Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
If you're talking about their 'can' light, I was going to ask the same thing. Also, does anyone have a 24" light hanging over their tank? I'm considering a 150w/T5 light over mine, but I"m worried about the overhang.
Lastly, what do you do about the overflow noise? My water level is fine, but the water is pretty loud draining into that little compartment in the left chamber.
Lastly, what do you do about the overflow noise? My water level is fine, but the water is pretty loud draining into that little compartment in the left chamber.
Chiefmcfuz
New member
For the noise in mine I use a poly pad in the overflow
for noise I use floss pad that you cut out. But I also added the white egg crate type stuff to hold it in place.
As far as LED lighting I'm not happy w color. Lps are losing color. There is a thread in LPS forum on the topic. Lots of people are having same issue.
Our solana has beautiful color using 150w 14k MH. My ecoxotic 24g w 7 ecoxotic led light fixtures has bleached the corals. So I'm not sold on led yet.
As far as LED lighting I'm not happy w color. Lps are losing color. There is a thread in LPS forum on the topic. Lots of people are having same issue.
Our solana has beautiful color using 150w 14k MH. My ecoxotic 24g w 7 ecoxotic led light fixtures has bleached the corals. So I'm not sold on led yet.
pweissma
Member
I have created a thread here on RC showing my overflow mod,
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117969
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117969
Thanks a lot! Now I have to go into the attic and bring down the eggcrate.
It looks like you have an ATO as well. If so, can you give me an idea of where you keep your water level and if you have the float switches in the pump chamber or the other one? I would assume the pump chamber, just like in a biocube or a sump, but I just want to be sure.
Again, thanks for the other thread
It looks like you have an ATO as well. If so, can you give me an idea of where you keep your water level and if you have the float switches in the pump chamber or the other one? I would assume the pump chamber, just like in a biocube or a sump, but I just want to be sure.
Again, thanks for the other thread
sharky's machin
New member
Other than MP 10, what is recommended for power heads? How much flow?
I'll be using a koralia 2 and one of their evo750s. ran a pair of k2s and a k1 in my older 30g cube, so the solana should be about the same. Right now I have a MJ1200 as the return pump and a k2, but the tank just finished its cycle and doesn't have any coral.
pweissma
Member
Thanks cody, I really appreciate the acknowledgment that I've given something useful back to the community that has taught me pretty much everything I know about reef keeping.
I keep my water level just below the 1st chamber baffle. This is the one direction from the Solana instructions that I remember and I think it's important. Since water enters chamber 1 from the bottom and leaves chamber two from the bottom, if the water level is above the baffle, the two chambers merge resulting in a smooth undisturbed surface where bad stuff will accumulate. The baffle also exists to maintain a constant water level in chamber 1 for proper performance of the stock skimmer. (As an aside, I think the stock skimmer gets unfairly maligned by people who have their water level too high.)
I have my float switch in the 3rd chamber. I think it would be fine to have it in the 2nd chamber but it would interfere with media or whatever you have in there, in my case I just have it filled with small pieces of live rock.
I have a small float switch that I took from an old reef fanatic ato. The float switch works through my Apex. I built a bracket and snail/splash guard with stuff from aquahub.
I only use a single float switch but I have created some safety with the way it's programmed in my Apex. If the ATO switch is on for more than 30 seconds then the ATO pump is turned off until I reset it. There are two main reasons why the ATO pump would be on that long, either the reservoir is dry or the switch is stuck. Either problem would result in the ATO being shut off. There are other ways to build in some safety. Obviously many people use multiple float switches but another way is to use a nice slow peristaltic pump and put your ATO on a timer so it only runs slightly more often than necessary.
Chiefmcfuz
New member
I swapped out the sapphire aquatic skimmer and with a little mod to the overflow area I was able to put the bubble magus nac qq in. The thing works great. Now to sell the sapphire.
where do you guys put the heater to have a stable temperature? I don't have a temp controller now, the heater runs itself. It is placed in the third chamber, i found if it is merged deeper in the water, the temperature raise 8-9F. It makes my tank temperature jumping up and down a lot. Any recommendation?
Has anyone strapped a CPR Bakpak to a Solana? I have the Tunze drop in skimmer and it seems to work alright, but I think the CPR is probably a better skimmer. The water level is pretty low back there, but Im sure I could just fill it higher if I need to. I'd like to get some input from anyone that's done it before I go digging in my attic for mine.
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