Deciding to buy a Mini, would you again?

[ronone10]

I hope to hear from owners of the Mini. I read the threads and sounds like everyone is happy with the purchase except for the micro bubbles that some are experiencing.

I purchased a Solana online and it came yesterday with a chip in the bottom front corner.... What a pain to deal with it now. I am sure it won't impact the integrity but it is an eye sore. I plan on returning it.

After examining the Solana closely, I am not too impressed with the workmanship compared to the Mini that I looked at locally. I was also prepared to make modifications to the Solana based on others who have upgraded the return pump, skimmer, top of system. What about the Mini, have you replaced components to make it better? Or does it meet to your expectations.

Thanks...

[eisaiasjr]

Ronone:

I had 2 solanas, they were nice when I didnt know any better. I gave them both away and now I own a Mini. the truth is that they are 2 different animals, just cant compare them.

Yes I would buy another Mini, the only thing that I would say is a MUST HAVE is the Top Off system.

Regards,

Estefano

[Opsanus tau]

I own a mini, and have seen the Solana first hand and agree, your comparing Mercedes to Nissan here.
The Micro bubbles are dissipating, but I have to run the sump level very high in order to get rid of them. (IMO/IME)

[elosusa]

Obviously I am biased but I have been asked this question quite a few times. I think a lot comes down to the price, as all of you have mentioned, it is not fair to compare the two. When Elos came to the country there was literally no companies offering rimless aquariums, while pretty standard in europe, this was new to North America. Sure there were a few custom rimless but none were offered as a standard product. A couple of years later there are numerous options for rimless aquariums, which we expected but we still are unique in our construction, materials and design. The MINI was something Nick and I talked about after Interzoo a couple of years ago because we wanted to offer an Elos aquarium not only for a smaller size but it was a perfect way to introduce the innovative e-lite. The result was the MINI. An aquarium made like our larger aquariums for people who enjoy the attention to detail that we strive to offer. The solana is made in China, the MINI is hand made in Italy, right next to the larger Elos aquariums. The Solana has standard glass, the MINI uses a combination of our clear and crystal clear glass. The solana has filtration in the display back side, the MINI has a glass Elos SUMP. The Mini uses eheim pumps for our patented skimmer and for return pump through an impossibly small elos overflow, the solana I would guess is using inexpensive pumps with the above mentioned filtration. The e-lite is truly innovative using the best available LEDs in an elegant design completely new to the industry, the solana uses something very basic. The Elos stand is a full frame door stand done in new materials that are water resistant and offered in a variety of colors and finishes, the solana is likely a standard MDF with a laminate done in a basic design.
I hope this doesn't sound harsh but I feel it is important to be honest because we make so few of these, there are many on this forum who do not have a retailer near them to see them side by side as you guys have. Hope that helps.

[erichatesmice]

Not sure if I would purchase it again considering some of the frustrating issues I have yet to resolve. It is much like a higher end car - you're paying more for the quality (and exclusivity), but just because it's high quality doesn't mean it requires less work to tune.

Personally, I was looking so much forward to the hidden built-in overflow/return system, but I still have problems with it. Also for the price I feel like some of the other areas could have been more improved upon.

However no question about it, the actual tank itself is beautiful. The Solana is very slick in itself, but when you pull the Elos Mini out of the packaging you'll be genuinely impressed by the quality that goes into the glass.

You also can't beat the E-Lite which is truly unique. I love the fact that it's energy efficient, mounts unobtrusively (swivel would have been nice), the unit and miniscule power brick are both fanless, and very very bright.

[rroselavy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14053315#post14053315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erichatesmice
Personally, I was looking so much forward to the hidden built-in overflow/return system, but I still have problems with it. Also for the price I feel like some of the other areas could have been more improved upon.

Is this a micro-bubble problem, or some other type of problem? Please elaborate.

I also had a micro-bubble problem with my ELOS System 70 sump, but it got MUCH MUCH better as the tank settled in (around the 8th month). I don't see the bubble anymore.

[belandaaron]

Personally, I dont have a micro bubble issue. I'd buy another one again in a second. Actually, where's my credit card :bum:

[eisaiasjr]

Hehe, not to sound like a smart ***, but one of my solanas had a TERRIBLE micro bubble problem too.

