New Solan 34g - Work in Progress

[creefer]

Hey all...

Been lurking around here for a year now and finally set up a system about a month ago. I set up a 34g Solana and so far so good. Since I'm at work, pics will have to wait until the evening. Here's where I sit currently.

Equipment:

Solana 34 g & Stand
Maxspect G2-110 LED
1 Koralia Nano 425gph
ATO from autotopoff
MJ900 for ATO
5-Stage RODI (more on this later....)
150w Stealth Heater


I have a few items on the wish list. Started the tank with Agra-alive sand, dry base rock, and seeded it with some choice coralline LR. Cycled fine, did first WC and now have GHA everywhere. I know this sometimes happens post cycle however I attribute some of it to my mistake in the RODI. I ordered a build your own RODI from BRS and forgot the DI stage when ordering:mad: Should have ordered sober I guess. Anyway, I was getting some TDS out of the thing which inspired me to look further into it. That's when I noticed I had f'd up, so I ordered a DI canister (Should arrive today or tomorrow) and will now have a 5-Stage RODI. So, I will also need to do a larger WC as a result.

Right now, I'm running a mini fuge in the second chamber. I have it set up top down as follows: filter floss, purigen, chaeto, chemi-pure elite. Hopefully this, along with new water, will help with the GHA (just added chemi-pure elite yesterday, 6.5oz bag). Params are pretty good so far. Amm=0, trites=0, trates=5ppm, NO4=0, salinity =1.025, and temp=79*.

All I need now is an MP10 and a controller with some probes and I'm good to go.

Thanks for checking in.....Pics later....

[jimsflies]

Congrats on your new tank. I really like those Solana tanks. Looking forward to watching yours grow.

When you get a chance, enter a reefshow case for your tank. Here is a link (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/dto_showcase.php?do=editshowcase&t=1000&i=0) to add it.

[ReeferRob]

Glad to see you started a thread over hear man!

Looking forward to many post in the near future!

Sounds like your ready for a little CUC in there.

[creefer]

Glad to see you started a thread over hear man!

Looking forward to many post in the near future!

Sounds like your ready for a little CUC in there.

Thanks.

I have 3 small blue leg hermits, 3 medium red leg hermits, and a cleaner pack of snails from reefcleaners that should arrive this afternoon.

Looking forward to becoming part of the community, attending local swaps, etc. It's going to really fuel the addiction.

[creefer]

Congrats on your new tank. I really like those Solana tanks. Looking forward to watching yours grow.

When you get a chance, enter a reefshow case for your tank. Here is a link (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/dto_showcase.php?do=editshowcase&t=1000&i=0) to add it.

Thanks. Will do. Need to learn how to take pics and get rid of the GHA first.

[Sir Patrick]

Nice tank man! Looking forward to watching the progress on this!

[creefer]

Thanks. I am too. Can't wait to beat my algae issue though.

[creefer]

Ok, I said I would have pics, so here goes. These are taken sequentially as things have progressed. It got filled with saltwater the weekend before halloween.

I think I experienced a minor cycle. I never really had any huge spikes of ammonia, tries, or trates. So, I added a true percula about 1.5 weeks ago. Still no spikes of anything and trates have consistently declined since I first started testing (2 wks after adding water, LS, and LR) and are in a holding pattern around 5ppm. I have added a pretty decent CUC from reefcleaners last night, so hopefully within a week I'll see some progress on the algae issue.

Future Plans:

I really would like and RKL and MP10 and maybe even a tunze 9002 skimmer. For now though, I'll be installing the DI cartridge this weekend and doing a 30% WC to try to get some more pure water in the tank. I'll also be installing the ATO that arrived last night.

That's it for now. Will try to get pics of the mini fuge in the second chamber if I can get a camera back there.

Thanks for looking.

[ReeferRob]

That a really nice tank, I like the Solanas and the icing on the cake LED's. Have you dosed any bacteria to get thing kick started in the tank?

[creefer]

That a really nice tank, I like the Solanas and the icing on the cake LED's. Have you dosed any bacteria to get thing kick started in the tank?

Thanks. I have not dosed any bacteria. I was hoping that the LR and LS I added would be sufficient. I'm open to ideas and thoughts on this.

[creefer]

What is the best way to determine if your green algae is bryopsis or GHA? In comparing what I see in my tank to the nuisance algae id on reefcleaners, it seems as though I may have a bryopsis problem.

[creefer]

So, did a WC today, approximately 30%. This is the first WC with RO/DI. Prior it was only DI. Picked some of the algae out, cleaned as much off the substrate as I could, removed rocks that could be removed for algae scrubbing. Now I wait. Seriously hate this algae and hope it is GHA as was suggested in my ID post. I know I'm a noob but I find it interesting to see how similar GHA and Bryopsis can look.

