Solana tank owner thread.

[TriggerHappyDude]

Ok, after another calibration, I tested the probe in the two solutions and a cup of my tank water, here are the results...

7.0 solution = 6.70
10.0 solution = 9.93
Tank sample = 7.15

I really am lost now...

 

[MVlk]

I'd get a fish buddy to your house ASAP with an independent pen or probe! While the calibration values are a little off, they are close enough to make me worry about the pH in the tank.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

I'd get a fish buddy to your house ASAP with an independent pen or probe! While the calibration values are a little off, they are close enough to make me worry about the pH in the tank.

Trouble with that is, we are all kind of snowed in here in OKC.
Not much traveling with 5" of snow, us Okies just hibernate.

SG sitting good at 1.025...the refractomemter said.

Would freshly mixed salt water be that low with a pH of 7.20?

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

I just tested the probe again with my tank water and newly mixed water, its consistently reading around pH 7.20...

I also tested again using my API test kit on my tank water and newly mixed water, and it easily read ph 8.2...

So could it bet the probe is calibrated off by a whole 1.0 and my pH is really 8.2, but since the probe is off its showing off by a point?

 

[michael_cb_125]

I want to join! I just finished setting up my solana! But mine will not be a reef. Mine is a QT for my Elos 120.

These little tanks are very nice.

~Michael

 

[MVlk]

michael_cb_125, Congrats on joining the club. They are great tanks. Sad to see it as just a QT. For under $50 you can get a small cheapo tank, HOB filter and misc other pieces. Then you can use the Solana as it deserves.

 

[skraj011]

adding a sump

adding a sump

What is the best way to add a sump to a solana that is up and running?

I want to increase the volume of the tank + add a fuge.

Has anyone drilled a solana without emptying it first?

thanks in advance for the advice

 

[MVlk]

If you have space, easiest way to do it is an above tank sump/refugium like I did. You need either a closet or room behind the tank like I had or you can make a nice looking shelf above and have a display refugium which can be cool. Pictures an details in my homepage.

Others have used an overflow with success. A page or two back is some great shots of a owner who did a great job on a DIY overflow. I do not believe anyone has drilled it yet. Lots of chatter, but no one brave yet.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Mesh Mod's

Mesh Mod's

Just any kind of mesh you can find will work as far as I know. And just super glue gel like the type you would use for glueing frags.

The correct Material Is called Enkamet and Is much tougher than just any mesh, As they tend to come apart rather quickly. Also the best way to connect the mesh Is with very tiny zip ties or Fishing line for better long lasting results that wont wind up blowing your pump up. I have done many mods and the cheap stuff just don't do the job for long! I think I have some laying around If you cover the cost of shipping I'll send you enough to do It several times LMK . Just PM me your info and we can work something out.
Bill

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Has anyone drilled a solana without emptying it first?

Really? Is that a serious question? :hmm4:

 

[poolkeeper1]

Drilling

Drilling

Really? Is that a serious question? :hmm4:

Yup, There Is a way to drill In some cases with water In a tank! One way Is with a container with Plumbers putty pressed against the glass on the edge of the container to make a water tight seal, Once drilled you quickly insert a bulkhead with a shutoff valve. Mainly done on Acrylic though. FYI
Bill:wave:

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Yup, There Is a way to drill In some cases with water In a tank! One way Is with a container with Plumbers putty pressed against the glass on the edge of the container to make a water tight seal, Once drilled you quickly insert a bulkhead with a shutoff valve. Mainly done on Acrylic though. FYI
Bill:wave:

Man I would want nothing to do with that project! :wavehand:

 

[ronbis]

Back in town and ready to hit the tank with another dose of flatworm exit. Picked up some frags from a local reefer but no pictures of those yet. Can't wait to play with my new tank! Here is a picture of it pre-MH and new corals.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4317467117/" title="Newly setup nano reef by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4317467117_edf9776124_b.jpg" width="1024" height="577" alt="Newly setup nano reef" /></a>

I am down-sizing from my 95 - new baby so I'm simplifying things by going smaller. I took all of the rock from the 95 out, one at a time, and scrubbed them with a toothbrush in a bucket to remove flatworms and algae -nutrient build-up due to my new daddy, no-sleep lifestyle causing lack of maintenance.

