Solana tank owner thread.

dustinc said:
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.
Click to expand...

What size drill bit did you use to drill the holes?

Also can I just take any sponge and glue it in between the blades for the mesh mod? (People have made me think this is really hard to do, and you have to have all sorts of specific equipment to make it work)

Are you still having good luck with your skimmer after making the mods?

after this is is there really no need to buy an after market skimmer?
 
My 34G Solana...

My 34G Solana...

Hello fellow aficionados... I recently pick up a used Solana and transfer most of my old tank stuff in to it (55g). So far I love the Solana. The set-up came with no light and my wife hates the open euro look so I had to build a canopy...
Single 175 MH supplemented with a set of power brites, ATO, Dual Fans. The system has been up for 3 months and it is doing fantastic.
Future upgrades will be a hang on back refugium and I am bumping up the lights to 250 MH (20K Radium)
Eventually this will be a mix reef with a concentration of SPS and LPS.
<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/?action=view&current=IMG_3561-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/IMG_3561-1.jpg" border="0" alt="34G Solana"></a>
<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/?action=view&current=IMG_3559-Copy-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/IMG_3559-Copy-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Solana"></a>
<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/?action=view&current=IMG_3562-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/IMG_3562-1.jpg" border="0" alt="solana1"></a>
<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/?action=view&current=IMG_3587-Copy-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/IMG_3587-Copy-1.jpg" border="0" alt="34G Solana CRNR"></a>
my clowns came up to say hello in this top view...
<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/?action=view&current=IMG_3589-Copy-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa141/WLDSHARK/SOLANA/IMG_3589-Copy-1.jpg" border="0" alt="top view"></a>
 
How do you do a restart up of tank after cleaning. I tuned off pumps to clean tank. Once you do this the water rises in the three chambers in back. After I restart the pupms the water goes back to the right levels in back. But I just did another cleaning and restarted pumps but the water levels in chambers are still full. The blue sponge is floating not resting on grate like it needs to. Is there something I need to be doing to restart? Thanks
 
I just got tank this past weekend but have noticed this too. Just take out the sponge and it should equalize - at least mine did. And then you can put it back in.
 
this cleaning process involved water changes or adding water? if so.. the tank maybe has too much water and the chambers wil stay full.

in that case you can remove water from the system and the back chambers should go back to normal.

check first the 2nd chamber and 3rd chamber must be @ the same level .. if not.. means the 2nd chamber is blocking water and you can try removing the sponge as the previous post recomends.

JAYWARREN said:
How do you do a restart up of tank after c
leaning. I tuned off pumps to clean tank. Once you do this the water rises in the three chambers in back. After I restart the pupms the water goes back to the right levels in back. But I just did another cleaning and restarted pumps but the water levels in chambers are still full. The blue sponge is floating not resting on grate like it needs to. Is there something I need to be doing to restart? Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Hooked4life said:
20k

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


After burning fine for 2 days, the Radium bulb started flickering and going out. When I talked to Premium about returning it, they said the quality of the 150w was not as good as the 250w and 400w. Returning it for a Phoenix. Experiment over.
 
re: the marineland right-size A pads

I just got these in the mail today and they don't seem to be the same size - close, but bigger. Am I suppose to take off the black plastic and just use the blue pad?
 
amheck said:
re: the marineland right-size A pads

I just got these in the mail today and they don't seem to be the same size - close, but bigger. Am I suppose to take off the black plastic and just use the blue pad?
Click to expand...

Thats what I did to make them fit. Trimmed the sides of the plastic off so it would fit on top of the upper drip tray.
I stopped using them though- they were expensive IMO. I just use regular blue filter floss now for that area along with Fluval Foam blocks for the overflow. Then I have chaeto in chamber 2 with a bag of Seachem Carbon and a bag Chemipure Elite under it.

Any of you guys having problems with your stock skimmers? Mine is making some unhappy noises lately so I'm thinking its on its last leg. Trying to decide what to replace it with now. Its between Tunze and Euro-Reef cause I dont think a HOB will work too well on a Solana.
 
nirvanaandtool said:
Any of you guys having problems with your stock skimmers? Mine is making some unhappy noises lately so I'm thinking its on its last leg. Trying to decide what to replace it with now. Its between Tunze and Euro-Reef cause I dont think a HOB will work too well on a Solana.
Click to expand...

You probably have but... have you tried running the pump in vinegar over night for a good clean?
 
Just some updates.

IMG_3860.jpg


IMG_3837.jpg


IMG_3841.jpg


IMG_3877.jpg


Newest edition: Red scotter Dragonet

IMG_3832.jpg
 
Cool idea with the fuge next to the tank. Looks good.

But can your tank support both the mandarin in the fuge and the scooter in Solana? Wouldn't they need a ton of pods?
 
I have a solana and it did not some with the stock skimmer and I am looking for some options. Any help would be appreciated
 
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