j2me5ku Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 This is a journal of my 1st Generation Solana 34G Tank. I would like to share my experiences with the community and ask for specific advice through my thread. Please keep in mind that this will most likely be a very slow build (Sorry) I decided to make a DSB Solana because I wanted to keep a Pearly Jawfish. Here is the setup: Equipment List: 1st Gen Solana 34G Cube with Solana Modern Black Stand 20" 150W Sunpod HQI with 14K Phoenix Bulb Neptune Systems Aquacontroller Jr. Azoo Quad Cooling Fans Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 All Glass Aquarium 100W Heater Tunze 9002 Nano Skimmer (1st Gen) Tunze Magnet (6025.500) - for Nano Skimmer Tunze Nano Pump (0800.040) - for Tunze Skimmer InTank Tunze Collection Cup InTank Solana Media Basket Ecotech Vortech MP10es Wireless Window Screen Kit BRS Deluxe Carbon/GFO Reactor Tunze Osmolator Magnet (3155.600)** Tunze Silence Recirculation Pump (1073.020) - Return Pump** 1/2" Hosebarb Tee Fitting - (to tee off return pump to BRS Reactor)** Livestock List: ~25lbs of Dry Rock (Mixture of Fiji, Vanuatu, & Tonga Branch) ~50-60lbs of Sand (Aragonite Fiji Pink, Tropic Isle Tahitian Moon, & Florida Crushed Coral) Pearly (Yellowheaded) Jawfish** Neon Goby** Longfind (Threadfin) Cardinals** 1-2 Clams** Coral List: Mainly softies and LPS** ** denotes future purchases Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Since I had about 30-40lbs of dry rock, I went ahead and created my rockscape. I cut a piece of eggcrate to the dimension of the display to get a better idea of the space I'm going to be working in. I wanted it to be open with a lot of archways and canyons for the fish to swim through. I plan to put the eggcrate on the bottom to help prevent the rock from cracking the glass in case the risers fail or rock falls over from the jawfish tunneling. Front view: Front Right Corner View: Top Down View: Archway: Since I'm planning to get a jawfish, I made stands for my rockscape out of PVC fittings I had lying around. I used epoxy to bond them to the rock. PVC Risers mounted with Epoxy: Sorry for the crappy pictures - they were taken with my Blackberry Link to comment
seabass Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Pics are fine. Very cool! Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 I currently have about 30-35lbs of sand that is drying out. I recently rinsed it with tap water until the water ran clear. When it dries, I plan to wash it again with tap and thereafter rinse with RO/DI water. *edit: still learning how to use the forums - sorry! Link to comment
seabass Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 If you can, I'd get it in a container of saltwater (and a powerhead) and seed it with some sand from another tank. By the time you are ready for it, it will have a decent population of bacteria (and possibly other life). It might even help prevent a large diatom bloom in your display tank. Just a thought. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 If you can, I'd get it in a container of saltwater (and a powerhead) and seed it with some sand from another tank. By the time you are ready for it, it will have a decent population of bacteria (and possibly other life). It might even help prevent a large diatom bloom in your display tank. Just a thought. I'll keep that in mind. I really want to make sure that the sand is completely clean of any gunk because I used to have terrible problems with algae. Thanks for stopping by! Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Bought the crushed coral yesterday. I plan to have the sand in the tank and seeded by the weekend. I'll post pics tomorrow Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 sorry for the long and overdue update...been really busy but here are some pics of the sand and rock in the tank. FTS Left Right Top a couple of updates. i've decided to part with the BRS reactor because i wanted to simplify the set up. i've decided to be more vigilant with my water changes and monitor the water chemistry. now i have to look for a reputable LFS to get some live sand or rock to seed the tank. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 i just ordered StevieT's Tunze inTank Collection Cup, Solana Media Basket, and some other goodies. i plan to use purigen & chemi-pure elite for now. i'm still considering using the refugium set up with chaeto in the second chamber with the new JBJ Nano-Glo LED Light. we'll see based on my water parameters hopefully all the stuff will be here next week. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 how deep is the sandbed? 4 inches Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 just received my StevieT's inTank Tunze Collection Cup, Media Basket, Solana glass supports, and poly filter. i'll take pics when i get home tonight. thx StevieT! also, picked up a small live rock and cup of sand from Norman's Reef in torrance to seed the tank. i'll probably buy the rest of the equipment at the end of the month. Link to comment
Genj Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice start, looking forward to watching it develop! Link to comment
