Solana tank owner thread.

[amheck]

It wasn't too bad. I used a bare hacksaw blade and worked at it for 10-15 minutes.It hacked up the plastic a little, but I didn't go all the way thru, so no major holes.

If I was doing it again, I might just spring for a $15 magnet set from Tunze and just glue it onto the long side of the skimmer. I was cheap and wanted to re-use the magnet already on there....

 

[pyrrhusmj]

Hi everyone,


I am about to join the Solana world since my wife wants to reclaim some from from my 95 gallon. I am going with the Disco Ball because of looks and it seems like there might be enough room to do a retrofit of LED's. Has anyone accomplished this or thought about?

Also, is anyone using a profilux with their Solana? If so, using a simu-l? I am trying to figure out how to mount it it without taking away the tanks aesthetics. I'll probably end up replacing it with a spot, but if I don't have to, I won't.

Michael

 

[jmsalt1]

Thanks nirvanaandtool / creefer01

Thanks nirvanaandtool / creefer01

Thanks guys for responding to my questions about the Solana 34. Your advice and first hand experience with the product was helpful. I will keep it in mind as I look at all the options.

Regards,

Jeff

 

[sedorusc]

All right. Tunze magnet cut and moved. Fits a little tight but it fits. Still mixing salt. Once up will move sand from my 90 in and then place rock.

 

[sedorusc]

So what type of fish does everyone have? Looking for stocking ideas. Not as interested in your everyday garden variety clowns,

 

[Kweli]

Midas blenny is my fav

 

[FiReC]

im a year and a few months in on my 34G and ready to bail on it... need a sump so I can run a decent skimmer.

Just did a scotch brite mod to the stock skimmer... its my last hope.

You can see a couple videos of my dieing tank here: http://www.youtube.com/twebinc

 

[eyeluvcoral]

Not a fan of the Solana tanks. They look cheap but are expensive. JMO

 

[nirvanaandtool]

im a year and a few months in on my 34G and ready to bail on it... need a sump so I can run a decent skimmer.

Just did a scotch brite mod to the stock skimmer... its my last hope.

You can see a couple videos of my dieing tank here: http://www.youtube.com/twebinc

I know the feeling. Mine is the same.

Thats why I have an ASM Mini-G skimmer waiting in my room for me to figure out how to put a sump on it :spin1:

 

[FiReC]

I know the feeling. Mine is the same.

Thats why I have an ASM Mini-G skimmer waiting in my room for me to figure out how to put a sump on it :spin1:

I think a cadlights 50g is my solution

 

[sweet d]

throw a sump under it like i did then run whay ever skimmer your heart desires!

 

[Tim Plow]

I just bought (2) 34 gallon Solanas, and I am downgrading from about 250 gallons. I was wondering why you guys dislike them so much after such a short period of time? I agree the stock skimmer stinks, but are guys having a hard time keeping SPS...lots of hair algea...what's the problem?

Here's mine about a couple of weeks old...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have had mine for a couple of years now and I love it!! I think it is the best all in one on the market. I needed to do little to this tank to get it the way I wanted it. THe skimmer was the only mod I have made.

 

[Johnny C]

Not a fan of the Solana tanks. They look cheap but are expensive. JMO

Glad we got that established... :rolleye1:

Tim, the tanks look nice. I see you have Vortech (MP40's?) on there and some SPS. Looking forward to more pics!

PS- To answer your question, I think the main reason why people get sick of the Solanas and decide to upgrade is because it's a smaller system that can't handle a huge bioload. As far as Nano tanks go (AIO tanks especially) it's very easy to modify and upgrade. I find it ironic that people like eyelovecoral complain about the price and aesthetics... what other 30G+ rimless AIO system can be had (plug and play) for under $500? Um, none.

 

[Reefinabox]

Not a fan of the Solana tanks. They look cheap but are expensive. JMO

I thought this was the solana owner's thread, not the solana JMO thread.

 

[Kweli]

How do you guys clean the back chambers of the tank?

Anytime i disturb something back there my DT gets filled with floatys...

Its also slimey to the touch.... Seems like theres a cleaning procedure im missing

 

[MedRed]

How do you guys clean the back chambers of the tank?

Anytime i disturb something back there my DT gets filled with floatys...

Its also slimey to the touch.... Seems like theres a cleaning procedure im missing

I think it'd be worth cleaning it out at least every month. Turn the return off, take as many things out as possible. Use a paper towel or something and wipe off the walls, Suction out the chambers, replace everything, fill the tank back up, add some filter floss, run for a day or so so the floss catches everything, remove the floss, possibly follow up with another water change.

On my Solana, i rotated each weekly water change. 1 week chamber 1, the next chamber 2, the next chamber 3, the next 1 or 2 were done in the DT, and the cycle would continue.

 

[creefer01]

Med is right on with this issue. I do mostly what he described with the chambers in terms of sequence of cleaning. It really helps keep up on the crap that builds up back there. One thing though is that I have never been able to get mine dry without removing water below the line of the return otherwise it keeps filling up with water.

I think it'd be worth cleaning it out at least every month. Turn the return off, take as many things out as possible. Use a paper towel or something and wipe off the walls, Suction out the chambers, replace everything, fill the tank back up, add some filter floss, run for a day or so so the floss catches everything, remove the floss, possibly follow up with another water change.

On my Solana, i rotated each weekly water change. 1 week chamber 1, the next chamber 2, the next chamber 3, the next 1 or 2 were done in the DT, and the cycle would continue.

 

[creefer01]

Yesterday while cleaning my tank, I was cleaning chamber 1 and the stock skimmer. I have always thought that the skimming was OK and wanted it to be better. So I decided to drill holes in the impeller blades to see if it improves skimmate production. I drilled 2 3/16" dia. holes in each blade. When I fired it back up, I had micro bubbles for an hour or so, but otherwise it seemed OK. When I return from work today I'll check on production and let you all know if there has been a positive effect.

 

[nirvanaandtool]

I think a cadlights 50g is my solution

Nice pick. Thats a gorgeous tank.

I thought about that but I think I'm going to keep the Solana to save some money and put it towards a future setup when I get a house.