Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter mile sq. reefer
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CHAMBERS RE-DONE FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME (note the custom tunze collection cup to fit in back of 1st chamber) 1st chamber Tunze 9002 Skimmer with stevieT collection cup eheim heater
second chamber filter pad drip tray under that and refugium (18watt PC bulb velcro on back) along with chemipure everything seems to be working well so far.
third chamber i have ATO JBJ phosban reactor rowaphos and esv carbon in mediabag
second chamber filter pad drip tray under that and refugium (18watt PC bulb velcro on back) along with chemipure everything seems to be working well so far.
third chamber i have ATO JBJ phosban reactor rowaphos and esv carbon in mediabag
cerreta
Premium Member
Scram, do you have a Solana Orb 150w? If so, then if you change to a 250w with a different style pendant you may actually have less intensity output. The design of the Solana orb does a phenomenal job of directing light to a tank of this size.
Here is a review that I did awhile back. I was amazed with the performance of the Solana. I would save the money if I were you.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1243847
Here is a review that I did awhile back. I was amazed with the performance of the Solana. I would save the money if I were you.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1243847
cerreta
Premium Member
Here is an observation I made in the comparative review that should make you feel happy about your Solana Orb!
I also made a few observations when looking at the numbers and discussing some issues about the possibility of upgrading to a 250watt system:
A new Phoenix 14K lamp with RF 150 watt ballast/PFO pendant = 27,000 LUX
13 Month old Phoenix 14K lamp with RF ballast/PFO Pendant as tested in the review = 25,500 LUX.
10/3/06 I tested the LUX of new lamps installed. These are Phoenix 14K lamps powered by an RF ballast and PFO pendant. I owned a 150 watt version for the nano and two 250 versions for the 110 tall tank.
Results:
250watt #1 = 32,500 LUX
250watt #2 = 31,500 LUX
150watt = 27,000 LUX
Taking the average of the two 250watt systems at 32,000 LUX, that equates to a 15% greater intensity over the 150watt system.
That is not very much in my estimation and considering the cost of change over and paying for electricity, I do not consider it a good investment, unless you have a tank deeper than 20". My PROP tank is only 13 inches deep and I have a 3 inch sand bed, so I am happy with the 150watt version.
Another Observation:
The new Phoenix 14K lamp on a RF 250watt ballast and PFO pendant produces 32,000 LUX.
The 13month old 14K lamp on a 150watt Sunpak ballast and Solana pendant produces 38,000 LUX. With the RF ballast it produces 45,000 LUX. That is an increase in Intensity by 16% and 29% respectively.
Therefore, if you really want to make a good upgrade, consider changing to a higher efficiency pendant system before upgrading to a 250watt ballast. It will cost less and may deliver more intensity, depending of what you are currently using. I have obviously only test the PFO and Solana pendant, but wish I had access to a few other makes and models.
I would like to see more studies done comparing pendant systems. I think we are on to something here.
I completed the testing of the Radium lamp and will post results in the other thread. I will also comment about the lamp color.
I also made a few observations when looking at the numbers and discussing some issues about the possibility of upgrading to a 250watt system:
A new Phoenix 14K lamp with RF 150 watt ballast/PFO pendant = 27,000 LUX
13 Month old Phoenix 14K lamp with RF ballast/PFO Pendant as tested in the review = 25,500 LUX.
10/3/06 I tested the LUX of new lamps installed. These are Phoenix 14K lamps powered by an RF ballast and PFO pendant. I owned a 150 watt version for the nano and two 250 versions for the 110 tall tank.
Results:
250watt #1 = 32,500 LUX
250watt #2 = 31,500 LUX
150watt = 27,000 LUX
Taking the average of the two 250watt systems at 32,000 LUX, that equates to a 15% greater intensity over the 150watt system.
That is not very much in my estimation and considering the cost of change over and paying for electricity, I do not consider it a good investment, unless you have a tank deeper than 20". My PROP tank is only 13 inches deep and I have a 3 inch sand bed, so I am happy with the 150watt version.
Another Observation:
The new Phoenix 14K lamp on a RF 250watt ballast and PFO pendant produces 32,000 LUX.
The 13month old 14K lamp on a 150watt Sunpak ballast and Solana pendant produces 38,000 LUX. With the RF ballast it produces 45,000 LUX. That is an increase in Intensity by 16% and 29% respectively.
