TriggerHappyDude
New member
This is only an issue, that I know of, if you have the Sapphire Aquatics Skimmer for the Solana and use the Dry Dock. In my case they were so closely fit next to each other that it caused the water flow issues.
Solana tank owner thread.
- Thread starter JohnL
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MedRed
Active member
I plan on using my dry box in the third chamber. I don't like the look of it being in the middle. I ordered the tunze auto top off so I won't be using the top off bottles.
Is it worth upgrading the stock pump? If so, what are some replacement suggestions. If I replaced the stock pump, would the stocker be sufficient as a pump to get water up to a raised refugium?
Is it worth upgrading the stock pump? If so, what are some replacement suggestions. If I replaced the stock pump, would the stocker be sufficient as a pump to get water up to a raised refugium?
Nerdy Nudi
New member
I would replace the pump asap.
I am curently having a hard time deciding on lights and had to go to square one once I saw what the tank temp is at. With a pair of maxis 900's, no heater (unplugged), stock skimmer pump, and return, the tank hit 85-86 degrees today. In an air conditioned room that is always between 75-77 degrees.
Without the stock return using a maxi for flow and one for return, the tank was between 80 and 82. This is with a single 65w pc for light, using glass cover (have jumpers), with little evap.
The large temperature difference prompted a side by side test.
The test was 3 buckets. 1 control, 1 with maxi mod, one with stock return pump, in 5 gallon buckets with 4 gallons of water.
Aafter a solid 36 hours of running, and tested with a tds digital meter with temp and results in celcius. The buckets were first filled with cold buckets as I wanted to see how fast they warmed up as well.
starting temps:
16 control
16 maximod
16 stock return
36 hours later: (stable temp after consistent rise)
25 control
27 maximod
31 stock return
thats an easy 6 degrees f temp difference. the maximod bucket water still felt cool , while the return bucket felt warm.
Im going to have to use the 900 for now, though the flow is much weaker.
I am curently having a hard time deciding on lights and had to go to square one once I saw what the tank temp is at. With a pair of maxis 900's, no heater (unplugged), stock skimmer pump, and return, the tank hit 85-86 degrees today. In an air conditioned room that is always between 75-77 degrees.
Without the stock return using a maxi for flow and one for return, the tank was between 80 and 82. This is with a single 65w pc for light, using glass cover (have jumpers), with little evap.
The large temperature difference prompted a side by side test.
The test was 3 buckets. 1 control, 1 with maxi mod, one with stock return pump, in 5 gallon buckets with 4 gallons of water.
Aafter a solid 36 hours of running, and tested with a tds digital meter with temp and results in celcius. The buckets were first filled with cold buckets as I wanted to see how fast they warmed up as well.
starting temps:
16 control
16 maximod
16 stock return
36 hours later: (stable temp after consistent rise)
25 control
27 maximod
31 stock return
thats an easy 6 degrees f temp difference. the maximod bucket water still felt cool , while the return bucket felt warm.
Im going to have to use the 900 for now, though the flow is much weaker.
Nerdy Nudi
New member
Ill have some pix and videos up soon to see my set-up for a visual idea as to what are the heat contributors.
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DheereCrossing
New member
I'd suggest a small Eheim. Probably something around 400-600 gph or less. Remember, you want a slow flow through the filtration chambers to allow as much contact time with the skimmer, fuge if modded, chemical filtration, etc as possible.
In tank flow is done with the external powerheads.
In tank flow is done with the external powerheads.
laverda
Well-known member
Flow through the back chambers has nothing to do with contact time in the skimmer. That is strictly determined by the skimmer design and its pump. If your using Cheeto in the fuge it prefers a higher flow. I have never seen anything saying chemical filtration works better with slow flow. There is not that much flow in there to begin with.
I have a modified SCWD in the 3rd chamber in the back of my tank, with 2 new outputs to give a nice changing flow. I also have a moded 6025 for additional flow.
Does solana user observe a unstable stock pump output?
