Downgraded from a 120g to a 34g Solana(Pics)

[Hoosier daddy]

Well a few weeks ago I decided that I did not have enough time to maintain my 120g with work and the kids' sports (it is football season :)). Plus I coach and now have an 8 month old pointing lab I am working on training for pheasant hunting. So I was initially going to get out of the hobby.

Well after some serious thought while I was breaking stuff down I came across a Solana thread. I thought wow! It has everything built in and it is simple enough and small enough that I could still be in the hobby and enjoy it but with minimal maintainence and smaller water changes. I decided to go more with LPS and softies as I did not want the equipment that is needed for the high end SPS which I was doing in my 120g. I do miss my 120g but this has made my life so much more simple and still enjoy this awesome hobby. I posted some pics below. So tell me what you think. I just set this up a week ago.

Here is my 120g before I took it down.

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Here is what I replaced it with on the same wall :).

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[Hoosier daddy]

Here is the Solana in the same room.

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<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/scoelki/?action=view&current=CIMG0788.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/scoelki/CIMG0788.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />
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[Hoosier daddy]

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<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/scoelki/?action=view&current=CIMG0782.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/scoelki/CIMG0782.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />
<a href="http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/scoelki/?action=view&current=CIMG0779.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/scoelki/CIMG0779.jpg" border="0" alt="Aussie Scoly"></a><br /><br />
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[Jadams]

Beautiful Solana. I really like the aquascaping, but like the coral placement even more.

Great job! :thumbsup:

[tgbaby1]

Very nice! How many fish do you have in there?

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15522543#post15522543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jadams
Beautiful Solana. I really like the aquascaping, but like the coral placement even more.

Great job! :thumbsup:

Thanks for the nice comment.

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15522547#post15522547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgbaby1
Very nice! How many fish do you have in there?

Thanks. I only have a pair of percs and a flame hawk. I had a blue spotted jawfish in there but he just went carpet surfing two days ago. I guess more like hardwood surfing ;). I won't do another as I like the open top too much. I am going to try out the flaming prawn goby and a few others I have been wanting to try out.

[hmello@bermexin]

Wonderful job! I love the color!

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15522600#post15522600 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hmello@bermexin
Wonderful job! I love the color!

Thanks!

I can't believe I am enjoying this tank as much as my 120g if not more. I have to be more selective on what I choose for live stock. But that is the fun of it. I want to get a watermelon chalice for my next piece.

[Hooked4life]

Looking good. I really like your aquascaping.

I made the same choice about 1 1/2 years ago with no regrets. It allowed me to stay in the hobby without putting out the time and money that I had previously. I think the best part is since it's a limited amount of space I don't feel at all bad about buying really high end livestock.

Did a few mods to mine, but since then it's just been weekly water changes and frag as needed :)

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15524255#post15524255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hooked4life
Looking good. I really like your aquascaping.

I made the same choice about 1 1/2 years ago with no regrets. It allowed me to stay in the hobby without putting out the time and money that I had previously. I think the best part is since it's a limited amount of space I don't feel at all bad about buying really high end livestock.

Did a few mods to mine, but since then it's just been weekly water changes and frag as needed :)

Thanks! What mods did you do to your Solana? I have a Tunze Osmolator coming in on Tues. for my ATO. The stock one is crap. I wouldn't mind upgrading the skimmer. I also heard to replace the stock pump with a maxijet 900. Any info would be great.

[Hooked4life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15524286#post15524286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hoosier daddy
Thanks! What mods did you do to your Solana? I have a Tunze Osmolator coming in on Tues. for my ATO. The stock one is crap. I wouldn't mind upgrading the skimmer. I also heard to replace the stock pump with a maxijet 900. Any info would be great.

ATO is a must--money well spent.

I replaced the stock return pump with a Quiet One 2200 on a 1/2" Sea Swirl (lots of flow) and plugged the hole in the back with a bulkhead screen.

Removed the skimmer over a year ago--don't ever plan to replace it.

