Noob! Solana 34 AIO Skimmer suggestions?

[SteveG66]

Good evening everyone,

 

A noob in reefing as a project between myself and 12 year old daughter, we purchased a neglected Solana 34 AIO through Craigslist and have been resurrecting it from it's poor condition about 3-4 weeks ago. Originally we were interested in the fish, but it seems the corals have really got her excited. She's been reading up and i'm really impressed with what she's learned so far, shes telling me she'd like to be a ictologist (sp? someone who studies corals).

 

The tank had a lot of aptasia, not too bad with algae, 2 damsels, a bunch of blue mushrooms and one anenome.

 

We purchased a clean up crew and luckily the peppermint shrimp took care of the aptasia, the snails and crabs seemed to be working away on the algae and it's starting to look a lot better. Water parameters are in check, but struggling to feel confident about the stock skimmer, I've got a film on top of the water I cant seem to get rid of even with removing the filter material from the inflow chamber so it's just a free fall into chamber 1.

 

Anyone remember these tanks or more importantly the skimmer? I've googled a lot and seem to come up with dead ends on what people have done....anyone have any thing that you can suggest?

 

I've been considering the Aquamaxx WS-1, thoughts or is there a way to modify the one we have to make it more effective? I'm wondering if I pull the skimmer pump out and replace it with a wood airstone?

 

 

Any thoughts on the skimmer and other recommendations on this tank would be appreciated by myself and daughter.

 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and maybe respond.

 

[StevieT]

Tunze 9001 if you want in 1ST chamber or WS-1 in the 2nd. All depends how you want to set up your filtration. Say media basket in chamber two Skimmer chamber one.

[SteveG66]

Thanks, I purchased a InTank media basket so chamber 1 is where I'd like to keep it. I'll look at the tunze, I've read good things about them on the various forums.

 

Appreciate the advice!!!

 

Just picked up a Purple Tip Haitian anemone, pulsing zenia, and zoanthid today, and couldnt be happier. Especially since my daughter saw a Ultra Bubble Tip Anemone @ $80......needless to say I'm glad we found the purple tip today!!

 

I'll look further into the Tunze!!!

[Clown79]

You can add filter floss to collect detritus and change it out for a new piece when it goes brown. I wouldn't use filter sponges just an fyi. Adding a good carbon will help with keeping the water clean and help with surface oils.

 

Matrix carbon

Chemipure elite

Chemipure blue

 

Any of these will help.

 

Do you have a good powerhead directed at the surface? That will not only provide good gas exchange but also helps keep the surface clean.