also separated at the joints in a couple of places. I glues it together on two different occasions and it seemed to work marginally well for about 6 months. Came home last week from a trip and noticed tons of micro bubbles in the tank. The skimmer edges have failed again and this time I am not up for trying to re-glue it a third time. The walls of this skimmer, especially the black parts, are super thin and not joined/sealed well at all. Ho Hum, not sure what to do, currently running skimmerless. I will either find another used Solana skimmer (not my first choice) or get the Tunze 9002 and either figure out the mod or find a used one that is already modded (my first choice
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