Pulled all of the filters and stuff out of the back and filled the center compartment with liverock. I keep a bag of ChemiPure Elite on top of the rock just below water level and use Pura Pad that I cut up behind the teeth in the overflow. Never had any algae problems.

ATO is a medical dosing pump that drips kalk 24/7.

And least important--I made this for the door :)
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/20538stained_glass_small.jpg

[sahin]

Very very nice. I like your smaller tank better than the larger one. :)

[want2reef]

Nice setup

I am thinking of going from a 120g to a Solana too.

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15555363#post15555363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by want2reef
Nice setup

I am thinking of going from a 120g to a Solana too.

Thanks! I thought downgrading would be tough. But as busy as I have been, this aquarium has just been awesome to own. I doubt if I ever upgrade I would sell it.

Only thing I am having problems with is the micro bubbles. Not sure what I have to do to get them under control. Might be the skimmer.

[Foxyb]

amazing tank i recently downgraded to a solana as well but am happy
you do have to be pretty selective as it does fill fast

[Symbiant]

Wow! The stained glass work is fantastic.

[Hooked4life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15557926#post15557926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Symbiant
Wow! The stained glass work is fantastic.

Thanks! It does a nice job of hiding the stuff in the cabinet too.

[Flipper62]

I never look at it as Down grading.......BUT.....Down sizing.

In some cases a smaller tank can be harder to take care of then a larger one.

Your Solana looks awesome, However I would make a mesh net for the top. Keep the jumpers in

[MVlk]

Good to see I am not alone in the down grade department. I started pulling the plug on my 125 yesterday and ordered my Solana as well. Very nice setup you have.

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15560721#post15560721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flipper62
I never look at it as Down grading.......BUT.....Down sizing.

In some cases a smaller tank can be harder to take care of then a larger one.

Your Solana looks awesome, However I would make a mesh net for the top. Keep the jumpers in

Thanks! I agree to an extent about down sizing. But in a way I downgraded my 2 x 250w lights, huge octo extreme 250 skimmer, Korallin 3001 calcium reactor, phosban reactors, frag tank, vortech MP40w, 250 panworld pump...so in a way it is downgrading as well :D. I will keep the top open as I like that look too much.

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15564499#post15564499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MVlk
Good to see I am not alone in the down grade department. I started pulling the plug on my 125 yesterday and ordered my Solana as well. Very nice setup you have.

I don't think you will be disappointed. Yeah the stock is alot smaller but if you are extremely busy than you will enjoy the less maint. Post pics when you get a chance.

[MVlk]

Did not mean to offend anyone by my wording. I really do see this as just another type of adventure in this addicting hobby. No less in any way.

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15564635#post15564635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hoosier daddy

I will keep the top open as I like that look too much.

Just watch out for any jumpers. Also for any snails that loose their GPS units. A few times, I found a turbo snail on the top rim totaly out of the water.

Also...there is a black mesh that you can get. Its small enough to keep the jumpers in, but you really cant see it when your a few feet away...and it doesn't block any light.

I dont remember where I bought it before, its been years. But I think the Industrial supply company called McMaster-Carr has it.

[murphreef]

nice looking solana i got a 25g set up a few months back and got rid of my 180g sps tank...

i actually enjoy this tank more than my big tank... corals are doing awesome ive got some nice choice sps in this tank and its low maintenance and cheap maintenence compared to my old 180!

plus i knew to keep GSP out of this tank lol

[Hoosier daddy]

Mvlk- No worries I was commenting on Flipper's post. Lets see some pics when you get the Solana up and running.

Flipper62- Yeah I already had a blue spotted jawfish go surfing. That was an expensive ride :). I would like to get a mesh top but don't really know what to use.

Murphreef- Thanks for the comment. Did you get the 25g Solana? If so can you post a pic? I agree with enjoying the tank more. I really never thought smaller would be just as fun. It makes it a little more challenging as far as stocking and keeping the parameters stable.

