MedRed's 60 Gallon Solana XL

[MedRed]

Sooooooooo...

Upon anticipating a move... I broke down my 34 gallon Solana.. I've been tank-less for a little while. Well the itch is back... and I need to scratch it. I've graduated from AIO to a "real" sump! My tank is still on order, and I still have a lot to plan.

2 important things will be covering the overflow in something that can be scraped. My biggest gripe on my 34 gallon solana was the textured back wall. I want no coralline on the glass or overflow. I also need to bring it on this scape. I got a little lazy last time around and ended up with a good scape... This time I want a great scape!

I have a few decisions to make.
1) Do I want to go with 1 MP40, 1 MP40 + 1 MP10, or 2 MP10's. I'm pretty sure an MP40 would be enough flow, but I'd like to do something to randomize the flow more. What do you guys think?

2) Controller/Auto Dosing? I'm debating if I want to add a controller and possibly dosing. I don't know the first thing about auto dosing... so I'm not sure If I'll go this route. The Profilux and Reefkeeper add additional functionality to the Aqua Illumination set. Do I really need thunderstorms? No.. but I want them!

3) Should I upgrade the sump pump? The standard pump is a Quiet One 4000.

4) Livestock plans: I'd like to have a nice pair of Picassos, a pair of Helfrichi firefish, a Tail Spot Blenny, and... I want to have a singular showcase fish. I would do another Blue Spot Jawfish in a heartbeat, but I'm not sure how much sand I'm going to have in this tank. I would like my tank to be as peaceful as my last tank.

Tank: Solana XL 60
Lighting: Aqua Illumination Sol Blue LED 24" w/ Hanging Kit
Skimmer: SWC Cone 160
ATO: Tunze Osmolator
...more to come

[MedRed]

So minor setbacks...
My LED's are delayed as they are back ordered. It could be up to two weeks.

It also turns out that the company where I bought my Solana from was having it shipped directly from current to me. Because Current is in California, I now have to pay tax on it... *sigh.

No one near me is an aquavitro dealer for seachem. I want to use the new Salinity salt, but NO ONE carries it. This problem is compounded as you can only get it from a LFS. I'm going to have to see if I can have someone order for me.

Lastly I ordered 120lbs or reef cleaners dry rock. and 2 MP10w ES.

[MedRed]

Another twist... So I will have to wait 2 weeks + for my tank to get here... Sigh... I can. My lights, on the other hand... are on their way to me. MP10's and digital refractometer should be here today.

[MedRed]

It took me 1 hours and 47 minutes to drive 41 miles to pick up some Salinity (gotta love LA traffic...on a Saturday). I'm mixing my first back of SW, but I haven't tested it yet. One thing that struck me... I have two 32 gallon Brute containers for mixing. I realized after filling up the first container, that it was a lot of water... now I'm going to be doubling that for the show tank... This is my biggest reef ever. I hope I'm up to the challenge! (yeah yeah all of you "large tank" folks pipe down).

I also realized how handicapped my RO system was in Portland. I was lucky to get 25 gallons a day out of my air water ice 100 gpd RO/DI. Now it's pushing water out like nobody's business! I absolutely love having an extra room to store the containters/buckets in. And now the Aquariums have their own bathroom too. whoo hoo!

I need to go out today and get another powerhead for the other container. Any recommendations on a powerhead for 32 gallons? I will probably go ahead and get substrate today so I can wash it and have it ready.

[James404]

I use 32 gal brutes as well and I use a cheap petco brand pump for mixing. Its the biggest size they had I believe but was pretty cheap. When I am done mixing with it I hook up a vinyl tube to it and use it to fill the tank with about 4 ft of head. A maxijet will get the job done as well.

