34 Gal Rimless Solana Build (Pics !)

[BioCube14]

I had my fun with my biocube 14 did some mods on it but time to put it to the side for the moment. I just setup my solana 20x20x20 it is AIO (All in one) even comes with a built in skimmer and a ATO! so far this is what i have so far..

Replace bioballs with LR
added 2 Tunze 6025
Eheim heater
Sweet hunk of tonga and a couple nice pieces of fiji approx 30lbs.
Using a nova extreme pro 20inch with 6 T-5 HO bulbs with individual reflectors (still waiting for it) went T-5 because small tank with tons of light usually means heat but with the t5 setup i can use a glass top and not have to run a open top I plan to put gobies in there and they are jumpers.
Yasha goby
Firefish goby
as well as a couple wrasse
So far the tank is great the downside so far is the noise from the skimmer thinking about changing it to a tunze 9002 DOC skimmer (anyone have one for sale?) It works great though other than that.
Im going to do more softies, LPS in this tank probably a couple sps time will tell.

tonga rock still curing and a couple pieces of fiji looks way better in person got some big pieces the other day from Wolf reef ..thanks ed!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/solana2.jpg

tank/stand shot
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/solana1.jpg

glass top

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/solana3.jpg

back chambers skimmer heater ATO etc..If you look on the last page there is a update of all 3 chambers !
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/solana4.jpg







updated pics!! on last page

[stoneroller]

Looking forward to those pics. Good luck, Richard!

[tony]

pics, then thread :D

cant wait to see it!

[ErikH]

pics or it didn't happen.

Can't wait to see what you got!

[glennr1978]

Solana's are sweet. I agree though, we need some pics!!

[BioCube14]

I should be able to take some quick pics today

[LoneStar]

http://www.klr650.net/forums/images/smilies/worthless.gif

[Chris]

I'm loving mine, it was a good choice. Grats on the new setup. :)

[ErikH]

http://www.klr650.net/forums/images/smilies/worthless.gif

haha, classic.

[BioCube14]

thanks chris I like my tank so far but that skimmer is too noisy for me then again i like my tanks super quiet. I think im going tunze skimmer soon

[bigmoe21]

that ATO isnt too great either..what do you think of it?

thanks chris I like my tank so far but that skimmer is too noisy for me then again i like my tanks super quiet. I think im going tunze skimmer soon

[Chris]

thanks chris I like my tank so far but that skimmer is too noisy for me then again i like my tanks super quiet. I think im going tunze skimmer soon

I removed the little black pad sitting behind the overflow and the sound of water trickling really makes it less noticable. I enjoy the white noise effect from that, otherwise I'd agree the skimmer is a bit noisy.



that ATO isnt too great either..what do you think of it?

The ATO is terrible, it really isn't at all efficient. I've come home some days with the water level being 2 inches below that bottle and hardly a drop emptied. I'm planning on getting a Tunze Osmolator (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~TZ4111.html) sometime this month and throwing the bottles in the trash.

[bigmoe21]

The ATO is terrible, it really isn't at all efficient. I've come home some days with the water level being 2 inches below that bottle and hardly a drop emptied. I'm planning on getting a Tunze Osmolator (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~TZ4111.html) sometime this month and throwing the bottles in the trash.
haha yup

[Chris]

Just noticed the updated pictures... looking good! When do the lights come in?

[BioCube14]

lights are in in a few weeks
the ato is fine if you dont use halide i hear i noticed your using a 250 watt halide on a 34 gal tank.. if so im sure those top off bottles are trash this is another reason im going t-5.. no chiller no jbj or osmolator top off needed I do water changes weekly so those bottle should be ok for 1 week with t5 lighting and a closed top

[ErikH]

Niceeeeeee! :)

[LoneStar]

Nice tank. I would like to do one like that in the future. How much does the tank itself cost? plus stand?

As for a ATO, I highly recommend a Tunze Osmolator as well.

[BioCube14]

the solana is pretty cheap for what you get I was going to go with a custom cube setup but it would cost me more in the end this was a simple all in one tank ready to run out of the box but there are a few kinks that are not to my standards as far as noise..the skimmer works really good and i hear its one of the best out there right now. Its just the pump and fizzing noise from the skimmer that gets to me but it goes both ways because i know many skimmers out there are kinda noisy. If your local pet store does not have it they can order it you can even have a custom color stand for it i chose black but they have i think 4 different colors to choose from as well as custom lights that are made for this tank but i did not like them you can check out current-usa.com for more info on the specs.