Regards,

E

[trueisb2]

aesthetic and build quality: I would buy it again!
technical frustrations (such as micro bubbles, and I wish the E-lite can have more than just 3 blue LEDs): I would re-think.

50/50
just IMO.

[eisaiasjr]

I must agree, I had some frustrations with my mini when I set it up, took me forever to fix it, in fact I had to run to home depot to buy a replacement drain hose in order to fix my micro bubble problem.
Its like everything that gets made... the first units always come with problems that the end user must solve in order to be happy with the product. They always tell you never to buy a car in the first year of production because it will have more problems than a second year car... but people still rush to buy the new BMW when it just comes out :) and this is no different.

As far as the Elite goes, I like the blue it has... it seems sufficient to me. I would have liked for it to be on a DIFFERENT plug so that I could control it and use it as a moonlight...

Regards,

Estefano

[elosusa]

I will ask Italy again about the micro bubbles and next week I will set one up and hopefully be able to reproduce the issue. It is strange to me because it is very basic plumbing on the mini so it seems as if it will be a simple solution.
Just ideas for the few who have the bubbles:
- make sure the drain and return PVC are tightened before connecting the silicone tubing.
- zip tie connections
- move the drain line in a different position.

Just ideas but whatever it is, we will find a fix.

[belandaaron]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14057678#post14057678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eisaiasjr

As far as the Elite goes, I like the blue it has... it seems sufficient to me. I would have liked for it to be on a DIFFERENT plug so that I could control it and use it as a moonlight...

Regards,

Estefano

Spot on. Why cant those 3 blue L.E.D's be used as the moon lights....? :rolleyes:

[trueisb2]

+1 for the idea of moonlight, for this pricy unit, I think moonlight should be a plus.

I agree that first line of production always seem to be a little bit "scary" to purchase, but I guess we are impatient reefers :P (sounds a bit ironic....)

[erichatesmice]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14057678#post14057678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eisaiasjr
I would have liked for it to be on a DIFFERENT plug so that I could control it and use it as a moonlight

Excellent point on the blue lights as moonlighting. This would be a very welcome feature.

[elosusa]

I talked to Italy a bit last night and I would appreciate if you guys update me with details via email, even if it is already on this thread, so I can forward on any information to Italy. From what we can see it is with a few MINI's and I have to believe it is something easy we are missing. As most of you know we sell Elos in over 20 countries and RC is a international forum so I am pretty sure I would have a lot more inquiries about this if it was a design problem throughout the MINI's. We are always willing to learn, so I will hold back any judgment until we are able to replicate the issue and find a culprit. As usual thanks for the help.

On the moonlight, I think this would be a problem for a couple of reasons.
1. When you look at an LED e-lite you have to look at it as a complete unit and not 18 separate LEDs. When you turn on an e-lite you are turning on all of these 18 LEDs and at some point, many years down the line under normal circumstances, the e-lite will need to be replaced. If you had the blue's on a separate cord, running it in the day and night, you would surely run the blue LEDs out before the whites, which would not be good.
2. The blue LEDs are ( I should say were as this will change as LEDs change in the future) CREE's most powerful surface mountable LEDs and having three of these as a moonlight would be too much for many applications, a bedroom for example.
Perhaps a better idea would be a silver moon bracket or a simple "MINI MOON" that somehow mounted to the e-lite discretely.

[trueisb2]

I don't know how it will be designed or integrated, I just want a moonlight :P
keep us updated on any news :)

thnx

[elosusa]

I believe I found the culprit of the microbubbles in some minis. In the car now but I will update tomorrow. The silver moon bracket would be easy to do.
I have two people doing the fix for the microbubbles and I will make a separate post to show the fix, very simple. Call me if you are desparate to know today.

[Shekki]

I just went to my LFS to look at the Solana. It's not bad, although the false wall is a bit cumbersome. The stand looked really nice but was wobbly and felt cheap. The set up they had totaled to about $1400. For an extra $300, I'm getting the mini with the led lighting. Plus, it will go with my Italian motorcycles.

[elosusa]

Now you did it! The Italian motorcycle pictures will be here shortly, you can be sure;)