Solana tank owner thread.

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14413156#post14413156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aklee987
My Solana: I am also doing an "experiment" with this tank. Everything in it is either aquacultured, tank raised, or from someone else's tank. I used Southdown Sand and I used Worm Rock for my live rock, which supposedly was underwater thousands of years ago, but is now mined out of the ground. Began my cycle with a piece of frozen fish (from my freezer) and went from there. After the cycle was completed, I added 2 damsels to make sure everything was fine. Things seem to be doing well, I have since switched the damsels to two tank raised clowns, and added a couple frags. Any feedback/advice would be appreciated.

Modifications that I have done:
1. Replaced stock skimmer with Tunze 9002 with custom collection cup from InTank
2. Replaced stock return with Maxijet 900 to slow flow down
3. Added Vortech mp20
4. Removed stock locline returns.
5. Replaced stock ATO with Tunze Osmolator
6. Have cheato in 2nd chamber with fluorescent light velcroed to back of tank (no pic of that)

Thats all I can think of for now, thanks for looking and all the advice. Again, any feedback and/or advice would be appreciated.
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Nice setup, I noticed you've also done the 2nd chamber mod so you can place your VorTech in the middle of the back wall? You forgot to mention that!

So you bought a Maxijet 900 because it was slower than the stock return pump?
 
I have a Cardiff that I am setting up and I absolutely hate the glass top. It is almost impossible to get to sit in the tank on the little clips. Even when it is not sitting on the little mounts it is really awkward to feed the fish or do anything else in the tank and I feel it is just a matter of time before it gets broken.
I am in the process of trying to figure out how make a mesh top with hinged access to the back and at least part of the front for feeding and what not.
I hope to move the rest of the rock, corals and fish in this week. I have a modified SCWD set up in the back returning through two new returns, one 4" above and to the right of the stock one. The other return is about 10” to the left of the stock return.
Here are a few photos of it so far.
cardiff000.jpg

cardiff001.jpg

cardiff002.jpg

cardiff003.jpg

cardiff004.jpg

cardiff005.jpg
 
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how much watt heater, you guys use?
does 100W is too weak for 65F, I turn off my AC during the day time, the temperture in the room will go down
 
I'm buying a 200 or 250w Stealth heater, but the Solana tank only requires a 150w for its size...100w might be too weak depending on the brand you get.
 
It may also be worth it to consider that many people use two smaller-wattage heaters to maintain the temperature their desired temperature - this way if one fails/sticks on it won't nuke your tank.
 
Hi I am very new to posting but I have a few questions.
I trying to set up my tank and my concern is with the second chamber being turned into a fuge. Has anyone had any problems with the lamp heating the glass too much? I have a coralife 18 watt fixture that I would be using. Second is what is an appropriate amount of substraint to give a nice look?
 
Do you use the glass top? I don't think you'll have any issues with an 18W refugium light; it'll actually help stabilize the temperature if you run it on a reverse cycle as your display lights. As for substrate, I have ~30 lbs of sand in mine and about 2" of sand depth; if I had the chance to do it over again I would probably rock about 20 lbs of sand for a bit less depth but still enough to keep my sand sifters happy.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14424334#post14424334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GT3000XX
Also be sure and check the length of the heater. I believe the Solana will only accomidate a 11" long heater. :-)
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Does it have to be fully underwater? I got the 250w one that is 15" long, but I'm not sure the water level will cover the entire heater...?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14421928#post14421928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChrisMc73
Nice setup, I noticed you've also done the 2nd chamber mod so you can place your VorTech in the middle of the back wall? You forgot to mention that!

So you bought a Maxijet 900 because it was slower than the stock return pump?
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ChrisMc73:
Yes, I made a box to keep the dry side dry. Sorry I forgot to mention it. The MJ 900 does have a lower gph than the stock return. I wanted to lower the water level so my Vortech could move more water. I did notice, however, after I took the stock return out, it had a dial on it with a + and - sign. Perhaps I could have just dialed down the flow with the stock return, I'm not sure.

edit:
When hooking the MJ 900 up to the stock return tubing, the water output nozzle of the MJ 900 is too small. What I did was that I used the part of the MJ 900 that you use when hooking it up to air tubing (comes with the MJ 900). It fits over the output nozzle and is big enough that the stock tubing fits to it. I'm sure there was a better way, but I was too lazy to do anything else. I didn't plug the airline tubing hole, so either I'm sucking more water in, or pushing water out through it. Doesn't really matter, I suppose. Sorry its so confusing.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14425661#post14425661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChrisMc73
Does it have to be fully underwater? I got the 250w one that is 15" long, but I'm not sure the water level will cover the entire heater...?
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The heater I bought is fully submersible, but also has a minimum water level line. You may want to look at the manual, each heater is different.
 
I just bought a Tunze nano skimmer for my mother in laws Solana and I have to say I couldn't be more disappointed!

I've owned a lot of Tunze products and this thing looks like some cheap china knock off of a Tunze product. I had high hopes that it would be fairly quiet and skim well, so far I have seen nothing to be impressed with, granted these skimmers are cheap I would expect more from Tunze.
 
How many gallons of water does the solana really hold after live rock and sand are added?
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14429276#post14429276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DGee
I just bought a Tunze nano skimmer for my mother in laws Solana and I have to say I couldn't be more disappointed!

I've owned a lot of Tunze products and this thing looks like some cheap china knock off of a Tunze product. I had high hopes that it would be fairly quiet and skim well, so far I have seen nothing to be impressed with, granted these skimmers are cheap I would expect more from Tunze.
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I really like my Tunze skimmer. I haven't had many issues with it at all. Gotten really good skimmate so far. I've had it about a 2 months now. What is the problem with your Tunze skimmer? Perhaps its still going through its break in phase?
 
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