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MedRed's 60 Gal Solana XL: The End of an Era


MedRed

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TOTM: July 2012

 

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Equipment:

Tank: Current Solana XL 60

Lighting: 250w Aqua Medic Ocean Light Pendant w/ 250w DE 14,000K Phoenix HQI

Lighting: 150w Aqua Medic Ocean Light Pendant w/ 150w DE 20,000K Radium HQI

Lighting: 150w Aqua Medic Spacelight EX Pendant w/ 150w DE 20,000K Radium HQI

Lighting: Aqua Illumination Nano

Lighting Fixture: Giesemann Infiniti

Lighting Bulbs: 1x250w 14,000K Phoenix HQI w/ ATI T5 (3xBlue+ and 1xPurple+)

Lighting Hardware: Geisemann hanging kit

Lighting: Aqua Illumination Sol Blue LED x 2 w/ all 70º optics

Lighting: EcoTech Radion XR30w x 2

Lighting Hardware: AI 24" Hanging Kit and Current USA Hanging Arm Kit

Lighting Hardware: AI 24" Hanging Kit now hung from the ceiling

Sump: Advance Acrylics Custom Sump 24" x 11" x 16"

Chiller: 1/4 HP JBJ Arctica

Chiller Pump: EcoPlus Submersible Pump - 633 GPH

Powerheads: Vortech MP10w ES x 2

Return Pump: Eheim 1262 w/ Two Little Fishies Ball Valve

Bioreactor: CAD Lights NR-1 Nano Media Bio-Reactor

Bioreactor: NextReef SMR1 w/ 250ml Warner Marine ecoBak & Mag-Drive 3 pump

Dosing: Bubble Magus BM-T01 Dosing Pump w/ 3 x Bubble Magus 1.5l reservoirs

Dosing Containers: 3 x Vertex Libra Vessel 2.5S

Skimmer: SWC Cone 160

ATO: Tunze Osmolator

Salt: Seachem aquavitro Salinity

Heaters: 2 x 100w Cobalt Neo-Therm

Heaters: 2 x 150w Ebo Jagers

Rock: X lbs of reefcleaners.org Florida Reef Rock

Substrate: 20-25 lbs Caribsea Aragamax Select Dry Aragonite #00025

 

Additives:

Purigen (replaced once a month)

Blue Life Clear FX Pro (replaced once a month)

aquavitro Alpha (used with water changes and topping off ATO)

aquavirtro Fuel (used twice a week once SPS started taking off)

BRS Calcium

BRS Alkalinity

Kent Tech M Magnesium (do not use in doser without a perpetual stirrer)

 

Supporting Equipment:

Hanna Instruments HI 190M Mini Magnetic Stirrer with Speedsafe x 2 (for alkalinity and magnesium containers)

RO/DI: airwaterice.com Reefkeeper Typhoon III 100 GPD w/ HM Digital DM-1 Inline TDS Meter

Hanna Instruments 96822 Digital Refactometer (Started giving bad readings)

Milwaukee Digital Seawater Refractometer

Brute 32 Gallon Trash Cans x 2 (for mixing salt)

Petco Powerhead SKU: 1191306 x 2 (to mix saltwater for one week)

Marineland Stealth 100 watt heater x 2 (for mixing salt)

Tetra Whisper Air Pump x 2 (for storing saltwater after one week)

API Reef Master & Saltwater Master Test Kits

Hanna Instruments HI 758 Checker HC Handheld Colorimeter Calcium

Hanna Instruments HI 755 Checker HC Handheld Colorimeter - Alkalinity

Aquamend epoxy

JB WaterWeld epoxy

 

Modifications:

StevieT sourced inTank custom smooth acrylic overflow

Bulk Reef Supply 1/4" Screen Top

Black Magic Insta-Cling 5% Static cling window tint for back glass

 

Quarantine Tank: retired

5 Gallon Marineland Eclipse tank w/ Biowheel (bare bottom)

50 watt Marineland Stealth Heater

Tetra Whisper Air Pump

Rena Micro Bubbler Airstone

Artificial Caves x 2

(No live rock, no dead rock, no substrate)

 

 

Livestock:

  • Fish

    Candy Basslet Pair (Liopropoma carmabi)

    Gladiator Picasso Pair (Amphiprion percula)

    Helfrichi Firefish Pair (Nemateleotris helfrichi)

    Neon Goby Pair (Elacatinus oceanops)

    Blue Spot Jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti) He jumped 1 year and 5 months on the only night I left the lid off the tank :-(

    Tiger Blenny (Ecsenius tigris)

    Pink Streaked Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)

    Tanaka's Pygmy Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella tanakai) disappeared

    Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) Sold, to make way for the Tiger Blenny

    Red Spot Cardinalfish x 5 (Apogon parvulus) Sold, didn't fit with scape

     

  • Invertebrates

    1 x Blood Red Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)

    2 x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)

    3 x Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) Bubble algae management... not permanent

    4 x Pom Pom Crabs (Lybia tesselata)

    4 x Porcelain Crabs (Petrolisthes sp.)