[BioCube14]

the osmolator is nice i dont think i will need it though with my light setup

[BioCube14]

the stock skimmer skims with the best of them but alittle too noisy for me it was eather going to be a deltec mce300 or tunze 9002 I decided to go tunze but had to special order one from germany without a magnet it did not cost me more just need to wait longer im not rushing anything on this tank

[BioCube14]

my stupid light is not coming in for about a month so I got a temporary PC light to get things going for now..current usa are slackers!

[Chris]

Any updates? :P

[BioCube14]

phosban reactor installed ..PC light but not the t-5s yet hopefully in a few weeks

[ErikH]

Cool cube! Those lights are gonna rock in there, should be a zoa factory.... :bigsmile:

[BioCube14]

well i hope so but the lights are taking forever

[Chris]

Which phosban reactor did you use and where did you plumb it to?

[BioCube14]

it hangs off the back

[Bbristow]

Tank looks cool. I saw it in F&S mag and was tempted. Do you plan on removing the glass from the top to promote gas exchange?

[BioCube14]

it is topless with screendoor frame and net mod I figure its better to be cooler than hot and with my addition of the phosban reactor it needed to happen anyways for it to fit. I added the JBJ ATO as well not too long ago and working out small kinks with that. Also found out my lights will be out in early july and I should have my tunze skimmer in a week or two. Hopefully by mid july my setup will be complete add ready for new corals I cant wait but I understand if you rush anything you end up with dead corals and money down the drain. For a poor college student it hurts!

[BioCube14]

Update time june 27

Just got my tunze 9002 and setup my refugium light here are some pics..
This is what you wanted to see all 3 chambers all modded hehe
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/IMG_1158.jpg

closer pic of the fuge light I used a coralife mini 18 watt PC that was velcro to the back for a very clean look (THANKS BIGKGLEN)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/IMG_1157.jpg

[BioCube14]

oh yea..still waiting on my light

[rocketeer]

Cool! I like the rimless look. It your light going to be like a pendant hanging over the tank or will you have a cap?

A little chaeto would be nice in that fuge.

Jack

[BioCube14]

its going to be a fixture with legs a 6 bulb T5HO with individual reflectors sweet light ive been waiting on It will be perfect for what i want to keep in my tank more LPS and maybe a couple sps. I will see how that works out.

[BioCube14]

i should have my lights next week! also ordered a special collection cup for my tunze skimmer to fit in the first chamber

[cpreefguy]

6 bulbs should be plenty for anything, let us know when you get it in!

[des]

cool tank

[BioCube14]

I already puchased the light should be here wed I'll post more pics thurs or fri next week

[Chris]

You have a lot of patience! :D

[BioCube14]

yup I was itching for a new light but im glad i held out I will get the light in on wed of next week its not a full blown sps light but it can handle most of them and I dont need a chiller! Right now Im just tuning in everything the way i like it. I plan to start adding some more corals in a couple of weeks

[cpreefguy]

Any new pics? Also, how much space does the filter take up?

[topsoil]

I love that refugium section. Hey, how loud is that tunze skimmer compared to the stock skimmer?

[BioCube14]

I will have some pics tomorrow. As far as the skimmer it is well worth it. the stock skimmer will eventually die on you and is very noisy

[BioCube14]

POOR MANS ELOS! Thanks sean!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/ATISOLANA.jpg

tank and stand
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/MalawiCichlids/ATISOLANA2.jpg

[glennr1978]

wait, didn't I just post here? What's going on?!?!?!

[stoneroller]

Looking good Richard.

[BioCube14]

thanks! I finally got it to where i want it. I plan to just enjot it for now... until the next tank build

[cpreefguy]

Hey Richard, how did you make that mesh screen top for your tank? Any links?

[Mr Cob]

That's HOT!

[ReefCube]

its easy sean with about $10 or less worth of stuff you can have one too haha PM me for details

[QuickSilver525]

i love rimless tanks. your t5 setup is cool, your lights totally bring out all the color :) great job any more updates?

[LittleReef]

Awesome tank!