My 34g Solana w/ custom stand/light progress thread. Suggestions welcome!

Radioheadx14 · 02/03/2008, 09:50 PM

I got a 34g Solana tank for Christmas and I decided to make it a softy reef. My dad is a carpenter so I got just the tank (free custom stands are always nice!) I set it up around the first of the year and filled it with some aquacultured LR from a local LR farm. After the cycle, i moved a CUC from my 75g to my 34g. I decided to make the 75g a FOWLR aggressive tank so the snails needed to be moved anyways.
The stock skimmer actually does a good job so i kept it running. I didn't get the goofy disco ball light either, i decided to go with PC due to pricing difference. I got a 2x65w PC retro-kit and installed it in a hanging fixture that matches the stand. Bulbs are Current USA lamps 6700/10k & 420nm/460nm, which gives great color.
Now to the pics...

These two pics are of the day & actinics on and actinics.

The light box

The stand, with door/drawer open.

Radioheadx14 · 02/03/2008, 09:51 PM

Frags moved from my 75g
Ricordea

Zoas

mysterious Hitchhiker, looks like a LPS? has clear tentacles with white stripes, a neon orange disk and a white slit mouth. I thought it was aptasia, but it has a neon orange disk and looks hard. Sorry for the poor pic, i don't know how to take extreme close-ups on my camera. I lightened the second pic a bit with photoshop to highlight the color.

Next weekend I'm going to add my two cleaner shrimp and my protopalyzoa colony. Two weeks from now, I'm going to add my O. Clownfish.

Suggestions on future frags, fish etc welcome.

aspinn · 02/03/2008, 10:20 PM

looks really good bud =) well done on the AQ (the stand/lights look great)... and as for ur questions... im not sure what would go best or what that thingy is... however i always had a thing for those pumping xenia... im not sure how well they are in tanks/with other corals tho... they would be worth looking into if u like them =)

Radioheadx14 · 02/03/2008, 10:30 PM

actually, the guy that i bought my LR from also sells aquacultured corals and has TONS of pumping xenia. It lines his grow tanks. Check his site out, very nice place and great prices. I think he said he was planning on selling from the internet in the future.

http://www.reefsystems.com/
http://www.reefsystems.com/images/fa...sevatshigh.jpg

Radioheadx14 · 02/04/2008, 08:12 PM

Should I add more flow? I have the koralia nano at 300gph and the return flow, which is about 400gph. I plan on keeping ricordea, zoas and leathers.

Hooked4life · 02/05/2008, 09:44 AM

It's hard to see, but it maybe a ball anemone.

Take a look at this article (near the end)

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...002/invert.htm

YankyTexan · 02/05/2008, 09:47 AM

Very nice start. Can't beat having a dad that likes to build stuff, the detail on the corners he used for the surface of the stand is a very nice touch. I'll be checking back on updates cause I'd really like to add one of these to my collection. My wife has basically taken over the 150 FOWLR . . . could be worse I guess.

Radioheadx14 · 02/05/2008, 10:59 AM

Yeah i have had the lighting set up for 2 weeks and I like the color, but I am already thinking MH... but I dont want to worry about heating issues. I'll post some more pics when I add my palys, cleaner shrimp and clownfish.

I have determined that the hitchhiker is a cup coral. Very common on things from Florida reefs.

TeeLapia · 02/05/2008, 11:21 PM

Looks more like aipstasia

Radioheadx14 · 02/06/2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TeeLapia
Looks more like aipstasia

I don't think its aiptasia... I know what it looks like and this is def. not it. Hard to tell by the pic tho.

Anyways, I added 20 more lbs of LR and rescaped the entire tank. Took over 2 hours to make it the way i wanted it. One piece I have is a real lemon, so it was hard to fit it into the spot i wanted it.

Now the tank looks very full... the only problem is that some pieces are 100% covered in coralline and other have none. (the new LR came from my 75g, I've decided to take it down.)

