Nicole's 34g Solana AIO Build

[nicolerm]

So I realize that I'm way late to the Solana party, but I found one for sale semi-locally at a price I couldn't resist, and it got me back into the hobby after a bit of a hiatus. It's exactly the size and style of tank I have been wanting. I've decided I'm doing this one "right." Past tanks of mine have always come with someone else's old live rock, old equipment, etc., and I tried to make them work on a shoestring budget.

 

Stuff so far:

34 Gallon Solana AIO

Reefbreeders Photon 16 LEDs (with custom legs/mount my husband built for me)

Reef Octopus BH-1000 HOB Skimmer (this thing is huge!)

Vortech MP10

Apex Controller

Spectrapure RODI

 

About two weeks ago I ordered "The Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater and have cycled the first half. I should be getting the second half of the rock and all the critters this week.

 

Here is a terrible FTS:

 

 

Don't mind the sponge filter or the ammonia badge, they are going into my QT that I am setting up today. Lots of diatoms and a some hair algae just waiting for CUC! I also have what I believe (and hope) to be at least 3 pistol shrimp. I've seen two, but there is popping coming from several places in the tank. Also several fuzzy crabs that I'll want to get out of there before I put in anything I really care about. Tons of life in this rock and from all I've read, part two is even better!

 

My plan for this tank is to leave it fishless for at least 3 months after the addition of part two of the package, and carefully quarantine everything I add thereafter. TTM and observation for fish, dipping and observation for frags.

 

Immediate goals: get the QT up, set up ATO (apex breakout box and float switches otw), and aquascaping once the rest of my rock gets here!

 

 

[vlangel]

This should be a very nice tank and I will be following. It's a perfect size to do a lot with it.

[nicolerm]

This should be a very nice tank and I will be following. It's a perfect size to do a lot with it.

 

Thanks! It really is the prefect size. Small enough to be manageable but not so small that I can't fit the things I want. I've had a 90g and a 125g in the past and I'm not sure I ever want another tank where water changes can't be done with 5g buckets! Here are some more terrible pics of some of the neat stuff on the TBS rock:

 

 

 

 

I need a real camera

[joy13]

I like the legs on your light, I got my friend a solana and he really likes it he has the same light hanging from conduit.

[vlangel]

Thanks! It really is the prefect size. Small enough to be manageable but not so small that I can't fit the things I want. I've had a 90g and a 125g in the past and I'm not sure I ever want another tank where water changes can't be done with 5g buckets! Here are some more terrible pics of some of the neat stuff on the TBS rock:

 

20151129_092306.jpg

 

20151129_092426.jpg

 

20151129_092650.jpg

 

I need a real camera

Ha ha, I could not have said that any better myself. I also had a 90g and a 15g but like you I like doing my water changes with my old salt buckets so now I have a 36g bowfront which I love.

[nicolerm]

Damn skimmer overflowed sometime last night, which apparently these things are notorious for. If it keeps this up I will have to find something that fits into the back compartment to replace it. Not sure what triggered it, probably user error to some extent.

 

On a happier note, part two of my tbs order comes today!

[vlangel]

Damn skimmer overflowed sometime last night, which apparently these things are notorious for. If it keeps this up I will have to find something that fits into the back compartment to replace it. Not sure what triggered it, probably user error to some extent.

On a happier note, part two of my tbs order comes today!

That's stinks about the skimmer. Mine is in my sump so it's not as big a deal when it over flows although I don't like seeing all the gunk going back into the tank.

That will be fun scaping now that you have all your rock! Enjoy.

[nicolerm]

Part two arrived yesterday and I got it mostly installed. This is all but one big rock that I currently have in a bucket:

 

 

I was happier with the scape before I saw it in this picture. It seems less empty in person? Cubes are a bitch to aquascape! I think I may need to drill for rods to get the height I wanted.

 

Got two of these rock flower anemones. Hopefully they color up some. The little one glows orange in spots under blues.

 

 

These guys haven't opened fully yet but look like they will be green:

 

 

And a closer look at the gorgonian:

 

 

Most of the critters are hunkered down and hiding in the rocks, hope to get some pics of them as they get adjusted!

[vlangel]

Cubes are tough to scape but I had a 30g XH that was even worse. Uhggg, it was 24" high but with only 12" of depth. I was able to get some height by putting my main base rock on small rock stilts. Then my base rock was large enough to support a taller thin rock structure. It has a spire look about it. Now that it has been moved into the slightly shorter bow front the top of the spire actually sticks out of the water slightly!

[ajmckay]

Awesome tank - diggin' all the life on the rock! I went with dry rock this go around and sometimes it makes me glad but sometimes it also makes me sad... lol

 

 

As for the skimmer - sometimes they flip out when new. You could potentially build in a failsafe by drilling a hole in the cup high up and connecting a short piece of hose to it that's directed back into the tank. In the event of an overflow it will only fill the cup to the hole and the rest will drain back into the tank.

[nicolerm]

I've armed myself with fiberglass rods, putty, and superglue gel to try round 2 tonight. I really want 2 islands, a taller sloping one on the back left and a smaller one in the right front corner. I should have gotten a step stool. I'm like one inch too short to reach the bottom of the tank comfortably.

[nicolerm]

I think I have been successful. Not in the way I originally intended, but I like it! And I didn't use any of the crap I bought today.

 

No ammonia after adding part two either. Next step is getting all the Apex breakout box stuff hooked up and configured. I'm going to do an ATO and some feed/maintenance buttons.

 

[nicolerm]

I almost (?) got the ATO set up yesterday while waiting for my order from the Legendary Corals live sale to arrive. Going to have to move the Aqualifter up or get a submersible pump, but the code seems to be working correctly. Here's the frags from LC in my QT tank on a ghetto mag float frag rack I slapped together:

 

 

And I think I may have found a light setting that allows me to take (slightly) better photos with my phone. I also ordered some gel filters (?) that are supposed to help with this.

 

[nicolerm]

I've been thinking this morning about longterm plans for trying to keep these sponges and tunicates etc alive. Instead of feeding a liquid plankton supplement or whatever, couldn't I dose carbon to boost bacteria for them to filter out? Instead of adding more "pollution" I could theoretically get the same result AND reap the benefits of carbon dosing? I have a pretty huge skimmer so no worries there. My tank is so young though I'm not sure I should start mucking around with these things yet.

[vlangel]

I have never utilized the carbon dosing method but what you are saying makes sense. I don't think I would mess with any of that now knowing how new your tank is, though.

Hopefully a carbon doser will jump in and give an opinion based on experience.