Therefore, if you really want to make a good upgrade, consider changing to a higher efficiency pendant system before upgrading to a 250watt ballast. It will cost less and may deliver more intensity, depending of what you are currently using. I have obviously only test the PFO and Solana pendant, but wish I had access to a few other makes and models.
I would like to see more studies done comparing pendant systems. I think we are on to something here.
I completed the testing of the Radium lamp and will post results in the other thread. I will also comment about the lamp color.
cerreta
Premium Member
Yah, the 70w and 150w lamps will fit in the same lamp holder. the 250w and 400w lamps can also fit the same holder.
Interstingly, you can use a 250watt ballast to overdrive a 150watt lamp. So, you can get a little more intenstiy by making this change. Alll you have to do is buy a 250watt ballast. I have not done any actual LUX recordings on this though.
truthfully, I do not think it will be worth it. The Solana 150watt system outperforms most 250watt systems on the market. We should all be happy with the Solana!!! It looks cool, produces very high output, and costs less money to operate.
If you want a real improvment, swap out that crappy stock lamp with a Phoenix 14k. If you look at the review thread, you can see a serious color difference between these two lamps.
Cheers
Interstingly, you can use a 250watt ballast to overdrive a 150watt lamp. So, you can get a little more intenstiy by making this change. Alll you have to do is buy a 250watt ballast. I have not done any actual LUX recordings on this though.
truthfully, I do not think it will be worth it. The Solana 150watt system outperforms most 250watt systems on the market. We should all be happy with the Solana!!! It looks cool, produces very high output, and costs less money to operate.
If you want a real improvment, swap out that crappy stock lamp with a Phoenix 14k. If you look at the review thread, you can see a serious color difference between these two lamps.
Cheers
CamBarr
New member
cerreta-
The only thing i see incomplete with your analysis is the depth of solana VS. The tank that the readings were taken The dims of the tank are quite a bit different???
Im my previous experience tanks over 18" in depth highly benefit form 250 watt bulbs and the 150 watters don't have enough intensity????
im pretty sure taht the PAR and lux Levels in the solalana will differer.
Does anyone have any pics of sps growing and keeping color under the stock orb 150 watt in the solana??? Like Acro and light loving SPS???
The only thing i see incomplete with your analysis is the depth of solana VS. The tank that the readings were taken The dims of the tank are quite a bit different???
Im my previous experience tanks over 18" in depth highly benefit form 250 watt bulbs and the 150 watters don't have enough intensity????
im pretty sure taht the PAR and lux Levels in the solalana will differer.
Does anyone have any pics of sps growing and keeping color under the stock orb 150 watt in the solana??? Like Acro and light loving SPS???
Last edited:
cerreta
Premium Member
Cam Barr,
That is a fair point. However, the analysis did not attempt to challenge tank depth. All measurments were taken from aprox 7" below the fixture and at the water surface. I did not attempt to measure any underwater distances.
Therefore, the test compares Intensity only above the water. However, higher starting intensity here should translate to higher intensities below the water surface too. It is a simple matter of energy levels.
It would be interesting to conduct that test. But my guess is that if you have a LUX of 45K at the water surface with a 150watt system then it will produce a higher value even at 24 inches deep compared to a 250watt system producing only 32K at the water surface. Regardless, of ballast wattage, LUX is a measurement of intensity and the pendant shape has a whole lot to do with translating that energy in a downward direction. The PFO does a better job at directing LUX to the angles, but not straight down. Since the tanks we are dealing with are only 20 x 20, the Solana is better suited.
In other words, a 250 watt system using the same lamp and pendant will out-produce a 150watt system with same pendant and lamp. However, I do not think a 250watt system using a PFO mini pendant will out-produce a 150watt Solana system at any depth.
I may be wrong, only a test could verify this.
I am very curious to know what LUX you could get from a 250watt IceCap Bell pendant. Those pendants share a similar shape with the Solana.
Another note, the PAR values I recorded are based on a calculation, not a direct PAR measurement. Again, I measured LUX which records light intensity, or energy. However, the calulation used was from a reliable and well tested source.
I miss doing these tests.
Cheers
That is a fair point. However, the analysis did not attempt to challenge tank depth. All measurments were taken from aprox 7" below the fixture and at the water surface. I did not attempt to measure any underwater distances.
Therefore, the test compares Intensity only above the water. However, higher starting intensity here should translate to higher intensities below the water surface too. It is a simple matter of energy levels.
