Solana tank owner thread.

[TriggerHappyDude]

Hey, i'm having a little bit of trouble setting up the Solana. I've got the sand, live rock, and water filled in the tank. But how much water should I have in the back overflow compartments. I think I way too much, as it's probably only an inch from the rim of the tank. Any help is appreciated.

Yeah if you look at the back of your tank, and imagine a line going right across the bottom of the ATO bottles, right underneath them and then right under the blue pad, thats where the water line should always be kept. If you don't have your water that high, usually you'll hear some louder water trickle, but right under those two bottles, and that blue pad is where the water line should be.

 

[nirvanaandtool]

I have mine filled to the little ridges in the third chamber that are intended to support the cruddy included ATO bottles. Just works well as a reference point for me.

Ditto. Thats where I have mine filled too.

 

[OkR33Fer]

Mine is up and going for about 2 weeks now. Had a nice little cycle then an algae bloom like you wouldn't believe. Phosphates were pretty nasty. Everything is settling in nicely now.

1.) Espresso finish Stand,
2.) Nova Extreme Pro 6 x18W T5 light fixture, w/ ceiling hanging kit
3.) Tunze 3155 Osmolator ATo complete with 6G reservoir,
4.) Magfloat
5.) Coralife Light Timer
6.) DJ 8 plug power center
7.) 50W heater
8.) Koralia 1 and 2 for flow till I get the controller for my mp20 back.

 

[Grizzy]

Grizzy, Beautiful shots! How about a FTS?

Thanks!

Working on FTS...maybe tonight.

Where did you order that fish from, Hopefully I can get one too... Nice
Bill

Here in Tampa we have an AMAZING lfs called Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff...got it there for $40.

Grizzy, is that a 50mm Macro lens?

Shots were taken with a 28 1.8 & 50 1.4 with extension tubes.

 

[andrik]

Indeed beautiful shots and nice fish, hope I can find one myself.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Thanks!

Shots were taken with a 28 1.8 & 50 1.4 with extension tubes.

Sweet, the shots with the 50mm 1.4 look great, I might have to try that!
Which extension tubes did you use/buy? Was it the Kenko or Canon?
Do you own the set of Kenko? 12, 20, and 36mm
Or a lone 25mm?

I have a 50mm 1.8, wonder if I could get as good of shots with the extension tubes...

 

[aqualab]

Hoping some of you Solana owners can help me out here. I presently own an Elos mini and am thinking about getting a piece of glass cut for a cover similar to what your tanks have I believe. I ordered the Solana clips that hold the glass cover in place from Marine Depot, but they couldn't describe to me what they look like because they have to special order them from Current. Can someone please descibe or take a photo of what these clips look like. How far down into the tank does the glass cover sit? I am hoping almost flush with the top? I am concerned the return outlet on my tank may be too high and not allow me to use the Solana clips. How much space is between the glass cover's edge and the tank? Almost last question - how often do you have to clean it due to evap stain, salt, calcium, etc...? Last question - likes/dislikes on the glass cover.
I have lost two blue spotted gobies to carpet surfing and don't want to get another before I remedy the open top. I have looked at building a screen/mesh top but I just don't like the look of the tank. The reason I went rimless in the first place. Thanks in advance. Sorry for all the questions.

Bill

 

[MVlk]

The clips are sort of like this:

_|-|

I'll try to take a picture and post tonight.

It causes the glass to be flush with the top of the tank.

I used the glass tops only till I built a nice screen to go on top of mine. Glass was fine, but I like the openness of a screen for better gas exchange and less light loss. When in place, I cleaned mine weekly.

 

[aqualab]

Hey Michael, thanks for the info. A photo would be great, but I understand your drawing. Flush would be great for me. I'm going to try glass first and then after i realize that it is a giant PITA, i will most likely do a screen. From what I understand most jumpers act at night with light out, so I can just put screen over it at night and remove when I am in the room. I guess the glass piece must be tempered?