    2 x Anemone Porcelain Crabs (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)

    2 x White Spot Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis) Traded

     

  • Clean Up Crew

    1 x Blue Tuxedo Urchin

    2 x Red Tuxedo Urchin

    3 x Fighting Conch Snails

    10 x Caribbean Nerite Snails

    10 x Mexican Cerith Snails

    10 x Caribbean Cerith Snails

    5 x Nassarius Snails

    5 x Banded Trochus Snails

    5 x Tongan Nassarius Snails

    5 x Astraea Snails

    10 x Spiny Star Astraea Snails

    10 x Mini Cerith Snails

     

  • Softies

    Zoas

    Gorgonians

    Ricordea Florida

    Ricordea Yuma

  • LPS

    Acans

    Chalices

    Elegance Coral

    Torch Corals

    Favias

    Lobo

    Goniopora

    Alvepora

    Dendros

    Sun Corals

  • SPS

    Acropora

    Montipora

    Stylophora

Schedules:

  • Aqua Medic Metal Halide Pendants

    On at 10:00 am

    Off at 6:00 pm

  • Aqua Illumination Nano

    Carribean Scheme (Sunrise @ 5:40 am; Sunset; Sunset at 6:10 pm)

    Max (B=10%, RB=10%, W=0%)

    Night (B=0%, RB=10%, W=0%)

    Lunar Cycle (Start 10 pm; End 5 am)

  • Giesemann Lighting:

    Time: 7:00 am | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| Off: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+

    Time: 9:00 am | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| On: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+

    Time: 10:00 am | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|On: Center Phoenix Halide| On: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+

    Time: 18:00 pm | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| On: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+

    Time: 19:00 pm | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| Off: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+

    Time: 22:00 pm | Off: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| Off: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+

  • AI Lighting:

    Time: 06:00 am | W:01% BL:05% RY:05% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 07:00 am | W:10% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 09:00 am | W:20% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 11:00 am | W:30% BL:40% RY:40% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 13:00 pm | W:20% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 16:00 pm | W:10% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 19:00 pm | W:01% BL:10% RY:10% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off

    Time: 22:00 pm | W:00% BL:04% RY:04% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: On

     

  • Radion Lighting:

    Natural Cycle

     

  • Water changes:

    5 gallon water changes once weekly (sometimes throw an extra change a week for giggles).

    Filter sock changed once a week of if clogged. Filter socks are turned inside out, washed in the washing machine with bleach, sent through an extra rinse cycle with Seachem Prime, turned right side in, and then allowed to dry before the next use.

     

  • Feeding

    Instant Ocean Marine Omnivore Pellets (Fish) *Staple

    Instant Ocean Marine Herbivore Pellets (Fish)

    Hikari Tropical Micro Pellets (When clownfish were small)

    PE Frozen Mysis (Fish & Coral)

    H20 Life Frozen Mini Marine Mysis (Fish & Coral)

    H20 Live Frozen Cyclops (Coral)

    Reef Nutrition Oyster Feast Liquid (Coral)

    Reef Nutrition Phyto Feast Liquid (Coral)

FTS Archive:

10.16.2010 (no water)

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10.30.2010

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11.14.2010

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12.06.2010

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01.02.2011

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01.30.2011

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02.21.2011

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03.22.2011

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04.13.2011

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04.29.2011

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06.15.2011

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09.26.2011

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11.11.2011 (14 days after Radions)

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01.30.2012

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03.10.2012 (17 days after switch to MH+T5)

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03.26.2012

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05.12.2012

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06.30.2012 TOTM

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08.28.2012

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10.29.2012 (34 days after switching to halide pendants)

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04.15.2013 (128 days after AI Nano LED added to Halides/105 days post ATO fail induced tank crash)

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05.20.2013 (3 Days after replacing AI Nano LED with 150w Halide)

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12.22.2013

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08.07.2014

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_______________________________________Original Message______________________________________________

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.

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Congrats on the new tank.

 

I'd go with two MP10's. Both on the back glass, one on each side of the overflow.

Yes, one MP40 would be enough but you would likely have dead spots. Besides, the price would be about the same.

 

The QO 4000 should be more than enough. You don't want the water going through the sump too quickly. Although in my experience the "Quite" one pumps are anything but quite. If moneys not an issue, may want to consider going with an Ehiem pump. They are supposed to be the quietest around.

 

HTH,

GOod luck!

Khris

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I'm debating between artisian 60 or solana xl 60 at the moment.. Lol decision decision.