[davocean]

Ok, I'll help you stop talking to yourself!LOL
Good plan w/ the vorts.
I just switched to aquavitro as well, and so far like it(This was actually given to me by the guys at Current who were having some cyano issues, me too, we were both using same salt before, their probs went away, mine is starting to go away, could be coincidence, who knows)
I TOTALLY recommend switching return pumps, i ran an Eheim 1260 on my 60g solana, silent and worked great.
I was going to use a tile saw and cut LR and attach to eggcrate to hide my overflow, but i decided to condense all my small tanks into one larger for my own personal needs, so didn't get to that, but an option.
As for dosing, that Profilux is expensive, and can be on back order for quite some time.
I gave up after months of waiting for mine, and went w/ Drews dosers, which I highly recommend, cheaper, lil easier to get them, work great.
We have chloramine in our water here in cali, so know that for cartidges, also a booster pump may help you make water faster/more efficiently.
For mixing any PH will do.
My helfrichi's jumped through 1/4" bird net, both of them, so good luck w/ that, cover tank well.

[MedRed]

Hey James... do you know which one you're using? Is it one of these?

http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_p...sandPowerHeads

Do you mount it as low as you can get it?

[allsps40]

Good choice on the 2 mp10s instead of the 1 mp40. I really want a mp10 for my tank but need to save and have to many other projects planed or going. Like my 90-120 in wall build that I want to start doing but is being set back by a hopeful truck project.

[James404]

Its the 40-60g one listed here I believe. The model is listed as King-225

http://www.petco.com/product/109837/...sandPowerHeads

I don't mount it I just throw it in the bottom but you can use the suction cups if needed.

[davocean]

Yeah, I have an old hagen aquaclear 802 for mixing, had it many years now, just drop it at the bottom.
I use that same pump to push the water into my tank too, just slip a hose on it.

[MedRed]

Originally Posted by davocean

Ok, I'll help you stop talking to yourself!LOL
Good plan w/ the vorts.
I just switched to aquavitro as well, and so far like it(This was actually given to me by the guys at Current who were having some cyano issues, me too, we were both using same salt before, their probs went away, mine is starting to go away, could be coincidence, who knows)
I TOTALLY recommend switching return pumps, i ran an Eheim 1260 on my 60g solana, silent and worked great.
I was going to use a tile saw and cut LR and attach to eggcrate to hide my overflow, but i decided to condense all my small tanks into one larger for my own personal needs, so didn't get to that, but an option.
As for dosing, that Profilux is expensive, and can be on back order for quite some time.
I gave up after months of waiting for mine, and went w/ Drews dosers, which I highly recommend, cheaper, lil easier to get them, work great.
We have chloramine in our water here in cali, so know that for cartidges, also a booster pump may help you make water faster/more efficiently.
For mixing any PH will do.
My helfrichi's jumped through 1/4" bird net, both of them, so good luck w/ that, cover tank well.

Thanks for chiming in! I realize that until i post picks there won't be much interest. I'll check out that eheim. I like eheim stuff (I came over from the fresh side).

I'm fine with seeing the overflow, I just don't want it covered in coralline. I will probably cover it in smooth black acrylic. I may cover the back wall in acrylic as well. We'll see.

I will probably not go the profilux route. I'm not even sure I want a controller at this point. I'll wait on that as well.

I always use prime with my water, so no worries on that. My RO system is cranking here. I didn't have great pressure in portland, but it wasn't a big deal as I only made 15 gallons or so at a time. The water pressure in my extra bathroom is phenomenal. When I took off the aerator and turned it on I got giddy. I'm happy with the pressure it's giving. I've not tested

I do plan on using a glass top. Part of my reason for going LED was wanting to keep the heat down while using a top. I'll probably only take the top off for maintenance and when taking pictures.

I think I've also decided to go with a bluespot jawfish again. That's a lot of fish in my mind (blue spot, picasso pair, helfrichi pair, and tail spot blenny). I may axe something when the time comes.

I'm interested in this whole bio pellet phase. Is there a good all in one reactor that I could just hang on the sump?

[MedRed]

Originally Posted by allsps40

Good choice on the 2 mp10s instead of the 1 mp40. I really want a mp10 for my tank but need to save and have to many other projects planed or going. Like my 90-120 in wall build that I want to start doing but is being set back by a hopeful truck project.