I'll post pics tomorrow when the debris settles.

MyMonkey · 02/09/2008, 09:26 AM

Great tank. Love the size. Tagging along.

mikeyj28 · 02/10/2008, 05:31 AM

dont worry about heating issues with your solana i have the same tank with the MH and my temp is always at 79 durring the day and about 78 at night. If you do go with MH just keep the glass top off durring the light cycle and place it back on at night when the lights are off. Been working pretty good for me so far.
I would like to see if anyone has done any mods on this tank yet.

YankyTexan · 02/10/2008, 10:03 AM

Radio - how bout those pics u promised. Good thing the LFS is closed today otherwise I'd be down there buying one of these bad boys.

It appears as though if you make the correct lighting choice to begin with then the system will function satisfactory without numerous upgrades & modifications. That it what has attracted me to the unit.

mikey - do you have any pics of yours?

be good

Radioheadx14 · 02/10/2008, 10:30 AM

I will post them in a couple of hours. I need to clean first... I tore down my 75 last night and the room is a mess.

mikeyj28 · 02/10/2008, 10:55 AM

yeah i have some too i need to get more live rock in it as well. Ill get some pictures up here tonight

Radioheadx14 · 02/10/2008, 01:23 PM

Time for some updates, More LR and my shrimp and clown.

Radioheadx14 · 02/10/2008, 01:24 PM

Lost of caves

Toadstool doing better

Free hitchhiking palys have really grown since i got them 6 months ago:

I ordered my 20" sunpod 150w 14k HQI today so I'll post some more pics at the end of the week when it arrives.

Radioheadx14 · 02/10/2008, 06:57 PM

If any one was wondering how the Solana skimmer works... well its pretty good.

Chorethorious · 02/10/2008, 10:29 PM

You are running that skimmer pretty wet. If you push that black rubber band down another inch it would help thicken it up. That way you wouldn't be needing to dump and clean it as often. Please disregard if this is the desired effect you're looking for.

Radioheadx14 · 02/10/2008, 11:21 PM

I thats from a lighter bio load. I'm still testing it out. Thats from about 4 days of skimmate. I'd rather have wetter than dryer, but that is more wet than i want.

Chorethorious · 02/11/2008, 08:15 AM

Ah! I do agree that it works rather well. I kinda have mine setup for a once a week clean and water change. Depending on the load during the week, I may have to clean it out. But, normally it works for the once a week schedule.

Radioheadx14 · 02/15/2008, 06:10 PM

Update time!
I got my 20" sunpod 150w HQI 14000k
Looks good so far, I hope the color doesn't change too much in the burn-in process. Its weird, the lights in the room were on when i took these, but they look off in the pics.

My Zoas

My Rics

Full view:

Rock work:

Side:

So far I am happy with everything except my clown is showing a few random spots on his body. I am hoping they are either sand or something thats going to go away soon. He was fine in QT for over 5 weeks.

aspinn · 02/15/2008, 07:53 PM

love the tank bud! =) its comming along nicly... shame to hear about the clown =( hopfully its not anything that would harm/kill the little bugger =( ud think the shrimp would take care of it =)

Radioheadx14 · 02/15/2008, 08:34 PM

I've had the clown for 6 months. He's my first fish i ever got. He doesn't act sick at all.. he ate almost a half a cube of mysis tonight. I'll keep and eye on him, maybe a FW bath tomorrow. Maybe he's stressed from being in a real tank instead of a 10g with PVC hideouts, haha. I'm confident he'll be fine. He always plays with the shrimp... but never lets them clean him. He swims up to em and they get all excited and he swims away. The only time they 'board' him is when they try to steal mysis from his mouth.

Also, I'm only going to have him (probably a her) and a bicolor blenny(in QT) in the tank for a while, which are both pretty hardy.

hootie51 · 02/15/2008, 08:45 PM

Awesome job on the tank. I might have to look into the Solana's for a future project. Be sure to keep us updated and I hope the clown is ok!