StevieT Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 just received my StevieT's inTank Tunze Collection Cup, Media Basket, Solana glass supports, and poly filter. i'll take pics when i get home tonight. thx StevieT! no Thank you! and because I was told to do so. Enjoy Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 damnit...forgot the box at work. i'll post the pics at work tomorrow Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 sorry to keep you guys waiting, but here are pictures of the goodies from inTank Boxed and labeled well Going green with packaging by using poly filter as cushion *thumbs up! everything else packed nice and tight Solana glass supports Tunze Collection Cup Media Basket - I slide up the panel so that people can get an idea of how media is placed in the basket. Kinda hard to see. Link to comment
inTank Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Nice pictures love seeing how it looks on the receivers end. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 just got paid, so i purchased a few goodies from marinedepot. they should be here by tomorrow or wednesday. i'll post pics when i get them Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 i love living so close to marine depot. if i order before 3PM PST, i literally get next day delivery without paying for it. WINNING! so you're probably wondering what i bought...well here it is! Chemi-Pure Elite, Purigen, API Saltwater Testkit, and Prodibio Start Up 6 Vials, IO Reef Crystals 200 gal Box(not pictured) i saved the best for last... Ecotech Marine Vortech MP-10w ES I can't wait to go home to test this bad boy out. I'll post pics when I install it at home. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 22, 2011 Author Share Posted March 22, 2011 i plan to upgrade my lighting system later this year and i came across this Aqua Illumination Sol Nano i can't wait until the specs come out and hopefully they'll come up with a different way of mounting the LEDs instead of the hanging kit. Link to comment
jcieutat Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Most of us that have the 34G Solana are going with the Larger AI fixture. I think the nano might be a little small. I pre-ordered from the wrong site since most sites got their shipment this week and mine will not arrive until next week. I went ahead and ordered the hanging kit and will marry it to my Current USA hanging kit that I already have installed. I will post pics once the damn thing comes in! Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 Most of us that have the 34G Solana are going with the Larger AI fixture. I think the nano might be a little small. I pre-ordered from the wrong site since most sites got their shipment this week and mine will not arrive until next week. I went ahead and ordered the hanging kit and will marry it to my Current USA hanging kit that I already have installed. I will post pics once the damn thing comes in! i was afraid i was going to hear that...i guess we'll see what the coverage is on the nano and i'll decide then. i don't plan to keep any light intense coral so i might be able to pass by with the nano. so i rushed home and installed my new vortech MP-10. all i can say is that im very impressed. im happy i made the buy. here it is installed. controller mounted with the rest. API Test Ammonia - 0PPM Nitrite - 0PPM Nitrate - 10PPM looks like my cycle finished. i'll do a WC this weekend and start the prodibio start up vials. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 i'm having microbubble issues and its coming from my Tunze Nano Skimmer. Here's the skematics: chamber 1 - Tunze Nano Skimmer with InTank Collection Cup chamber 2 - InTank Media Basket with poly filter, purigen, and chemi-pure elite chamber 3 - maxijet 900 return I know its not coming from my return, because I didnt have problems with microbubbles until i put the skimmer online when i got the collection cup. the water line is above the return outlet in chamber 3 and it stays constant at that level cuz of my tunze osmolator. has anyone come up with a way to stop the microbubbles flowing thru from chamber 1 to chamber 3? i was thinking of putting the stock grate ontop of media basket and add another layer of poly filter. it's redundant but at least ill have ultra clear water without microbubbles. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 i did some work this weekend. i did a 5gal WC and made a top screen out of a window screen kit at home depot. i used bird netting instead of regular window mesh. i still have microbubble issues, but im going to try something next week when i do a WC. i plan to use the default top screen and place the polyfilter on top instead of the top chamber of the media basket. i figure that this will also allow me to use the top most chamber in my media basket for something else. not exactly sure, but if i could put some chaeto in there, i think it'll make the media basket 10x better! i plan to pick up on a 10gal at petsmart or petco for my quarantine tank. I'll probably let that cycle for a bit with a lot of small rubble pieces and some pvc piping i saved up for the pearly jawfish. Link to comment
j2me5ku Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 i'm looking into getting a CUC soon. with a 4" SB, would 10 nassarius, 10 astreas, and 1 tongan fighting conch be an effective CUC? Link to comment
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