Thanks... I'm still concerned with flow as these MP10's are tiny and I've not seen them in action yet. I had an MP20 on my Solana and upgraded it to an mp40. that was a MASSIVE increase in flow. I'm going to mount both mp10's on either side of the over flow. one will be up high, one will be down low. I'm not above adding an mpsomething on the side if I end up needing more flow or to prevent dead spots

Originally Posted by James404

Its the 40-60g one listed here I believe. The model is listed as King-225

http://www.petco.com/product/109837/...sandPowerHeads

I don't mount it I just throw it in the bottom but you can use the suction cups if needed.

Thanks! I'll pick one up today.

Originally Posted by davocean

Yeah, I have an old hagen aquaclear 802 for mixing, had it many years now, just drop it at the bottom.
I use that same pump to push the water into my tank too, just slip a hose on it.

smart idea I was just going to use a dipping bucket lol.

[davocean]

You'll get a WC system down, I make water, let mix overnight, turn off tank w/ light strip switch, siphon w/ hose into my waste brute, match level, then pop that PH on same hose and pump in new water.
I can do this in about 10 minutes now.
Those vorts should work great.

[MedRed]

awesome! thanks davocean

[MedRed]

Just picked up two powerheads. I realized I am missing a box of aquarium stuff from my move. It may be buried in the outdoor closet. It has my python and what not in it. Time to go scouting.

[MedRed]

Lights came in today!

Some of my goodies...


I'm almost ready to start... if only I had a tank...

This is where the magic happens... this bathroom is fish only. I've never even used this bathroom before.


I LOVE my digital refractomer. No more squinting and no more uncertainty. This sucker is super easy to calibrate and use.





and the lights... they are well packaged







These suckers are BRIGHT! the controller is a bit finicky. I love the gradual ramp up and down of the lights. I can't wait to see a sunrise on my tank!

[D'espresso]

..... Speechless...

[MedRed]

ha ha D! :P

So my rocks arrived today. Unfortunately, most of them are a lot bigger than I was hoping for. It's going to make it that much harder to pull off a nice scape. I also am new to drilling rocks and connecting with acrylic rods. I've been searching all over for a nice write up or video, and I've not had much luck. The tank should arrive by Friday or next Monday.

[MedRed]

I don't want to get my hopes up... but tracking says the tank should be here tomorrow!

[davocean]

Originally Posted by MedRed

ha ha D! :P

So my rocks arrived today. Unfortunately, most of them are a lot bigger than I was hoping for. It's going to make it that much harder to pull off a nice scape. I also am new to drilling rocks and connecting with acrylic rods. I've been searching all over for a nice write up or video, and I've not had much luck. The tank should arrive by Friday or next Monday.

Search for "show me your pillars" thread on here for ideas and methods.
I always made a template of my tank footprint/overflow and just stacked for good fit, ledges, caves.
usually takes a few/several tries to find that right look that stacks well and able to drill where you want.
A cheapy HD masonry bit works just fine, I even thought about using a tile saw to make flat sides to fit tank back/overflow better.

[MedRed]

my drill isn't that great (cheap 18 volt) what's a good drill to get through this rock? I used reef cleaners dry rock

[davocean]

Go cheap on a drill, cause it's gonna get SW on it.
I've used a cheapo Ryobi and it's lasted a surprisingly long time doing this.
Spaded masonry bit, like $5

[MedRed]

Ok... So the tank came in late this morning. It was rough work breaking the pallet down in the sun and then hauling everything up to my apartment before cleaning up. I'm taking a breather before I hang the lighting fixtures. I misplaced my point and shoot, so sorry for the iphone pics.





you can see my scape in these pics. I wanted something minimalistic and open to promote good flow, viewable from 3 sides, and ofcourse visually appealing. I hope I accomplished these things!.

There are actually 3 individual spires. It's hard to decipher from these two pics. I'll take more pictures later.

[D'espresso]

Lord have mercy! That tank so sexy! I like your badazz aquascape, those 3 spine is gonna look hella sick with crazy all kind of sps. Take your time bro everything is looking good and smooth.

[MedRed]

Thanks D!

no water yet, but all of the fittings are connected. I accidentally broke one of the spires. Off to home depot for more epoxy.