theaquareefs super solana34

[theaquareef]

To start off, my 75 gallon is no more. It was a great tank but one of my coralife ballasts went out on my fixture and i couldn't seem to find one that was reasonable. All in all I'm back into the hobby as I just received my 34 gallon Solana Superbrite. I always liked cubes, especially rimless ones.

Equip:
Bean animal overflow - three 1" drains, one 3/4" return
CPR retrofit RSS12
Homemade acrylic sump
Hamilton Cabo Sun Mini reflector w/ lumatek 250/400 select ballast, Radium
Reef Octopus Classic Space Saver 110 skimmer
Eheim Compact+ 2000 return pump
Deep blue professional 20x20 stand

Possibilities:
Reef Keeper Lite Plus
Havent decided on Mp10 or a couple Tunze
Rapid Led 12" DIY actinic supplement kits
BRS Reactor for carbon/gfo
RODI from BRS

 

[ALH]

Sounds great. What livestock are you thinking of getting?

 

[theaquareef]

Thanks, it will be much easier and better looking having a sump as opposed to my 75 awhile ago. But I was thinking 1 or 2 black clowns, a Midas blenny, possibly a small wrasse (sixline or mystery etc) and thays about all Ive thought of so far hahaha. Aquatouch here in Phoenix has tank raised black clowns that I've been eyeing. Coralwise I want a mixed reef like my 75 but more centered on sps. Havent used a radium before but pretty excited to see the colors on everything.

My drill bits, bulkheads and overflow come in tomorrow from BRS

 

[ALH]

I love Aquatouch. I used to drag my kids there when I would visit my mom in phx. They used to have two black and white occ clowns on display that were huge

 

[theaquareef]

Yeah! That tank at the end with the red anenome! Those clowns were big. They always have quality livestock every single time I've been in there. Its also where I got all my liverock for my 75 and probably where I will be getting my rock for the solana

 

[ALH]

Maybe I'll go there for my fish as well. I'm setting up a solana as well, except its one of the older AIOs.

 

[theaquareef]

I highly reccommend it, along with reef culture. You should definitely rip out the aio and drill it hahaha then again the aio is a lot more simple. You have a thread for it??

 

[ALH]

I don't have a thread, but then, it's not much of a build, haha. Rock + saltwater + MP10 + bio balls in second chamber (I know people hate them) + old reef keeper lite + old tunze ATO + 150 watt MH. Low bio load plus weekly water changes should keep things OK. I'll have to check out Reef Culture. I need a lot of incentive to drive to Phoenix to see my mom. She's a little nuts. Sad but true

 

[ALH]

I just checked out the stands on deep blue professional's site. Very nice

 

[theaquareef]

Nice sounds like your tank will do just fine no problem. Reef culture was very nice they had a great selection of corals and fish and they're displays are huge, to me its a great incentive now that Ive visited. I'm going to try to get a lot of my coral from reef culture.

The deep blue stand I like a lot. I'm going to make my own sump out of acrylic to fit under there and probably drill a few holes for the pvc and flex tubes

 

[theaquareef]

Little did I know, Reef Culture closed their doors about a month ago. It was a nice place.

 

[theaquareef]

New Reef Octopus NWB-SSS 110

New Reef Octopus NWB-SSS 110

Just came in today. First impression is it bigger then i thought it would be, super easy to assemble and the build quality is top notch. Many levels better the my old hob aqua c remora pro. Cant wait to test this baby out.

 

[theaquareef]

My stand will be here on wednesday...finally. now all that's left is drilling and silicon in the baffles on my homemade sump and finish the plumbing. Still have lots of supplies to get like my return pump and my power head and my metal halide. Taking it slow tho. Slow and steady always wins right?

Still need:
Return pump
Reflector, lumatek ballast, radium
Refractometer, all test kits, Spectra pure 4 stage rodi, Salt mix (IO or red sea), cured rock from Aquatouch, reeflakes from Tropic Eden.

 

[theaquareef]

New stand arrived yesterday

New stand arrived yesterday

New stand got her yesterday. It is a pretty nice stand i do like it. It will definitely hold my sump. I only have to drill one more hole in the back for my drains. Other then that shes pretty sturdy and matches my furniture.:thumbsup:

My view from my desk:lolspin:

 

[ALH]

That's a nice stand. I have my tank next to my desk as well.

 

[theaquareef]

Thanks! It's a Deep Blue professional series I. I like it and I think it was worth it. I specifically want my tank next to my desk so I always have a nice view! Let's see your view!

 

[ALH]

This is my daughter's room, but while she's away at college it's my lair. The tank is still cycling

 

[ALH]

Actually that's her in the middle picture. That was taken during her plebe year at the Naval Academy

 

[theaquareef]

Nice is that a solana aio? And a sunpod? Your ahead of me haha my tank isn't wet yet plus i still have to drill it. What bulb is it running? Are you having trouble with temps with the tank now that it's getting hot?

 

[ALH]

Yeah, it's an old solana aio with a 150w sunpod. I thought it had a Phoenix bulb, but I just looked and it's a Hexarc 14,000. I have a 2 fan Azoo that really keeps it cool and I control it all with a reefkeeper lite. I've always shied away from drilling a tank, but I think I'll be doing that if I ever set up another tank.