Gamepro_inc
New member
Wow I really thought someone on here would have done a DIY LED build ok I guess I may be the first but much research is needed first.
Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Tim Plow
New member
Hello all,
I am going today to pick up two used 34 gallon solanas. We are about to move and made a deal with my wife to downgrade from my 210 gallon (1600 watts of light) to these two solanas. I have started doing some reading on these solanas, and I'm sure I have lots of questions when I go to set them up sometime later this month.
A couple of quick questions, these two solanas each come with the 150 watt HQI disco ball pendant:
1. Will I have problems growing SPS with this pendant?
2. Do people have temperature problems with these...I plan to run it without the glass top? Chiller required?
3. Has anybody found a good way to suppliment actinics with the pendant?
Thanks in advance for any input, and I look forward to joining the solana club.
I am going today to pick up two used 34 gallon solanas. We are about to move and made a deal with my wife to downgrade from my 210 gallon (1600 watts of light) to these two solanas. I have started doing some reading on these solanas, and I'm sure I have lots of questions when I go to set them up sometime later this month.
A couple of quick questions, these two solanas each come with the 150 watt HQI disco ball pendant:
1. Will I have problems growing SPS with this pendant?
2. Do people have temperature problems with these...I plan to run it without the glass top? Chiller required?
3. Has anybody found a good way to suppliment actinics with the pendant?
Thanks in advance for any input, and I look forward to joining the solana club.
Tim Plow
New member
Thanks for the response. It's good to know that I won't have to swap out to a smaller vortec.
Gamepro_inc
New member
1) no not at all, many grow SPS in their tanks just fine . I have many SPS from low to high and all grow well, albeit the higher ones grow faster.
2) No need for a chiller but yes take off the glass top and I and others run fans I have a 2 unit azoo fan works fine temp in summer 78-79
3) yes some use Leds, I have a coralife LED 4x3W powerbrite it works well. in the beginning I used a 20" T5 light hung behind the fixture with shelving it was kinda ghetto but worked
P.S if you remove the top you may want ot build a mesh screen to keep in jumpers, many have done that with good success. check back a page or 2 and you will see the one I built for mine. Also the stock top off bottles dont work for crap so I would invest in an ATO the stand holds a 5 gallon tank perfectly. The stock skimmer works but not real well so many upgrade to a better one I never did but check with others as to what models work. Lastly you may find micro bubbles to be a problem this can be fixed by using purigen or some other fine medium on the bottom of the first plate to chamber2. Hope all that helps. check out Medreds build thread I think he has all the common fixes and mods.
I believe there was something about the MP40 as along as a wave isn't created its fine someone did bust out their glass by having a constant wave in their tank and it broke the seams.
Welcome to the club
nirvanaandtool
New member
I'll probably be venturing into that later in the new year. Planning on building something comparable to a 250W halide to put over the Solana.
First up is building a DIY LED light for my new 7.5g build. That will be the test run before I venturing into working on a light for the Solana.
Tim Plow
New member
I was trying to do a water test and clean the used solanas that I bought. I was trying to clean some old coraline off the back, but the back black divider is somewhat textured and I was having problems getting the old coraline off. I was using a scraper and it was getting the big stuff, but I couldn't get the smaller stuff left in the nooks of the texture. Any good ideas on cleaning the back part?
Tim Plow
New member
Thanks MedRed...I have used vinegar many times with equipment like power heads and such, but I have never used it in the tank. I'm guessing doing this in the main display tank won't have ill effects later on down the line? Once I get all the coraline off, I will give it a good rinse before I start it up to make sure I remove any residual vinegar.
Quick question...once I get the tank up and running and coraline begins to grow on the back, how do you get it off then since you can't just dump in a jug of vinegar?
forrealb50
New member
Here's mine.
mr86mister
Saltaholic
Forreal- Is that a 34gal Solana or is it a larger cube? Either or it is stunning!
Kweli
New member
Here's mine.
That tank is bad-***... no way its a 34G solana though!
BPro32
New member
It has the overflow so I'm guessing its the 60g cube Solana XL... Maybe the owner will chime back in and let us know
MedRed
Active member
No ill effects at all. Just rinse the tank out after and let it dry. The main issue with vinegar would be lowering the alkalinity. There wouldn't be enough of it left just emptying out the tank, let alone rinsing it and letting it dry.
The coralline on the back is the one thing I didn't like about the Solana. The back is textured, so it can't be scraped. One of the members here cut smooth acrylic and attached it to the back wall to allow the wall to be scraped. My 60 Solana has a textured overflow, I removed the textured plastic and replaced with custom overflow pieces. That'd be harder to do in a 34 solana since you have to deal with the entire facade back wall.
ximmortaldeathx
New member
Daaaaamn SONIC, that's a huge grouper. ohh yeah and nice tank.
ximmortaldeathx
New member
Hanging kit how to, just thought I'd share.
The first thing i should note is that the current hanging kit (1022) is incomplete/badly designed, however its a quick fix if you know how to do it.
What you'll need to do is go to your local hardware store and pickup a piece of wood that measures 20" x4"x5/8" (the 5/8 is the thickness of the board). Along with four 2" wood screws, not thick. Also make sure the board is a soft type like pine that wont crack when you drill it with the screws, this happened to me.
So what you're going to do is first is screw the board into the back of the tank, if you got it 5/8" thick it will fit flush to the lip of the Solana stand. 2 Screws on each side will do fine. Then you can screw the hanging legs into the board itself, that way they don't lean into the tank, i put the legs 5-1/2" from the outside of the stand and then used a level to make sure they;re perfectly leveled. I used the screws that came with the kit to screw the legs in.
afterward i applied some ebony wood stain to make it the same color (will need extra coats). Make sure you sand everything first so you get a smooth surface and sharp edges.
Sorry for the crappy shot, i was in a hurry to finish up.
This is a side shot.
And the finished result.
The cables can be adjusted by pressing inward the tip of where the cables come out of the legs on the top side, then pull on the desired length.
Notice the water is not clear, that's because my female maroon keeps "peeling out" on the sand, yep the pair is going on craigslist tonight.
OK guys let me know what you think.
The first thing i should note is that the current hanging kit (1022) is incomplete/badly designed, however its a quick fix if you know how to do it.
What you'll need to do is go to your local hardware store and pickup a piece of wood that measures 20" x4"x5/8" (the 5/8 is the thickness of the board). Along with four 2" wood screws, not thick. Also make sure the board is a soft type like pine that wont crack when you drill it with the screws, this happened to me.
So what you're going to do is first is screw the board into the back of the tank, if you got it 5/8" thick it will fit flush to the lip of the Solana stand. 2 Screws on each side will do fine. Then you can screw the hanging legs into the board itself, that way they don't lean into the tank, i put the legs 5-1/2" from the outside of the stand and then used a level to make sure they;re perfectly leveled. I used the screws that came with the kit to screw the legs in.
afterward i applied some ebony wood stain to make it the same color (will need extra coats). Make sure you sand everything first so you get a smooth surface and sharp edges.
Sorry for the crappy shot, i was in a hurry to finish up.
This is a side shot.
And the finished result.
The cables can be adjusted by pressing inward the tip of where the cables come out of the legs on the top side, then pull on the desired length.
Notice the water is not clear, that's because my female maroon keeps "peeling out" on the sand, yep the pair is going on craigslist tonight.
OK guys let me know what you think.
Last edited:
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