mattdog Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hey Everyone, I am a old member of nano-reef.com, one of the first hundred or so. I have had nano-reef tanks before (a 7g, 20L and a 29), but after my last move, I decided to not set a tank up again.....so I thought. I live near Atlanta and after visiting our new, swanky LFS, I was reeled right back in....hook, line and sinker. I originally wanted a big tank, but then I knew that my work schedule would not allow for that. My focus shifted towards an all-in-one type tank. The Current-USA Cardiff was the first thing that caught my eye at CR, but I knew that cleaning the glass would be a pain. After talking to the owner of said store, he put me onto the Solana. I loved it. Just what the doctor ordered. Later that night, I was cruising the forums on the Atlanta Reef Club and saw that someone had posted the full setup for sale...just what I wanted. I bought it 3 days later and I will be posting about it here. Here's what I have so far: 34g Current-USA Solana w\ Espresso Stand 20" Current-USA Sunpod 150w HQI w\ Moonlights Standard Pump & Skimmer Media Removed 1 Golden Striped Maroon Clown - 2.5" 1 Pajama Cardinal 2 Peppermint Shrimp Full CUC (3 Astrea, 1 bumblebee, 3 nass., 3 turbos, and 4 blue-legged hermits) A couple colonies of Xenia, Zoos and Mushrooms Here's what's coming: Auto Top-off from Autotopoff.com (Dual switch, sump bracket) Reef Keeper 2 Controller with pH and Temp Probe Dual Fans to clip on back of tank for temp issues Turning middle chamber into mini-refugium with chaeto CORALS, CORALS & MORE CORALS Front Left Right Aquascape...U like? When the lights go down.... Pajama Cardinal...came with the tank..anyone want him? Peppermint and Mushroom Shrooms and Xenia This guy stays in this hole unless he's eating, chasing the Cardinal or shaking up sand with his tail at me Yeah...I see you...so what?!?! Unidentified Zoos Another angle Link to comment
ryanmilo Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Sweet tank. Lots of solana owners here! Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Yeah..I'm noticing that. It's a sharp looking tank. With some of the mods I've seen, I'm really impressed with some of the possibilities. I like StevieT's media rack idea. That's pretty cool. Also, seen some custom hoods and screened tops that would make keeping some jumpers possible. It's also a little bigger tank than the 29g I had, so I'm able to cram a few more rocks and corals in there. I'm definitely excited about the future for my setup. Link to comment
Brian Crook Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Looking real good so far! Link to comment
davidr2340 Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Looking real good so far! Agreed!!! Looks great! Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 14, 2009 Author Share Posted March 14, 2009 Thanks guys...I got the RK2 in the mail as well as my Autotopoff.com system. I'll be setting that up as soon as I have time. I'll take pics as well. Contemplating finding a MP20 Vortech...haven't decided yet. Matt Link to comment
nanoskim Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 If you would like to be a sponsor for the site, please send a Pm to our administrator, Christopher Marks. Until then, please refrain from the spammy posts. Thanks! - Jeremai Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 15, 2009 Author Share Posted March 15, 2009 If you would like to be a sponsor for the site, please send a Pm to our administrator, Christopher Marks. Until then, please refrain from the spammy posts. Thanks! - Jeremai Jeremai, I'm so sorry that you thought my posts were spammy. I was just detailing what I was using. You know when other people did that in their posts, I found it helpful. If you have a beef with what I do in my posts, please pm me and I'll address it instead of flaming it out in front of everyone. I'm sure if Chris really had a problem with what I was saying, he'd pm me himself. Matt Link to comment
davidr2340 Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Jeremai, I'm so sorry that you thought my posts were spammy. I was just detailing what I was using. You know when other people did that in their posts, I found it helpful. If you have a beef with what I do in my posts, please pm me and I'll address it instead of flaming it out in front of everyone. I'm sure if Chris really had a problem with what I was saying, he'd pm me himself. Matt Matt... That wasn't directed at you... It was directed @ nanoskim. Link to comment
