Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter JohnL
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kevantheman35
Member
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2224681
Heres a link to my solana if anyones interested. Been running a couple of years now.
Heres a link to my solana if anyones interested. Been running a couple of years now.
LinkinReef
Member
For all you 34g solana owners, what does your clean-up crew look like? As in how many snails, crabs, etc. and what kind?
That's the Superbrite. I don't have one yet but I'm slowly starting my build for one. So far I've just got the sump and built the stand for it..
If I were you I'd drill it. I'm going from a 28 gallon nano cube to the Solana because I don't want to see anything hanging off the back anymore. I'm going to get a Glass Holes overflow for mine and run my Kessel A350. I think the simple look should be nice with just the single pendant light on the gooseneck and nothing else visible.
Here's a couple pics that show my sump and homemade stand:
The sump looks kind of small but it's 15" by 15" and 13" tall. Leaves enough room inside for heater, skimmer, return pump and pumps for GFO reactor and carbon reactor and enough room outside for the 2 reactors. I'm going slow with this build so it probably won't be up and running until after the holidays. There are a couple Solana Superbrite builds on here though that you could check out.
Hey chad p that's a nice sump and stand. Did you get the sump from John at Advance Arcylics? I have that exact sump on my 50 Cadlights, but just larger(21X21x15). It's a great sump design and works great.
I actually have two 34gal solanas. You should just drill them. Its pretty easy. I used the nano overflow with the teeth from glass holes. They work great.
Dave
I actually have two 34gal solanas. You should just drill them. Its pretty easy. I used the nano overflow with the teeth from glass holes. They work great.
Dave
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Thanks Daveyboi. No I got the sump from an ebay seller by the name of acrylicaquariumsuppliers. They have quite a few sump sizes and they make frag tanks and stuff like that. They were good to work with and for anyone in the L.A. area you can pick up from them and they'll take quite a bit off the price.
rfalvey89
New member
Cuc
Cuc
I am going really small with mine, 1 huge (Zebra) snail and maybe 5-7 hermits...I plan on putting a pair of Maroon Clowns in there and trying to breed them out...
we shall see how that ends up.
Cuc
I am going really small with mine, 1 huge (Zebra) snail and maybe 5-7 hermits...I plan on putting a pair of Maroon Clowns in there and trying to breed them out...
we shall see how that ends up.
FOWLR Solana 34G (built in chambers) Setup Recommendations
FOWLR Solana 34G (built in chambers) Setup Recommendations
My girlfriend wants to get back into running an aquarium so I got a great deal on a complete, previous generation 34G Solana with stand and disco ball MH light fixture. It's a stock system, meaning it still has the original, unmodified skimmer and top off bottles. To KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) for her, I'm going to set it up as a FOWLR. And start with a clown or two, and whatever else she fancies within reason.
My questions are:
1) Is the stock skimmer up to the task? I hear they are quite noisy but if it's simply applying a mesh mod to get it to quiet down and perform much better, I'll do just that. Otherwise, I also have a Hydor Slim Skim Nano skimmer, the same as that recommended and used by Mark Callahan of Mr. Saltwater TV for his 34G Solana.
2) What type of media/equipment is recommended for the second chamber or should I stick with the original NanoBall media and Activated Carbon?
3) Do I need a circulation powerhead or will just the filtration system provide sufficient water flow? Again, this is just a FOWLR.
4) Is there a more convenient and reliable top off modification/replacement or should I just stick with the original top off bottles? Again, I'm trying to keep this simple for my girlfriend and don't want to add more complex sumps and pumps.
5) Probably going with a DSB. I'm assuming the typical CUC is still warranted even though this is just a FOWLR system?
I have a big chunk of new Pukani that just isn't the right shape for my 110 (almost a round ball) so I will probably use a chisel to shape it to something more interesting and drop the pieces into the her tank (after proper curing/LC treatment). Otherwise, I will leave it up to her to decide what other "decorations" to put into it.
Advice is greatly appreciated!
FOWLR Solana 34G (built in chambers) Setup Recommendations
My girlfriend wants to get back into running an aquarium so I got a great deal on a complete, previous generation 34G Solana with stand and disco ball MH light fixture. It's a stock system, meaning it still has the original, unmodified skimmer and top off bottles. To KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) for her, I'm going to set it up as a FOWLR. And start with a clown or two, and whatever else she fancies within reason.
My questions are:
1) Is the stock skimmer up to the task? I hear they are quite noisy but if it's simply applying a mesh mod to get it to quiet down and perform much better, I'll do just that. Otherwise, I also have a Hydor Slim Skim Nano skimmer, the same as that recommended and used by Mark Callahan of Mr. Saltwater TV for his 34G Solana.
2) What type of media/equipment is recommended for the second chamber or should I stick with the original NanoBall media and Activated Carbon?
3) Do I need a circulation powerhead or will just the filtration system provide sufficient water flow? Again, this is just a FOWLR.
4) Is there a more convenient and reliable top off modification/replacement or should I just stick with the original top off bottles? Again, I'm trying to keep this simple for my girlfriend and don't want to add more complex sumps and pumps.
5) Probably going with a DSB. I'm assuming the typical CUC is still warranted even though this is just a FOWLR system?
