Solana tank owner thread.

[dyer_maker]

The LEDs were suggested just a few posts above Hooked4Life, but I just don't know where I would mount them with my ATI fixture? Anyone seen any pictures of someone doing this with ATIs? I'll head over to the ATI thread and see if someone has done this.

The problem with the LEDs are they need a good amount of surface area to handle the heat. The ones I got from evilc mount on the Sunpod rails where the legs are mounted. Effectively a Sunpod with LED wings. For the ATI I imagine you'd have to tap the fixture to screw on some LED mounts and that's probably not the fixture you'd want to go DIY on.

 

[dyer_maker]

That is really yellow. I've been running the Phoenix too, but thinking about trying the Radium. It's supposed to be about the same color, but higher PAR than the Phoenix.

Which Radium, the 14K?

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

The problem with the LEDs are they need a good amount of surface area to handle the heat. The ones I got from evilc mount on the Sunpod rails where the legs are mounted. Effectively a Sunpod with LED wings. For the ATI I imagine you'd have to tap the fixture to screw on some LED mounts and that's probably not the fixture you'd want to go DIY on.

Yeah I won't be doing anything DIY to the ATI fixture. Its either switch or figure out a way to mount it from the sides or back of tank.

 

[Hooked4life]

Which Radium, the 14K?

20k

I bought it today. I'll probably put it in tomorrow. I'll let you know how the color compares to the Phoenix.

 

[Hooked4life]

The LEDs were suggested just a few posts above Hooked4Life, but I just don't know where I would mount them with my ATI fixture? Anyone seen any pictures of someone doing this with ATIs? I'll head over to the ATI thread and see if someone has done this.

Not talking about LEDs as supplemental light--I mean an LED fixture.

Check out Sushi's Elos thread on N-R. He introduces the new LED light that's he's using in post#87.

If you read a few pages you'll find where he changes the light bracket too.

 

[river3847]

great, please take before-after pics !

20k

I bought it today. I'll probably put it in tomorrow. I'll let you know how the color compares to the Phoenix.

 

[lastduke]

I heard the deltec MCE skimmer has a better perform than Tunez9002 or other skimmer can fit in our solana tank. Anyone is using Deltec?
I would like to see a picture how to hang on back, and which one should go? MCE 300 or 600?

 

[Grizzy]

Well, I have to admit and apologize to all of you MH owners out there.

No worries.

that shimmer has convinced me that the extra heat they put out might be worth the trouble, it was amazing how that shimmer looked in his tank.

It's fricking sweet...nothing like shimmer! :thumbsup:

I'm not sure if its the bulb or the fixture or what it is that gives it the shimmer, is there something that you can get with the MH that makes one MORE or LESS shimmer?

There sure is. Getting shimmer is ALL about agitating the surface of the water (by aiming a powerhead at the upper portion of the tank). The more violently you move the water the more shimmer.

When I turn off my pumps to feed everything goes flat...or what it must look like for t5 people :lol2:. To me it's all about the shimmer...it's like a different tank without it in my opinion.

I'm guessing its the ballasts or reflectors or something?

Nope...see above . Also, check out this link. At the bottom is a video showing shimmer. This tank doesn't have a lot but you can clearly see it change from none to shimmer when the surface gets movement:

http://www.jbjnanocubes.com/contents/en-us/d808_metal-halide-bulbs.html

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Ok, thats good information to have. My surface water has agitation, so I'd be good with shimmer...now trying to decide what light fixture to move to.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

I heard the deltec MCE skimmer has a better perform than Tunez9002 or other skimmer can fit in our solana tank. Anyone is using Deltec?
I would like to see a picture how to hang on back, and which one should go? MCE 300 or 600?

I've heard/seen that Deltc products work well, but I have not seen anyone using one with the Solana. Keep an eye out.

Here is some video of one, wow, it looks amazingly better than what my skimmer is doing...this is an MCE 600...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIeBQUNrvIQ

 

[river3847]

[B]2nd chamber maintenance[/B]

2nd chamber maintenance

hi, just wondering how you maintain and clean the filter media in the 2nd chamber.

I have the original nano-size bio balls (4 packs)
1 bag activated carbon
1 bag phosban TLF

bio-mate filter boost mix of carbon, ceramic, and foam (http://www.marinedepot.com/Lifegard...dia-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB1391-FIFMBOBB-vi.html)

extra bio-balls regular size.

filter foam white on top of everything on top of the black lid.