02/03/2008, 09:50 PM	#1
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	My 34g Solana w/ custom stand/light progress thread. Suggestions welcome! I got a 34g Solana tank for Christmas and I decided to make it a softy reef. My dad is a carpenter so I got just the tank (free custom stands are always nice!) I set it up around the first of the year and filled it with some aquacultured LR from a local LR farm. After the cycle, i moved a CUC from my 75g to my 34g. I decided to make the 75g a FOWLR aggressive tank so the snails needed to be moved anyways. The stock skimmer actually does a good job so i kept it running. I didn't get the goofy disco ball light either, i decided to go with PC due to pricing difference. I got a 2x65w PC retro-kit and installed it in a hanging fixture that matches the stand. Bulbs are Current USA lamps 6700/10k & 420nm/460nm, which gives great color. Now to the pics... These two pics are of the day & actinics on and actinics. The light box The stand, with door/drawer open.

02/05/2008, 09:44 AM	#6
Hooked4life Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indianapolis/Carmel Posts: 532	It's hard to see, but it maybe a ball anemone. Take a look at this article (near the end) http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...002/invert.htm __________________ 80 Gallon shallow rimless with Vega Color LEDs

02/09/2008, 09:26 AM	#11
MyMonkey Persona Non Grata Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 2,112	Great tank. Love the size. Tagging along. __________________ The worst thing about an unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it. Current Tank Info: 20 Long.10 months to my 240 In wall with Fish Room.

02/10/2008, 05:31 AM	#12
mikeyj28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grove City Ohio Posts: 767	dont worry about heating issues with your solana i have the same tank with the MH and my temp is always at 79 durring the day and about 78 at night. If you do go with MH just keep the glass top off durring the light cycle and place it back on at night when the lights are off. Been working pretty good for me so far. I would like to see if anyone has done any mods on this tank yet. __________________ 150 gallon reef

02/10/2008, 10:55 AM	#15
mikeyj28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grove City Ohio Posts: 767	yeah i have some too i need to get more live rock in it as well. Ill get some pictures up here tonight __________________ 150 gallon reef

02/03/2008, 09:51 PM	#2
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Frags moved from my 75g Ricordea Zoas mysterious Hitchhiker, looks like a LPS? has clear tentacles with white stripes, a neon orange disk and a white slit mouth. I thought it was aptasia, but it has a neon orange disk and looks hard. Sorry for the poor pic, i don't know how to take extreme close-ups on my camera. I lightened the second pic a bit with photoshop to highlight the color. Next weekend I'm going to add my two cleaner shrimp and my protopalyzoa colony. Two weeks from now, I'm going to add my O. Clownfish. Suggestions on future frags, fish etc welcome.

02/03/2008, 10:20 PM	#3
aspinn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Northern BC Posts: 156	looks really good bud =) well done on the AQ (the stand/lights look great)... and as for ur questions... im not sure what would go best or what that thingy is... however i always had a thing for those pumping xenia... im not sure how well they are in tanks/with other corals tho... they would be worth looking into if u like them =)

02/03/2008, 10:30 PM	#4
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	actually, the guy that i bought my LR from also sells aquacultured corals and has TONS of pumping xenia. It lines his grow tanks. Check his site out, very nice place and great prices. I think he said he was planning on selling from the internet in the future. http://www.reefsystems.com/ http://www.reefsystems.com/images/fa...sevatshigh.jpg

02/04/2008, 08:12 PM	#5
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Should I add more flow? I have the koralia nano at 300gph and the return flow, which is about 400gph. I plan on keeping ricordea, zoas and leathers.

02/05/2008, 09:47 AM	#7
YankyTexan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 140	Very nice start. Can't beat having a dad that likes to build stuff, the detail on the corners he used for the surface of the stand is a very nice touch. I'll be checking back on updates cause I'd really like to add one of these to my collection. My wife has basically taken over the 150 FOWLR . . . could be worse I guess.

