Solana tank owner thread.

Just joined the Solana club. Bought it from a fellow reefer with everything; sand, rock, fish etc... Brought it home and plugged it in. It is still stock. Now for more research and mods. First up most likely a MP10. Then ??
 
After the mp 10. I upgraded my skimmer to a tunze 9002 with the stevie t custom cup so it fits in the solana and then we got LED lights. The AI sol blue unit,
 
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.

I used an Aquaticlife 115, a Tunze 9002, a CPR Aeroforce and now use an Aquamaxx HOB on my Solana. I think the HOB skimmers are in a different league than all the internal ones.

A Bakpak would be easy to use without raising the tank level. What you need to do is lower the recirculating pump (I did this for the Aeroforce) and extend the return tube.

For the recirc pump use a piece of 1/2" rigid plastic tubing and a piece of 1/2" vinyl tubing. If you can't find 1/2" rigid plastic tubing then 1/2" polyethylene tubing would work but it's narrower inside. Both are 1/2" OD. The vinyl tubing is 1/2" ID. Push the vinyl tubing onto the rigid plastic tubing and insert it between the skimmer and the recirc pump. (Sorry, can't get any pictures as I just sold my Aeroforce.)
My Aeroforce spilled water directly into the tank. I was able to quiet the splashing by letting the return flow over a mesh filter sock down into the sump. With the Bakpak it looks like you just need to extend the PVC.
Good luck!
 
Thanks for the info. I'll look into it and post pics if I actually do it. I miss having Home Depot a mile down the road...impromptu projects don't happen as often now.
 
Return Pump Replacement

Return Pump Replacement

This morning my return pump didn't restart after feeding. I swapped it out with an MJ1200 that I pulled from some other job but now I need to think about a permanent replacement. I always figured that I would use an MJ1200 if my stock pump died but now I'm wondering about other options that people are using.
 
Return pump rip

Return pump rip

After work and after taking my daughter out for dinner I got to take a look at my nonfunctioning return pump. I was hoping that it might be junked up even though it had been cleaned in october. No luck. The axel for the impeller had broken in two places. My only guess about the cause is age.
Again, I'd appreciate recommendations for a replacement.
 
I have joined the ranks of Solana owners. I purchased a 34g (old version I think) for super cheap recently and I am currently leak testing it because they thought it might have a leak. I think they were just very messy with water changes and water got into the felt on the bottom and would slowly create a small salt creep. It has been sitting full of water for days and I see no indication that there is a leak.

The stand that it came with(stock one) was super warped because of all the water that was left under it and I remember reading that this type of tank needs a very flat surface. So I will be building my own stand very soon. I am very excited.
 
I have joined the ranks of Solana owners. I purchased a 34g (old version I think) for super cheap recently and I am currently leak testing it because they thought it might have a leak. I think they were just very messy with water changes and water got into the felt on the bottom and would slowly create a small salt creep. It has been sitting full of water for days and I see no indication that there is a leak.

The stand that it came with(stock one) was super warped because of all the water that was left under it and I remember reading that this type of tank needs a very flat surface. So I will be building my own stand very soon. I am very excited.

Good luck w your new tank! My husband has a Solana and I have the petite version 25g Ecoxotic. :-)
 
Good luck w your new tank! My husband has a Solana and I have the petite version 25g Ecoxotic. :-)

Thank you, it is going to sit for a while until I can finish a stand for it. This should give me plenty of time to make sure it does not leak before I put it upstairs.

I like the 25g Ecoxotic. It is only 2" smaller right?
 
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