It would be interesting to conduct that test. But my guess is that if you have a LUX of 45K at the water surface with a 150watt system then it will produce a higher value even at 24 inches deep compared to a 250watt system producing only 32K at the water surface. Regardless, of ballast wattage, LUX is a measurement of intensity and the pendant shape has a whole lot to do with translating that energy in a downward direction. The PFO does a better job at directing LUX to the angles, but not straight down. Since the tanks we are dealing with are only 20 x 20, the Solana is better suited.
In other words, a 250 watt system using the same lamp and pendant will out-produce a 150watt system with same pendant and lamp. However, I do not think a 250watt system using a PFO mini pendant will out-produce a 150watt Solana system at any depth.
I may be wrong, only a test could verify this.
I am very curious to know what LUX you could get from a 250watt IceCap Bell pendant. Those pendants share a similar shape with the Solana.
Another note, the PAR values I recorded are based on a calculation, not a direct PAR measurement. Again, I measured LUX which records light intensity, or energy. However, the calulation used was from a reliable and well tested source.
I miss doing these tests.
Cheers
i plan to test out a few sps soon in my tank with the t5HO bulbs i'll let you guys know how they do so far my green slimer is doing well so im going to try more difficult sps until i find my limit. Anyone have any pics of sps that have been in the tank for more than a couple months? Maybe show growth or lack of color etc..also what lighting
Hi everyone, I saw this thread and thought I would post a hello and tell a bit about my tank.
I have a Solana tank and love it. Because of the width of the walls in my home nano tanks work better. I understand they are more work but they are truly a relaxing and enjoyable "hobby" now.
The Solana's lighting was switched out to a JBJ Viper K-2 150w HQI and a refugium is my next update to the tank. It is a bare bottom tank with pink and purple coralline algae spreading all over the tank's floor. It also has metallic green star polyps spreading on the tank's floor. I wanted a "grass-like" look for the floor and so far the process is slow but looking good. Besides these the tank inhabitants are:
20 - 30 lbs of live rock (lots of coraline algae, pink, purple, etc)
colony of eagle eye zoanthids
red mushrooms
brown mushrooms with green spots
green fuzzy mushroom
green sea mat colony
large colony of clove polyps
large green star polyp colony
2 black and white clown fish (mated pair)
3 astrea snails
1 continuously growing rose colored Heteractis magnifica (now about 13" from foot to tentacle tip, was approx. 8" when I got it)
The Solana is lightly populated as far as specimens are concerned but that is because I know they will grow and expand. The tank is a true conversation piece and people often prefer to sit next to the tank. The 2 gorgeous clowns and anemone keep people staring. The clowns practically live within the tentacles of the anemone. I also have a 12 gallon saltwater tank, 8 gallon freshwater tank, and 3 fish bowls that are home to male bettas (I have had them going on 2 yrs now).
I am contemplating another Solana tank with less lighting and lowered water flow for seahorses, pipefish and mandarins. That tank won't be for a while yet. I am still in the design phase. On that note...
Pleased to meet you.
I have a Solana tank and love it. Because of the width of the walls in my home nano tanks work better. I understand they are more work but they are truly a relaxing and enjoyable "hobby" now.
The Solana's lighting was switched out to a JBJ Viper K-2 150w HQI and a refugium is my next update to the tank. It is a bare bottom tank with pink and purple coralline algae spreading all over the tank's floor. It also has metallic green star polyps spreading on the tank's floor. I wanted a "grass-like" look for the floor and so far the process is slow but looking good. Besides these the tank inhabitants are:
20 - 30 lbs of live rock (lots of coraline algae, pink, purple, etc)
colony of eagle eye zoanthids
red mushrooms
brown mushrooms with green spots
green fuzzy mushroom
green sea mat colony
large colony of clove polyps
large green star polyp colony
2 black and white clown fish (mated pair)
3 astrea snails
1 continuously growing rose colored Heteractis magnifica (now about 13" from foot to tentacle tip, was approx. 8" when I got it)
The Solana is lightly populated as far as specimens are concerned but that is because I know they will grow and expand. The tank is a true conversation piece and people often prefer to sit next to the tank. The 2 gorgeous clowns and anemone keep people staring. The clowns practically live within the tentacles of the anemone. I also have a 12 gallon saltwater tank, 8 gallon freshwater tank, and 3 fish bowls that are home to male bettas (I have had them going on 2 yrs now).
I am contemplating another Solana tank with less lighting and lowered water flow for seahorses, pipefish and mandarins. That tank won't be for a while yet. I am still in the design phase. On that note...
Pleased to meet you.
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