Lalani Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Matt... That wasn't directed at you... It was directed @ nanoskim. This. nanoskim has a habit of posting spammily. Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 This. nanoskim has a habit of posting spammily. Ok...so, I'm guessing the red text means that Jeremai edited that post, effectively removing it and replacing it with the spamming comment? I wish someone would tell me this stuff...It's been like 4 years people...HAHAHA....glad to be back. Got all my new goodies...I'm going to the LFS tomorrow to get some tubing to help setup my ATO. I'll be sure to post some pics when all is installed . Also, I added a Koralia 1 and a Koralia Nano to the setup to help with flow. Seems to be working. Matt Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 New Stuff.... Auto Top-off from Autotopoff.com 5.5g reservoir for ATO ReefKeeper 2 Brain attached to Solana stand door...I'm going to tint the glass so you can't see the wires This is the power block for the RK2 AquaC Remora Skimmer I had laying around...kicks the stock skimmers butt and is much quieter! New Critters: Skunk Cleaner Shrimp The best picture I could manage of my new six-line wrasse...he's so fast Nice colony of GSP's that hopefully will colonize the rock beside it. That's it for now...I am having a minor bubble algae outbreak and added an emerald crab. He's hiding during the day, so no pics of him. I know that they can cause problems...any advice on what to look for? Thanks, Matt Link to comment
treygarz Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thinking about picking me up a sunpod for my AP 24. How do you like yours? Just trying to get a feel and opinions on what people think as far as growth and overall good they provide for the tank! Thanks! Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thinking about picking me up a sunpod for my AP 24. How do you like yours? Just trying to get a feel and opinions on what people think as far as growth and overall good they provide for the tank! Thanks! Hey Trey, I've only had mine for about a week and a half...I know my xenia has doubled in size and my mushrooms and zoos have already split a couple of times. The only recommendation that I have for you is to make sure you change the stock bulb. It is not good at all. I have the Pheonix 150 HQI in mine. It's a good looking light and does a good job. Matt Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Does anyone else's maroon clown shake his tail in the sand and kick it up repetitively? I makes the water column all cloudy and is kind of annoying. Link to comment
ryanmilo Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Hey Matt, how do you like your ATO? I am teetering on the Osmolator but damn its a lot off cabbage coral Link to comment
mattdog Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 Hey Ryan, So far, so good. It's working great! I was looking at the osmolator and the JBJ unit and I just figured that as good as ATO.com's feedback was, that I'd save a few dollars and try it. Took me a while to figure out how I wanted to set it up, but it was a piece of cake after that. HTH, Matt Link to comment
mattdog Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Got some new goodies!!! Update on the tank as well Changed my bulb to a Phoenix 150w HQI in the Sunpod. Big difference! Got some new corals. Pictured. Sold the pajama cardinal because the maroon clown wouldn't leave him alone. Slowly but surely it's coming right along. Ran out of space with those pics Link to comment
ryanmilo Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Nice work Matt. Like the phoenix, I will get one but will wait till this one burns out. Lots of nice coraline growth.... Link to comment
mattdog Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Nice work Matt. Like the phoenix, I will get one but will wait till this one burns out. Lots of nice coraline growth.... Hey Ryan, Just saw your thread. Your tank is looking AMAZING! I'm just going really slow. Trying to snipe a lot of frags from my local reef club (Atlanta). The Phoenix has worked great for me. The coral growth is truly amazing and seems like it's been in fast forward for the past few weeks. I'm gonna have to start getting on top of my xenia. It's going crazy. I 1" little ball is now 3"x3". Matt Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 mattdog, Did you get a dual or single float switch from autotopoff.com? I've got the dual, and will be setting it up with a ReefKeeper Elite, wondering how you did yours? I see you have the same 5.5 gallon tank for an ato water holding tank as I got, what pump feeds the ato water to your tank? Link to comment
bruce922 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Matt, the tank looks good bro. Keep us updated with any new pictures you might take. Bruce Link to comment
mattdog Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Hey Trigger, I got the dual switch. I figured can't be too safe. Haha. I just used the kit that he sells on the site to set it up. I had a Maxi-Jet 1200 laying around and put it to good use. What I did is had a 1/2" ID tube go off the PH and then used a down-converting coupling to connect to a 1/4" line. Works awesome! All I did from there is use a 1/4" drill bit to drill two holes into the bracket and fed the line through them and pointed it down toward the tank. It's working great! Bruce, Thanks for the support man! I will be certain to keep the thread up to date at least monthly. Link to comment
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