p-daddy Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Display Tank: CAD 50g Starphire Artisan Cube Sump: CAD 18g Artisan Series Sump Return Pump: Tunze Silence 1073 ATO: Tunze Osmolator Circulation: 2xVortech MP40wES controlled by Apex WXM Module Skimmer: Skimz SM 121 Monzter Heater: 2x Hydor Theo 200w Lighting: Aqua Illumination Sol Blue controlled by Apex VDM Module Control: Neptune Systems Apex Lite (2xEB8, VDM, WXM, Netgear Wireless Bridge) Carbon Reactor: Nextreef SMR1 Media Reactor Phosphate Reactor: Nextreef SMR1 Media Reactor Biopellet Reactor: Nextreef SMR1 Solid Media Reactor w/250-500ml of Vertex Pellets Dosing: Avast Marineworks K1 Kalkwasser Stirrer driven by Tunze Osmolator Miscellaneous: Avast Marineworks Probe Holder, CAD Cabinet/Lamp Trees, DIY Overflow Cap FTS 11/13/2011 (Saved for posterity) So I've had a 34g Solana for a little over 2 years. It's been a great tank, but will always be limited by the fact that it's an AIO. I've tried a lot of different equipment, and a lot of the stuff that fits in the rear chambers is inefficient, ineffective, underpowered, or just cheaply made. Don't get me wrong, this tank is certainly viable (many members here have done great work with the Solana series) and there are also a lot of people who make quality equipment specifically designed to overcome some of this tanks limitations. With that said between my protein skimmer, media reactors, dosing pumps, and gargantuan light fixture I have lost sight of the clean, modern, and minimalist intentions I started with 2 years ago. It looks cluttered and it annoys me. The health of many of my SPS corals has also been on the decline, I've noticed an increase in nuisance algae (bubble) and may even have a minor dinoflagellate outbreak. In 2 years I have never missed a weekly 10g water change, changed my carbon and GFO religiously once a month, and kept my skimmer running at peak performance or close to it. Perhaps I am a victim of old tank syndrome, maybe my large fish have outgrown the system and produce too much waste. Either way I can't export any more nutrients than I already do, or easily improve my water quality much more. So rather than continue to slowly decline..... And some stuff... More to come. Link to comment
Rehype Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Awwwwwwwww snap! Cant wait to see this..Glad to see your back p. Link to comment
p-daddy Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 Awwwwwwwww snap! Cant wait to see this..Glad to see your back p. I've got something else coming too, this is just to replace my Solana and keep me busy! Link to comment
Rehype Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Nice....cant wait to see what it is. Link to comment
Asureef Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Nice.... What do you plan on running in those reactors? Link to comment
dan06277 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Nice tank. I just went with a 60 gallon cube for many of the same reasons you listed. Looks like you are off to a nice start. Link to comment
p-daddy Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Nice.... What do you plan on running in those reactors? One is for carbon, one for GFO, and the blue one is a biopellet reactor. Nextreef made it so there is no need for sponges or mesh, hoping I get some nice low-maintenance tumble Link to comment
p-daddy Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 So my plans have seriously changed, hence the delay. After a ####storm of miscellaneous bad luck kept me tied up from working on the tank a real storm of snow hit the northeast and knocked my power out for days. Despite hours of trying to circulate water, an attempt at using a power-inverter from my car, and even heating some hot-water bottles on my gas grill to float in the tank, I lost a bunch of corals and clams (no fish!) So instead of transferring all of the rock and general nastiness from my old tank, I have started from scratch and will only pick and choose what I want from the survivors. So I now have a tank cycling with fresh live rock and a new generator to prevent this type of thing from ever happening again. I still need to drop the reactors in (I already have them plumbed and ready) and clean up some of the wiring in the sump. Link to comment
dh350twin Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 looks like your off to a good start. good job! Link to comment
Justind823 Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Yea! You've got some nice equipment there. I like that scape a lot. Link to comment
p-daddy Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 Thanks guys, I may move my clowns over this weekend, maybe some coral around x-mas. Link to comment
Rehype Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Sorry to hear about the loss p. But the new build really looks killer. Look forward to seeing your stocking plans Link to comment
jgpico Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 This tank is going to be awesome! Link to comment
saltwatercoral Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Very Nice mount job for that AI! You should join the Aqua Illuminations Club Just post a pic of your tank with the AI SOL in it and Ill add you to the list! Ill keep an eye out for ya! Link to comment
p-daddy Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Very Nice mount job for that AI! You should join the Aqua Illuminations Club Just post a pic of your tank with the AI SOL in it and Ill add you to the list! Ill keep an eye out for ya! I'll be sure to! Link to comment