I have a big chunk of new Pukani that just isn't the right shape for my 110 (almost a round ball) so I will probably use a chisel to shape it to something more interesting and drop the pieces into the her tank (after proper curing/LC treatment). Otherwise, I will leave it up to her to decide what other "decorations" to put into it.
Advice is greatly appreciated!
In my opinion stock Skimmer is fine and not that noisy.
I use carbon and purigen, sometimes phosguard in the middle chamber.
Never had fish only so not sure about the flow for that? I imagine it should be fine.
The top off bottles are useless I would get an ATO if it were me just keep in mind it will almost require a return pump to get the top off from under the stock stand all the way up to the back of the tank. A toms pump just is not strong enough.
This is the number one complaint I've read of these Solana's :-( Although I personally have no problems with external ATO's and pumps and prefer it for any other aquariums I would maintain, I don't like the way it will have to be plumbed over the back rim as well as the attendant space needed behind the tank for the plumbing. I also intend to utilize the included original wooden frame cover and either the original folding glass top, or if the temps get too hot (another concern with Solana's using solid glass tops) build a mesh cover with clear netting that fits onto the frame; the stock glass will not allow external plumbing over the rim and even if I could built a notch in the net cover the protruding plumbing would detract from the clean lines of an All-In-One, which is why I chose the All-In-One Solana in the first place.
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chicago_animal
New member
Its time for a CUC for this tank. What would you recommend?
My Solana has a cutout across the back for wires and hoses etc it is not as tall in the back as the rest of the tank. You should be able to put a cover, top, canopy and the hoses will still go under without being visible from the front.
My Solana has a cutout across the back for wires and hoses etc it is not as tall in the back as the rest of the tank. You should be able to put a cover, top, canopy and the hoses will still go under without being visible from the front.
Hmm... The Solana I just got doesn't have a "cutout" on the back pane; it's rear edge is continuous and at the same height as the other sides.
Examining it further, the 3rd chamber doesn't appear to have the plate to mount the top off bottles as there is just two ridges on either side of the chamber but otherwise it's just one long vertical section with the return pump at the bottom; the bottles came loose inside the drawer of the stand. So without getting a replacement plate from Current USA, I will have to figure out a different ATO system entirely anyways (unless someone has this plate lying around that they don't want, hmm?).
I did notice, however, that the included wooden frame has two notches on both ends that allow the skimmer and return pumps' electrical cords to exit out down the back. In addition, the rear section of the folding top glass has a "cutout" (similar to your Solana's rear pane) for which purpose I have no idea (evaporation?) but I could use it route a top off tube. But that would ruin the clean lines of the AIO so I would rather add another notch into the wooden frame IF I implement an external ATO.
calistyle
Active member
" The Solana I just got doesn't have a "cutout" on the back pane; it's rear edge is continuous and at the same height as the other sides."
Just means you have the older version (non starphire version). As for the top off you can use a DIY one (http://autotopoff.com/products/), JBJ has one for under 100 as well. Or you can spend more on the Tunze one.
Honestly, if you don't mind you can prob. just dump a cup or so of fresh water in chamber 3 per day to keep up with top off. Otherwise I use a 3g jug w/ ATO to handle it for me.
Just means you have the older version (non starphire version). As for the top off you can use a DIY one (http://autotopoff.com/products/), JBJ has one for under 100 as well. Or you can spend more on the Tunze one.
Honestly, if you don't mind you can prob. just dump a cup or so of fresh water in chamber 3 per day to keep up with top off. Otherwise I use a 3g jug w/ ATO to handle it for me.
calistyle
Active member
" The Solana I just got doesn't have a "cutout" on the back pane; it's rear edge is continuous and at the same height as the other sides."
Just means you have the older version (non starphire version). As for the top off you can use a DIY one (http://autotopoff.com/products/), JBJ has one for under 100 as well. Or you can spend more on the Tunze one.
Honestly, if you don't mind you can prob. just dump a cup or so of fresh water in chamber 3 per day to keep up with top off. Otherwise I use a 3g jug w/ ATO to handle it for me.
Just means you have the older version (non starphire version). As for the top off you can use a DIY one (http://autotopoff.com/products/), JBJ has one for under 100 as well. Or you can spend more on the Tunze one.
Honestly, if you don't mind you can prob. just dump a cup or so of fresh water in chamber 3 per day to keep up with top off. Otherwise I use a 3g jug w/ ATO to handle it for me.
This is for my girlfriend so it's really for her convenience to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Sure, I can probably tell her to manually fill chamber 3 to a marked level with fresh water on a daily basis, hoping she's accurate and doesn't constantly over/under-fill which could lead to salinity fluctuation.
My concern with adding an external ATO is the possibility of sensor/controller failure that could lead to water overflowing the tank. She lives on the second floor of an apartment so such a catastrophic event would have serious repercussions.
sonic
Member
Do her (and the fish) a HUGE favor and get an ATO, trust me on this one. I have a simple float sensor on the last chamber controlling a small powerhead in a 10 gallon tank next to the solana, its on the floor and I have a cheapo ikea lamp table over the top so it hides most of the top off tank. I fill it about every other week, I have never had an issue just keep the sensor clean, I check it once in a blue moon. This has worked awesome for me for the last 2 years.
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