Anyway, I grabbed one of the rocks that was on the bottom in the back. I pulled it out and looked at the underside of it. There was a stringy, mucusy, sandy web like thing covering a hollow in the rock. I thought I saw something serrated in there as I was putting the rock into the bucket. The bucket was a blue one and I couldn't see well in there so I grabbed the rock to move it to a white bucket and this HUGE disgusting worm came wriggling out of it.:eek2: I said something that I can't print and dropped the rock into the white bucket severing the worm into two halves. Searched and found out this is a Eunice worm. I had zoas dying off on a rock near the bottom and I believe this thing was eating them as well as some snails.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4317491899/" title="Eunice worm by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4317491899_3085e9029f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="577" alt="Eunice worm" /></a>

At least 32" long.
Glad I found this thing before I hit the tank with flatworm exit. If it died under there that would have been bad.

 

[ronbis]

Trying to decide if I want to keep these polyps or not. There kinda big and brown and might look good under actiinic, but I have the disco ball.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22195434@N07/4318214634/" title="Polyp colony by wapitipoker, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4318214634_ef0ac3e570_b.jpg" width="1024" height="577" alt="Polyp colony" /></a>

 

[laverda]

Ok, after another calibration, I tested the probe in the two solutions and a cup of my tank water, here are the results...

7.0 solution = 6.70
10.0 solution = 9.93
Tank sample = 7.15

I really am lost now...

Your probe is reading a little low, so I would recalibrate it. Make sure the calibration fluid is fresh. The packets should be dated. The small packets work much better then the large bottles for this reason and they will not get contaminated. Based on the 7 and 10 solution readings, I would guess your PH is 7.35. New salt water should be mixed for 24 hours and aerated before using. Most salt mixes are low in alkalinity so that would explain the low r=Ph depending on what salt your using. The alkalinity is the main component of PH and much more important then PH its self is.
If your ALK is below 8 you can raise it by adding a little baking soda. (I aim for 9-9.5) If the ALK is good you can raise the PH by adding baked baking soda. (1 hour @ 400 degrees on a cookie sheet) I would start with adding 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of either dissolved in warm RO/DI and then check again.
Both Baking soda and baked Baking soda will increase the ALK levels. but Baking soda has a PH of 8.3 and baked Baking soda has a PH of 12. Check the chemistry forum for more information. Take it slow and good luck.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Your probe is reading a little low, so I would recalibrate it. Make sure the calibration fluid is fresh. The packets should be dated. The small packets work much better then the large bottles for this reason and they will not get contaminated. Based on the 7 and 10 solution readings, I would guess your PH is 7.35. New salt water should be mixed for 24 hours and aerated before using. Most salt mixes are low in alkalinity so that would explain the low r=Ph depending on what salt your using. The alkalinity is the main component of PH and much more important then PH its self is.
If your ALK is below 8 you can raise it by adding a little baking soda. (I aim for 9-9.5) If the ALK is good you can raise the PH by adding baked baking soda. (1 hour @ 400 degrees on a cookie sheet) I would start with adding 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of either dissolved in warm RO/DI and then check again.
Both Baking soda and baked Baking soda will increase the ALK levels. but Baking soda has a PH of 8.3 and baked Baking soda has a PH of 12. Check the chemistry forum for more information. Take it slow and good luck.

Thanks laverda,

Here is what I discovered after some more research yesterday. I think my solution is bad, its bottles, its Coralife, and God knows how long it sat in my LFS before he sold it to me, he's got some old looking stuff on the shelves.
I'm going to order some more Pinpoint packets, and re-calibrate then. I came to this conclusion after I tested both my newly mixed up water and my current tank water with my API test kit and both were exactly at 8.2, I think that solution is off which caused the probe to be off by 1.0, we'll see.

 

[rreed]

New Resevoir

New Resevoir

Here are some photos of a custom resevoir that I had built to house top off an 2 part along with a compartment for magnesium. An its all going to fit nicely below in my solana stand!

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Nice!! Who built this for you? How much did it set you back?
I'd love something like this!

 

[rreed]

I gave Jeff at Lifereef the measurements an he built it. Cost was $179.00. I will be taking photos of all my little gadgets I had added to stand below. My Solana is competely automated now.

 

[rreed]

Mag 5

Mag 5

I borrowed a mag 5 from a friend to see if it fits in the back compartment in my solana.
Fits fine but only picked up 80 gallons per hour from where I lost 120 per hour due to Chiller install.
But the one thing I didn't like about the mag 5, Too much noise due to vibration! Very noisy! Need to have some modified rubber feet added to this to quiet it down.
I'd like to re-coup 100 gallons per hour back so that the tank volume is turning over 10 times per hour.