My New Adventure - 34G Solana

[dagreatbadfinger]

After having such success with my RSM and horrible luck with my 40G Breeder i decided to run back to the AIO tanks!

Just finished filling my 34g Solana

Currently cycling with marco rocks.

The next purchase will be the AI Sol Blue, which i will be making a custom stand to over hang the light. I plan to control the light thru my reef keeper.

I also plan to swap out the stock skimmer with a good ol' Tunze Nano Skimmer w/ Steve T Skim cup and Steve T Media Rack (Used both in RSM and loved them!)

Stay tuned for further updates!


Hardware:
Solana 34G Starfire w/ Black stand
Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite w/ Dual PC4
AI Sol Blue in Black
Vortech MP10
Tunze 9002 Skimmer
Steve T Tunze Skim Cup
Steve T Media Basket
Custom Made Screen Top
Custom Made Light Tree

 

[winsbxnyc]

what kind of tank and stand is that its gorgeous

 

[rkaragozler]

Great start, looking good I ran a Solana for about 2 months and loved it, but i drilled mine out to run of sump. Keep the pics coming

 

[pauliwalnuts]

Congrats on your new set-up. :cheers:
Have you done any modifications to the filtration ?

 

[KathyC]

Looking good so far!
What are your plans for the livestock?

 

[smoq]

Tagging along. Solana is a great tank, miss mine sometimes

 

[Killarsox]

Tagging along. Solana is a great tank, miss mine sometimes

I feel the same way.

I always think about how great my old Solana's were.

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

I've got a question maybe someone can answer.

The tank is currently cycling and I've noticed the temperature on my RK is showing 81.5 degrees.

I have the RK set to turn the heater on if it was to drop under 74 degrees.

All I'm running in the tank now is the stock return pump, vortech mp10 and a tunze nano skimmer. I just unplugged the skimmer to see if the temp drops but I can't imagine the heat is comming from there. I know the vortech gets warm because of the wave mode but I've never had this problem.

I have the glass top on the tank - could that be the reason? I really would like to leave it on to lower evaporation rate but I guess I'll have to see.

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Killarsox]

The glass top is definitely trapping heat.

Try removing it for a few days and see if anything changes.
You shouldn't have too much evaporation from Solana.

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

Yeah at the last second i removed the top and plugged the Tunze back in before i left for work. I guess we'll see when i get home.

I know i've ran both the Tunze and Vortech on my RSM before and never had a heating problem. Its just weird cause the RSM was a closed top as well - and never had a heating problem.

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

So it looks as though the glass top was the culprit! i came home to a 76 degree tank.
i'll continue to monitor it as the tank cycles. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[akma]

Should make a net top. Helps maintain heat and oxygen exchange as well. I made one for my solana.

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

I checked out your tank - I plan on getting the same light. How do you like it?

Did you make that net top? if so got any details on the construction? looks good

 

[akma]

Yeps. I made 2 tops. It was pretty easy. Ordered the netting from bulk reef supply and the spline, brackets, and frame I bought at home depot. Might be a little annoying to cut down but I used a metal cutter and sandpaper to sand down the splinters a bit.

The light is ok. I still prefer halides but for lps/zoas it's fine. Makes them really pop. Harder to take pictures though with leds. I think they dropped in price now too so good deal too. I think allot of people change out the optics to 70 degrees in these fixtures to help get a wider spread.

 

[Dee12dee12]

Can you post a picture of the top.

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

Two new tank mates!

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

Few extra friends

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

Just arrived home and found this on my door step

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

Just finished making the screen top

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

Still finishing up the light mount