Thanks Again,
Bill

 

[poolkeeper1]

I have had fish jump at all times of day and night, There Is no guarentees that will work, Hate to see you lose a fish. Just my 2 cents, The 1/4 " mesh works very well and really don't look bad.
Bill

 

[MVlk]

Here are some shots:





As far as covering only at certain times, I would not recommend it. Fish can be sneaky buggers and jump anytime. I have heard many people who have screens still loose fish because the jumped during maintenance or the brief moment the screen was off. They know when and were to jump.

Check my home page out for some closes ups of the screen I built.

 

[killarsox]

Thanks alot for the help guys. I've got it set up right now.

 

[nirvanaandtool]

DIY mesh screen is a good way to go.
I made mine by overlapping Homedepot 1/2" garden mesh but I'd like to do it over with 1 layer of 1/4" mesh.

 

[poolkeeper1]

There Is someone on the selling forum that sells small amounts of the clear 1/4" mesh FYI
Because It Is only sold In large lots that are quite exspensive at the MFG. I have also heard you can get It at garden supply wholesalers too.
Bill

 

[tiller25]

Skimmer for Solana 34- tunze, sapphire or.....

Skimmer for Solana 34- tunze, sapphire or.....

I just set-up my new solana 34. After eyeing these up or the past couple of years i finally found a used one i could not give up. As it is now everything is stock, but i want to replace the skimmer. I had a biocube 29 with a tunze 9002 in it that worked well, but i found it to be very touchy and had some issues with the airline. So i was leaning towards sapphire. what is the consensus out there for these guys?

 

[MVlk]

I liked the Sapphire when I ran it. Never had to mess with it after the first week.

 

[dustinc]

I used to have the sapphire, but now I modded my stock skimmer and it pulls more than my sapphire did. Here are the steps needed for the mod:

1. Mesh mod the impeller for the pump
2. In the front cover that hides the impeller, there are 3 holes, drill holes in between each of the 3 holes the same size to give you a total of 6 holes. (Becomes somewhat of a bubble plate
3. The clear tube that comes out of the pump into the body, drill 2 holes on the opposite side of the 3 currently drilled.
4. Remove bioballs

This mod works amazing and I've been very impressed.

 

[nirvanaandtool]

I used to have the sapphire, but now I modded my stock skimmer and it pulls more than my sapphire did. Here are the steps needed for the mod:

1. Mesh mod the impeller for the pump
2. In the front cover that hides the impeller, there are 3 holes, drill holes in between each of the 3 holes the same size to give you a total of 6 holes. (Becomes somewhat of a bubble plate
3. The clear tube that comes out of the pump into the body, drill 2 holes on the opposite side of the 3 currently drilled.
4. Remove bioballs

This mod works amazing and I've been very impressed.

Doh. Wish I would have known that yesterday when i had the stock skimmer out to clean it.... haha
I realized I left the bioballs and filter floss in the skimmer causing a detritus trap. Had to take it out before any more algae problems pop up.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Skimmer Mods

Skimmer Mods

I used to have the sapphire, but now I modded my stock skimmer and it pulls more than my sapphire did. Here are the steps needed for the mod:

1. Mesh mod the impeller for the pump
2. In the front cover that hides the impeller, there are 3 holes, drill holes in between each of the 3 holes the same size to give you a total of 6 holes. (Becomes somewhat of a bubble plate
3. The clear tube that comes out of the pump into the body, drill 2 holes on the opposite side of the 3 currently drilled.
4. Remove bioballs

This mod works amazing and I've been very impressed.

Very Interesting, May I ask how you solved the bubbles coming from the skimmer getting Into the tank?
Bill:thumbsup:

 

[dustinc]

Very Interesting, May I ask how you solved the bubbles coming from the skimmer getting Into the tank?
Bill:thumbsup:

I've never had that problem with this mod. As long as you do these steps, I don't think you will see a problem.