02/05/2008, 10:59 AM	#8
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Yeah i have had the lighting set up for 2 weeks and I like the color, but I am already thinking MH... but I dont want to worry about heating issues. I'll post some more pics when I add my palys, cleaner shrimp and clownfish. I have determined that the hitchhiker is a cup coral. Very common on things from Florida reefs.

02/05/2008, 11:21 PM	#9
TeeLapia Moved On Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elk Grove Posts: 689	Looks more like aipstasia

02/10/2008, 10:03 AM	#13
YankyTexan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 140	Radio - how bout those pics u promised. Good thing the LFS is closed today otherwise I'd be down there buying one of these bad boys. It appears as though if you make the correct lighting choice to begin with then the system will function satisfactory without numerous upgrades & modifications. That it what has attracted me to the unit. mikey - do you have any pics of yours? be good

02/10/2008, 10:30 AM	#14
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	I will post them in a couple of hours. I need to clean first... I tore down my 75 last night and the room is a mess.

02/10/2008, 01:23 PM	#16
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Time for some updates, More LR and my shrimp and clown.

02/10/2008, 01:24 PM	#17
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Lost of caves Toadstool doing better Free hitchhiking palys have really grown since i got them 6 months ago: I ordered my 20" sunpod 150w 14k HQI today so I'll post some more pics at the end of the week when it arrives. Last edited by Radioheadx14; 02/10/2008 at 01:31 PM.

02/10/2008, 06:57 PM	#18
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	If any one was wondering how the Solana skimmer works... well its pretty good.

02/10/2008, 10:29 PM	#19
Chorethorious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 256	You are running that skimmer pretty wet. If you push that black rubber band down another inch it would help thicken it up. That way you wouldn't be needing to dump and clean it as often. Please disregard if this is the desired effect you're looking for.

02/10/2008, 11:21 PM	#20
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	I thats from a lighter bio load. I'm still testing it out. Thats from about 4 days of skimmate. I'd rather have wetter than dryer, but that is more wet than i want.

02/11/2008, 08:15 AM	#21
Chorethorious Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 256	Ah! I do agree that it works rather well. I kinda have mine setup for a once a week clean and water change. Depending on the load during the week, I may have to clean it out. But, normally it works for the once a week schedule.

02/15/2008, 06:10 PM	#22
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Update time! I got my 20" sunpod 150w HQI 14000k Looks good so far, I hope the color doesn't change too much in the burn-in process. Its weird, the lights in the room were on when i took these, but they look off in the pics. My Zoas My Rics Full view: Rock work: Side: So far I am happy with everything except my clown is showing a few random spots on his body. I am hoping they are either sand or something thats going to go away soon. He was fine in QT for over 5 weeks.

02/15/2008, 07:53 PM	#23
aspinn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Northern BC Posts: 156	love the tank bud! =) its comming along nicly... shame to hear about the clown =( hopfully its not anything that would harm/kill the little bugger =( ud think the shrimp would take care of it =)

02/15/2008, 08:34 PM	#24
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	I've had the clown for 6 months. He's my first fish i ever got. He doesn't act sick at all.. he ate almost a half a cube of mysis tonight. I'll keep and eye on him, maybe a FW bath tomorrow. Maybe he's stressed from being in a real tank instead of a 10g with PVC hideouts, haha. I'm confident he'll be fine. He always plays with the shrimp... but never lets them clean him. He swims up to em and they get all excited and he swims away. The only time they 'board' him is when they try to steal mysis from his mouth. Also, I'm only going to have him (probably a her) and a bicolor blenny(in QT) in the tank for a while, which are both pretty hardy.

02/15/2008, 08:45 PM	#25
hootie51 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 215	Awesome job on the tank. I might have to look into the Solana's for a future project. Be sure to keep us updated and I hope the clown is ok!