BocaIvan Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Great build, definitely following along! Could you post a diagram or explanation of how you have everything plumbed? Link to comment
21093r53 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 looking good! i like the skimzzzszzz Link to comment
p-daddy Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 Great build, definitely following along! Could you post a diagram or explanation of how you have everything plumbed? Plumbing is very simple actually, the tank is drilled with a 1/2 hole for the return and a 1 inch hole for the drain. Instead of a traditional durso standpipe I opted for a hofer gurgle buster. I liked its compactness and it is pretty quiet. Instructions can be found here: http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/ Water drains down the gurgle buster/standpipe through a 1 inch bulkhead --> male thread to slip fitting --> Ball valve --> union --> 45 degree elbow --> 45 degree elbow --> straight length of pipe into filter sock. Really easy Return is a bit different, basically water travels from the return pump --> union--> 45 elbow --> T T --> 45 degree elbow --> union --> ball valve --> bulkhead --> straight pipe --> barbed fitting --> locline T--> ball valve (to bleed the pump instead of throttle it back, supposed to improve life of pump) --> 45 elbow --> straight pipe back into sump. I hope that makes sense, please ask questions if you have them! Link to comment
saltwatercoral Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Hey p-daddy, welcome to the Aqua Illuminations Club! Keep it up! Link to comment
Lokko21 Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Plumbing is very simple actually, the tank is drilled with a 1/2 hole for the return and a 1 inch hole for the drain. Instead of a traditional durso standpipe I opted for a hofer gurgle buster. I liked its compactness and it is pretty quiet. Instructions can be found here: http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/ Water drains down the gurgle buster/standpipe through a 1 inch bulkhead --> male thread to slip fitting --> Ball valve --> union --> 45 degree elbow --> 45 degree elbow --> straight length of pipe into filter sock. Really easy Return is a bit different, basically water travels from the return pump --> union--> 45 elbow --> T T --> 45 degree elbow --> union --> ball valve --> bulkhead --> straight pipe --> barbed fitting --> locline T--> ball valve (to bleed the pump instead of throttle it back, supposed to improve life of pump) --> 45 elbow --> straight pipe back into sump. I hope that makes sense, please ask questions if you have them! How long (Tall) from bottom to top did you go in the drain (hofer gurgle buster) I'm trying to figure it out, that's the only thing holding me back to start filling my thank, I have the same one by the way but with the black stand. The water should cover the 1" endcap or below the endcap..?? Thank you. Link to comment
p-daddy Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 Hey I'm sorry for the late reply, I got really distracted battling dinoflagellates. My holes are pretty close to my cap...just below in fact. Water does not cover the cap. You've probably done this, but I'd go with position "1" in your picture. And yes, this build is slowed because I have dinoflagellates. I am dosing H2O2 and keeping my PH above 8.4. Hopefully in some time I will be discussing DieNoFlagellates. I also have fish, this will be discussed later when I feel like taking pictures. Link to comment
jnicita Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hey, quick question. how LOUD is your system (OR any of other "cadlights" type rimless owners reading). I was all bent out of hell on designing a durso or HGB, but am waiting on supplies, meanwhile, I decided to plumb and leak test everything in the garage. ITS loud, and not the over flow. Its the pump I have running it, but Im not sure if I introduced the noise myself so I am asking, dont want to derail your thread, but thought I would ask. (also, your pushing the now recommended 500gph?, I bought my tank used, no pump, thats why I ask. Plumbing is very simple actually, the tank is drilled with a 1/2 hole for the return and a 1 inch hole for the drain. Instead of a traditional durso standpipe I opted for a hofer gurgle buster. I liked its compactness and it is pretty quiet. Instructions can be found here: http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/ Water drains down the gurgle buster/standpipe through a 1 inch bulkhead --> male thread to slip fitting --> Ball valve --> union --> 45 degree elbow --> 45 degree elbow --> straight length of pipe into filter sock. Really easy Return is a bit different, basically water travels from the return pump --> union--> 45 elbow --> T T --> 45 degree elbow --> union --> ball valve --> bulkhead --> straight pipe --> barbed fitting --> locline T--> ball valve (to bleed the pump instead of throttle it back, supposed to improve life of pump) --> 45 elbow --> straight pipe back into sump. I hope that makes sense, please ask questions if you have them! Link to comment
kevantheman35 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 this tank still running? Link to comment
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