In my tank, I use a JBJ ATO in my third chamber, the only thing might block the flow is the filter floss in the second chamber. I watched the jbj ato operation, in the short period of time (1 hours), the water level kept pretty much the same. But it always over-feed the fresh water and raise the water at least 2-3 inches in back chambers. The skimmer 9002 has a very big impact because of this
Should i replace the stock pump? or anyone had the same issue before, please give me some hints.
In my tank, I use a JBJ ATO in my third chamber, the only thing might block the flow is the filter floss in the second chamber. I watched the jbj ato operation, in the short period of time (1 hours), the water level kept pretty much the same. But it always over-feed the fresh water and raise the water at least 2-3 inches in back chambers. The skimmer 9002 has a very big impact because of this
Should i replace the stock pump? or anyone had the same issue before, please give me some hints.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
My stock return pump is the only thing stock I didn't replace. It works fine for me and the flow is good. I have no issues with it.
LoneWolf88
New member
Justed setup my Solana on Tuesday and the cycle has begun.... water cleared up nicely... but I have microbubbles any suggestions on getting rid of them running stock pump and skimmer....
Nerdy Nudi
New member
the blue filter material that rests in the second chamber is what keeps micro bubbles to a minumum.
unfortunately, I have noticed that this sponge, as it clogs, reduces flow and the water in the second chamber starts to raise while the third chamber starts to decline. this could cause potential issues with overflows as well.
without that spnge, or something to replace it, the micro bubbles are just hideous.
Im going to try and make some never racks out of eggcrate to replace the black plastic ones. Im hoping the much larger openings allows the second chamber to breath more and reduces the clogging effect of the sponge and stock rack combination.
unfortunately, I have noticed that this sponge, as it clogs, reduces flow and the water in the second chamber starts to raise while the third chamber starts to decline. this could cause potential issues with overflows as well.
without that spnge, or something to replace it, the micro bubbles are just hideous.
Im going to try and make some never racks out of eggcrate to replace the black plastic ones. Im hoping the much larger openings allows the second chamber to breath more and reduces the clogging effect of the sponge and stock rack combination.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
You could remove the blue sponge and use filter floss instead, down in that second chamber, but you'll have to change it out regularly, that might help. Other than that, not sure?
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TriggerHappyDude
New member
Dustin, hows that dry dock? Did you set it up yet?
What skimmer do you have?
I plan to eventually maybe put some cheato in that 2nd chamber, and right now I have; Purigen, Chemi-Pure and something else back there as well. So I don't have a real fuge going...I'm curious to see answers to your question as well.
dustinc
Active member
Ehh... Honestly, I don't like it. It restricts the flow quite a bit even with the stock skimmer and it's a pain to get around too if I need to get back there, so it's back up for sale if you know of anyone. HA! Like I said, I'm still running stock skimmer now, but Euro Reef is supposed to be custom making a skimmer for me that will fit under the glass top, so then I'll use it, if that doesn't work out maybe the Tunze or Sapphire??? Something different for sure though, since my tank will primarily be SPS. I run phosguard and purigen back there now and have always had good luck with it in previous tanks, just curious about the whole fuge thing.
TriggerHappyDude
New member
Yeah, I hated the restriction of flow. Have you considered the Sapphire Aquatics Skimmer? It fits with the glass top and works silent, the only thing I hear from my tank is maybe a little bit of my VorTech. I fully recommend the Sapphire Aquatics Skimmer.
I'm having decision issues on which side of the tank to put my VorTech and how far from the top, maybe some feed back and pictures of where people who are mounting their VorTech's on the side of the Solana can give me some feedback? I had it on the left side but decided it was not allowing big stuff to get sucked into the overflow to get taken out of the water by my filters. So I moved it to the right side now, but don't know how far from the top of the glass to put it. I have the MP40w, so I have to turn it down all the way, its about 3" from top of glass to middle of the VorTech head. I get some good water ripples, but not sure if I need more or how to tell?
Another idea I had with mounting that VorTech in the middle of the 2nd chamber, without using a Dry Dock was to put it in a zip lock back, keeps it dry and still mounts. Has anyone tried this idea or have issues with it?
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