 

Med you should go with 2 x MP10 on each side so that there is no dead spot at all. 1 on top and 1 on bottom on both sides.

 

You can try to find some MP10 on the classified hardware section. I see them go low as 125.00 often.

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Congrats on the new tank.

 

I'd go with two MP10's. Both on the back glass, one on each side of the overflow.

Yes, one MP40 would be enough but you would likely have dead spots. Besides, the price would be about the same.

 

The QO 4000 should be more than enough. You don't want the water going through the sump too quickly. Although in my experience the "Quite" one pumps are anything but quite. If moneys not an issue, may want to consider going with an Ehiem pump. They are supposed to be the quietest around.

 

HTH,

GOod luck!

Khris

 

Thanks Kris. I was leaning toward the 2 MP10 route. I'll give the pump a try and then swap it if it is too loud.

 

I'm debating between artisian 60 or solana xl 60 at the moment.. Lol decision decision.

 

Med you should go with 2 x MP10 on each side so that there is no dead spot at all. 1 on top and 1 on bottom on both sides.

 

You can try to find some MP10 on the classified hardware section. I see them go low as 125.00 often.

 

I looked at the artisan, but it was only 50 gallons. It also seemed pricey when a stand was added. It has LED lights, but I really liked the Aqua Illumination LED's after reading up on them. The Solana seemed to give me more of what I wanted at a better price. I may end up upgrading the sump at some point though... we'll see.

 

You should PM Livingstrong if you have Solana XL questions.He has had his set up for a while.The Solana is a sexy tank.

 

I'll check him out. Thanks!

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I will probably upgrade to the solana xl 60 probably next year lol. I want to follow along on your progress just incase of mod or diy you will do. Hopefully the price will go down a little bit more by that time.

 

What kind of glass is that tank? Let me know if it's quite as the 34g solana ok. Thanks

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ha ha... i get to be the guinea pig? The XL's are starphire glass as well...

 

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.

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Haha that's sound good on MP10s

 

When I get my tank I will add 4 mp10es lol. I need to start saving up money now as we speak so for the moment I will just gonna have to drool all over your tank. :)

 

I also like your setup on your led fixture. Does it really have thunder lighting? Make me wanna sell my led now and get one like yours

 

Any picture of the tank yet? Did the stand comes with the tank or separated? I want to get the tank and stand combo around 900.00

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Haha that's sound good on MP10s

 

When I get my tank I will add 4 mp10es lol. I need to start saving up money now as we speak so for the moment I will just gonna have to drool all over your tank. :)

 

I also like your setup on your led fixture. Does it really have thunder lighting? Make me wanna sell my led now and get one like yours

 

Any picture of the tank yet? Did the stand comes with the tank or separated? I want to get the tank and stand combo around 900.00

 

4 MP10s :o I will see how the flow is...If I need more, i'll bite the bullet. I was researching your fixture and found the Aqua Illumination vs Maxspect PAR comparison.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197

I then found this article with some comparisons to the other available fixtures.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/5/aafeature2

Needless to say I was sold.

 

The stock controller only lets you do sunset/sunrise and a lunar cycle for the moonlights (besides independent control of the white and blue light intensity for regular viewing.) You have to get a controller like a Profilux or reefkeeper to simulate a real lunar cycle, clouds, thunderstorms, and rainy days.

 

I just ordered my tank on Friday. It should be here within a week since Current is delivering locally. I'm going to try to schedule it for next monday. I got it for $950 shipped from premium aquatics(although now I have to pay tax because Current is in California.)

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant....;Category_Code=

 

The only thing it doesn't come with are lights, the light hanging arms, and a skimmer.

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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.

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Thanks Nirvana! I'm concerned with my scape. I want it to be something different. My lights arrive on Monday. I never thought LED would be in my future so quickly! I also need to figure out what level of automation I'm going to go for.

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NirvanaandTool

Well considering you've got time til the tank comes in, play around with some scapes with just the rock. Could always drill/epoxy some together and make some cool shapes.

 

I'd say less is more but you've already got 120lbs of dry rock right?

 

I'm jealous ... wish I could swing a 60 cube right now. Especially with LED!

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I bought 120 lbs but I plan to use half of it if that. I just wanted to make sure I had enough variety for coming up with something. I am most concerned with hoping the pieces work well together and that I can figure out how to stick them together. lol.

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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.

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Lights came in today!

 

Some of my goodies...

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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.

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

 

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and the lights... they are well packaged

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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!

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Talked to C2 (makers of the AI) and they indicated that there might be a future firmware update that would allow for a bit more show rather than just the sunrise and sunset.

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Do it big... []0 [] []\/[] []0 !!! :)

 

Dang i can't hang with you right now but maybe next year. Try to get a new car and a house first.

Would you like to baby sit my frags for me? Lol

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