I know I have to change the carbon and phosban from time to time (carbon every 1 month, phosban every 3 months or so)

what about the ceramic balls, foam balls and the bio-balls? just put them in vinegar and rinse? how often?

the nano-size balls have become very dirty with worms and detritus that won't clean because they are within the mesh.

I bought some regular size balls, that will work? can be put alone or needs to be within a mesh?

thanks!

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

hi, just wondering how you maintain and clean the filter media in the 2nd chamber.

I have the original nano-size bio balls (4 packs)
1 bag activated carbon
1 bag phosban TLF

bio-mate filter boost mix of carbon, ceramic, and foam (http://www.marinedepot.com/Lifegard...dia-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB1391-FIFMBOBB-vi.html)

extra bio-balls regular size.

filter foam white on top of everything on top of the black lid.

I know I have to change the carbon and phosban from time to time (carbon every 1 month, phosban every 3 months or so)

what about the ceramic balls, foam balls and the bio-balls? just put them in vinegar and rinse? how often?

the nano-size balls have become very dirty with worms and detritus that won't clean because they are within the mesh.

I bought some regular size balls, that will work? can be put alone or needs to be within a mesh?

thanks!

I think its well known that the bio balls are not very good for this tank, in a salt water system, they just collect detritus and most recommend all of the stock bio balls be removed, and not to add any more. I never used the stock carbon pads either, the popular choices are a bag of ChemiPure and Purigen in the 2nd chamber. I recently added cheato, a macro algae along with 2 small submersible LED lights to help the cheato grow. That is a typical setup found in a lot of the Solana owners 2nd chambers.

 

[MVlk]

i think its well known that the bio balls are not very good for this tank, in a salt water system, they just collect detritus and most recommend all of the stock bio balls be removed, and not to add any more. I never used the stock carbon pads either, the popular choices are a bag of chemipure and purigen in the 2nd chamber. I recently added cheato, a macro algae along with 2 small submersible led lights to help the cheato grow. That is a typical setup found in a lot of the solana owners 2nd chambers.

+1

 

[Hooked4life]

great, please take before-after pics !

That is really yellow. I've been running the Phoenix too, but thinking about trying the Radium. It's supposed to be about the same color, but higher PAR than the Phoenix.

Here's the pics for comparison. The white balance was set for the Phoenix and not changed. I shot on Auto with the flash off and the only editing was resizing.

Phoenix:

Radium:

To my eye, the Radium is definitely bluer, but also a lot brighter. Not sure the pics show that.

 

[Hooked4life]

And just for fun--new acquisition:

 

[MVlk]

Hard to tell from the picture. How do you like it? Nice brain.

 

[Hooked4life]

It is hard to tell from the pic. I like it a lot so far. It's not as blue as most 20k and it's a lot brighter. We'll see how well it grows stuff.

The Phoenix was 7 months old, so I'm sure it's not as blue at it was when new.

 

[pimpinitup6969]

Just thought I would post a picture of my newly setup 25 gal Solana. I have never had a nano reef before so any criticism is welcome. The biggest reason I started this was to show off some of my higher end chalices, acans, sps. As soon as I get some of the stuff moved over from my 150 I'll post some more pics.

 

[poolkeeper1]

20K Bulbs are not known for great growth, If you want growth go with a 10K bulb. The 20K is more pleasing to our eyes not the coral. FYI JMO and mostly fact. LOL
Bill

 

[Hooked4life]

20K Bulbs are not known for great growth, If you want growth go with a 10K bulb. The 20K is more pleasing to our eyes not the coral. FYI JMO and mostly fact. LOL
Bill

While I understand that's supposed to be the case, I've seen and heard empirical evidence that's contrary to that "fact". Just wanted to see for myself.

Isn't the growth potential related to the PAR of the bulb rather than the Kelvin and generally, but not in all cases, higher Kelvin bulbs are lower PAR? Sanjay hasn't tested the 150w Radium, but I'm hearing rumors that it's higher PAR that the Phoenix. If I got the same or better growth, I'd be happy.

And since it's a small tank, I'd rather not have ballistic growth. I no longer have a big system and a frag tank, because I prefer not to make a career out of coral fragging. I'd be happy with great color and decent growth. I need to make sure I have room for that next piece I see that I can't live without