[Hoosier daddy]

Ok so I got some new things for my tank :D. I just got in a Tunze Osmolator ATO. No idea how to set it up yet. Anyone want to chime in on how they set theirs up?

As for livestock: I just added a nice Harlequinn Shrimp, Fire Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp and a Yasa Hashe Goby. I will post some new pics soon.

Next on my wish list:

Tiger Pistol Shrimp(for the Yasa Hashe Goby)
Flaming Prawn goby
Ultra Maxima Clam
Purple Firefish or Helfrichi Firefish(only if I make a mesh top)
Sunset Montipora
Vortech MP10
Reefkeeper Lite

[murphreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15568337#post15568337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hoosier daddy
Murphreef- Thanks for the comment. Did you get the 25g Solana? If so can you post a pic? I agree with enjoying the tank more. I really never thought smaller would be just as fun. It makes it a little more challenging as far as stocking and keeping the parameters stable.

Sure here is my tank its 12 weeks old and has been doing great this tank is actually more stable than my 180 as far as alk and calcium go i have been dosing daily with B-Ionic 2 part makes it very simple my old tank has a CA reactor and it always needed some tweaking which was annoying or some maintenance...

i am just running my JBJ auto top off, dosing my 2 part doing weekly water changes of 3-4 gallons and dosing probidio every 2 weeks.

i run a 250W HQI XM 20K bulb on a bluewave ballast and a lumen max 3 pendant which covers the tank nicely... i live in so cal so it gets warm but i have the light come on at 5pm and i have a 8" fan come on at the same time so my temp stayes between 79-81 so no chiller this go around either! main reason i downgraded was because so cal edison was charging me upwards of $500 a month for electricity during the summer and $300 in the winter.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j211/murph145/recent1.jpg

[Hoosier daddy]

WOW!!! Murphreef that tank is sweet looking. How many fish do you have in there and what types? I like the clams.

[murphreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15569080#post15569080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hoosier daddy
WOW!!! Murphreef that tank is sweet looking. How many fish do you have in there and what types? I like the clams.

Thanks!

I have 1 ora black percula, 2 green chromis, 1 yellow spotted jaw fish and a cleaner shrimp...

corals i have the following:

valida, pink milli, red milli, green milli, cali tort, ora roscoe's, ora purple plazma, ora blue voodoo, ora pearl berry, ora hawkins enchinata, ora chips, green stag, yellow stag, loripes, blue stag, true, undata, pink lemonade, sunset monti, orange cap, orange digi, tubs purple polyp birds nest, neon clove polyps, crocea, derasa, aussie acan, duncans, fungia frag, few muchrooms and zoas, green bubble tip anemone, hammer coral, pink with green eye chalice

im actually surprized i got all of those in there

[FiReC]

What bulb are you running Hoosier?

Very nice clean setup, you have inspired me to get back in with a solana but my wife is resistant, any suggestions? haha jk

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15641609#post15641609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FiReC
What bulb are you running Hoosier?

Very nice clean setup, you have inspired me to get back in with a solana but my wife is resistant, any suggestions? haha jk

I am using a 150w 20k helios bulb. I am not sure you can even get them anymore. I got one from grimreefer he is our local T5 guru :).

You won't be disappointed if you go with the Solana. Tell her that at least it won't cost you alot of money in fish and corals cause you can only put so much in that size of a tank :) or buy her something nice and alot of begging and pleading LOL .:lol: Good luck!

[laurarca]

That is a beautiful set up!! There is NO WAY I will ever let me husband see what you replaced that 120 with...my tank would be at the curb by noon while he was sitting in front of his new flatscreen:fun4:

[Hoosier daddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15698037#post15698037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by laurarca
That is a beautiful set up!! There is NO WAY I will ever let me husband see what you replaced that 120 with...my tank would be at the curb by noon while he was sitting in front of his new flatscreen:fun4:

LOL!!! I got the best of both worlds. A new flat screen TV and a nice 34g Solana. I guess that was my trade off for the 120g :). Thanks for the nice comment btw.

[MyMonkey]

Nice setup here. Loving these Solanas.