Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Reefkeeper
Reefkeeper
Hey did you get your reefkeeper setup on the net? If so, did you receive intruction manual with it from Digital Aquatics? Also are you running the Orp probe on your setup? If so, what are your readings? I'm running about 360.
Reefkeeper
Hey did you get your reefkeeper setup on the net? If so, did you receive intruction manual with it from Digital Aquatics? Also are you running the Orp probe on your setup? If so, what are your readings? I'm running about 360.
MVlk
New member
I have my RKE Net module hooked up. I used the online manual and a little help form a friend. I actually am thinking of selling it as I really do not use it enough. May sell or see if someone wants to trade for an SL1. Not doing ORP since I never got an SL1. Went straight for the SL2.
Skimmer
Skimmer
I've been tempted to have the stock skimmer duplicated. It wouldn't be a bad skimmer if it were put together sturdy. I'd bet if someone duplicated it an built out of acrylic,( Sapphire Aquatics) they would have a nice setup. My stock skimmer pulled well, but just couldn't deal with all the air bubbles in the tank. An that came from sides of skimmer body not being sealed.
Skimmer
I've been tempted to have the stock skimmer duplicated. It wouldn't be a bad skimmer if it were put together sturdy. I'd bet if someone duplicated it an built out of acrylic,( Sapphire Aquatics) they would have a nice setup. My stock skimmer pulled well, but just couldn't deal with all the air bubbles in the tank. An that came from sides of skimmer body not being sealed.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
What's the ORP probe for, what does it measure?
I've got an SL1 but wished I had the SL2 instead.
I also have the NET module for the RKM website stuff, its pretty cool, the iPhone app and RSS feed web sites can be viewed when not at home on the network, so I can check it out from work etc...
tgunn
Active member
I'm using a plastic tub for mine with a Tunze ATO unit. The tub itself has a float valve hooked up to my RO/DI unit. A solenoid turns the DI water to the top off tub on for 5 minutes every second day -- enough time for the tub to fill back up completely. I realize there's still a chance the float valve could fail, but I figure since it's in DI water theres little chance of it fouling from salt creep or a snail.
Works great; completely unattended top off.
Tyler
TriggerHappyDude
New member
If you want an idea of the ultimate setup for an RO/DI and ATO station, check out this guys stuff...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13345680&postcount=38
TriggerHappyDude
New member
I'll look for some other examples to help you out with as well.
tgunn
Active member
:eek1::eek1: That setup makes mine look SO ghetto in comparison! Lol! Somehow that's always what I have in mind, but it just never quite turns out that way. Lol.
Tyler
TriggerHappyDude
New member
Yeah, that guy doesn't even have that tank anymore, if you read through the thread, he gets a Solana, but now he's even moved on from that, near the end of that thread, he moves on to a ELOS tank!
He's very clean and very perfect in his setup.
MVlk
New member
My ATO is seen below. I have a 5 gallon tank I pull from via an Aqua Lifter. Control is via my RKE and float switches in the display 3rd chamber. I have my water level set to the same place it would be if I was using the doofus ATO bottles the tank came with. I manually refill the reservoir as needed. Currently I am filling it with Kalk water mixed in the container seen above the reservoir . Seems to be working well so far.
lpsouth1978
New member
lpsouth1978
New member
The entire stand is home made. I welded a steel tank stand and had it powder coated. The plastics were made by a local shp to fit perfectly around the stand. The light stand itself is welded to the back of the stand and swivels so that the light is out of the way for maintenance.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
So to keep near perfect water quality, do you all think you need to have all those extra things such as a; sump, refuge, dosers, reactors, etc? Investing in all that, is a good way to get great water quality? And water changes. This is just a general "reef tank" question...I've had mine for over a year and its not too bad, but I wonder why these things exist, all the stuff I don't have...such as the reactors and dosers, and stuff...and why my coral frags have never really grown...with pretty normal test levels.
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Hooked4life
New member
Technology is fun and I've ran set-ups both ways, but you don't need all that stuff. The exception might be for someone that travels alot and requires automation and monitoring.
There are of lot of beautifiul, low tech tanks out there.
For some people the tech part is definitely a big part of the fun.
There are of lot of beautifiul, low tech tanks out there.
For some people the tech part is definitely a big part of the fun.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
Ok, I do understand you don't absolutely NEED it. But more of what I was getting at was, would it help me more, for someone who is busy and might not get to spend over 2hrs a day on their tank? I'm usually spending 30 mins to an hour a day with the tank, do two week or so water changes, etc...have decent levels...but my frags don't grow...fish are good, healthy, I have a decent amount of coraline algae (for what thats worth), but I've got some bubble algae, and some other viney algae that I've had to hand pick out of there.
Just seems I'm maybe on the border of being a decent to really good quality water in my tank, and want to move it up into awesome quality and have these corals grow....and not sure I can do this or what I'm doing wrong?
I get good skimmate out of my skimmer, I have dusty algae on the glass daily, quality is decent but is it good for coral growth? Apparently not.
What do I need to research for my corals to grow better and faster?
I have an ATI Powermodule so I figure I have great lighting. But maybe the PARs aren't up to speed? The bulbs in there are pretty new...so how can I tell?
I'm just getting disheartened with my results...coral wise and don't know where to go to figure this out.
Hooked4life
New member
I run mine skimmerless, with weekly water changes and a kalk drip top-off and I have crazy growth. My cal, alk and mag are kept in balance, I have good lighting and very high flow. Stability is important--temp as well as chemistry.
I'm assuming it has ATI bulbs, which are very good bulbs. How old are your bulbs? What kind of corals are you keeping? Have you tested you Calcium, alk and magnesium? Corals won't grow if these are not all at appropriate levels. Nitrates can also inhibit coral growth. How long has your tank been set up? Is this your first reef? Lots of questions I know, but we can help you figure it out.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
I have some ATI bulbs in the light, the tanks been running about a year now.
- ATI Blue Plus
- ATI Aqua Blue Special
- UV Lighting AquaSun
- ATI Blue Plus
I've recently replaced the Blue Special and AquaSun for a Fiji Purple and GE Daylight bulb...and the Blue Pluses didn't run for a lot of time during the past year I didn't like the blue output, but the mix I have now is good.
So some of the bulbs are a year old but not used the entire year.
Calk, Alk, and Mag all tested normal. Along with all my other tests.
If you want I can retest and give you exact numbers?
I have awesome flow with my VorTech MP40w, and the Temp is usually around 77.9 - 78.9, never higher or lower. Pretty consistent.
Thank has been setup right on a year now, when I first put live rock and water in it. Fish came in May 2009, and Corals a few months later.
I have a build thread here in my home page link, but its not as up to date as the one over on N4N0-R33F.com, you can look my same screen name up over there to see it or PM me. We don't have to drag out a discussion in the thread, but other input is welcome.
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