I have been running a reduced photo period and not much difference is really noted. I'm keeping the whites on only for 3-4 hours and blues for a total of 3-4 hours. I did go lights out for a few days last week and growth was reduced. As soon as I brought light back, it's like the algae took off like a rocket. Not only have I changed the photo period, but I have also raised the lights off the tank by about 4 inches. It's to early to tell if this will help or not.

CUC has not touched any of this stuff either. I have a TON of dwarf ceriths, a few nassarius, some big and some small nerites, and some astreas. Thinking about an emerald crab as well. I'm open to any suggestions here. Should I run a reactor? Been reading about MB7 and Vodka dosing for LNS but am not really ready to dive into that yet I don't think.

[ReeferRob]

You'll know the difference when you see it. Very distinctive differences in looks, texture, feel, and ruggedness. GHA is finer and slimmier, Bryopsis is thicker, tougher, greener, and is almost feathered at the top.


I would personally just sit tight and ride it out for a while. The tank is so new. If anything I would get some Kent Tech M and a good Magnesium test kit. Bump that mag up to 1450+ and try and keep it there for a few weeks. See how the algae reacts. Many have fought and won the bryopsis battles with the Kent Tech M and their secret formula!

[ReeferRob]

Oh, here's one of my favorite ID sites. You'll find some decent pics in the hitch hiker section mid way down!

[cg5071]

I got a bunch of dwarf ceriths too. I dont believe they actually eat hair algae but eat film and detrius. Eating detrius will help in the long run as they will clean nooks and crannies so it wont sit there as food for other algae. The same with emerald crabs but they do eat bubble algae also. The only snails I have seen eat hair is turbos but watch them they may fall over and die but other than that they are good.

Your ro/di should help too. Battling algae is something that takes time and you do it in layers. Add cuc, a fish that eats algae, ro/di, cut feeding down some ect. I havnt had luck with lowering the lights either. Like you it just grows right back. I have knocked it back pretty hard by leaving a bad rock or 2 sitting in change out water for a few days to get cold and dark but it probably isnt real good for the other stuff living on it either. As long as it isnt a big percentage of your rock you will be fine doing a little at a time.

[creefer]

You'll know the difference when you see it. Very distinctive differences in looks, texture, feel, and ruggedness. GHA is finer and slimmier, Bryopsis is thicker, tougher, greener, and is almost feathered at the top.


I would personally just sit tight and ride it out for a while. The tank is so new. If anything I would get some Kent Tech M and a good Magnesium test kit. Bump that mag up to 1450+ and try and keep it there for a few weeks. See how the algae reacts. Many have fought and won the bryopsis battles with the Kent Tech M and their secret formula!

Just started that tonight. I have an arsenal of salifert kits, so I hit it with the Tech M tonight. I have been around 1400ppm typically since I started the tank. Was hoping to get to 1500 and hold for a few weeks. Based on your description of the algae, it's likely GHA.

[creefer]

I got a bunch of dwarf ceriths too. I dont believe they actually eat hair algae but eat film and detrius. Eating detrius will help in the long run as they will clean nooks and crannies so it wont sit there as food for other algae. The same with emerald crabs but they do eat bubble algae also. The only snails I have seen eat hair is turbos but watch them they may fall over and die but other than that they are good.

Your ro/di should help too. Battling algae is something that takes time and you do it in layers. Add cuc, a fish that eats algae, ro/di, cut feeding down some ect. I havnt had luck with lowering the lights either. Like you it just grows right back. I have knocked it back pretty hard by leaving a bad rock or 2 sitting in change out water for a few days to get cold and dark but it probably isnt real good for the other stuff living on it either. As long as it isnt a big percentage of your rock you will be fine doing a little at a time.


For the most part, getting the rock out is not going to be an easy task for me. Most of it, roughly 80%, is a structure that has been epoxied together making removal a bit of a challenge. Going to have to rely on other options for now. May grab a BRS reactor and try GFO after a few weeks if nothing else works. Also thinking about an algae blenny but will likely chill for a while and try to reduce the nutrients as best I can. All params are decent, trates (before WC today) were ~5ppm and 0 NO4. I'm guess the algae is consuming it all.

[ReeferRob]

Duh, never posted the link.....no one else noticed? LOL
http://xtalworld.com/Aquarium/index.htm

[creefer]

Lol...did notice but assumed you'd figure it out......and you did. Thanks. Definitely HA.

[creefer]

Updates.....

Params consistently improving. Ammonia, trites, trates, and NO4 all testing at 0 on the salifert kits. Happy about that. I really think that the DI is helping with the algae. The growth seems to have slowed since the new water source has been provided.. Installed the ATO so for the last 4 days top off water has been pure RO/DI. Ph is consistent at 8, alk has been slowly dropping over the last few days. Still need to raise the salinity a little. Running about 1.023 right now. dKh is 8.6 and Ca is 480. Still chillin' and watching the algae hopefully start to die off.

Just talked the wife into an RKL for Christmas. Now if I can only slip in an MP10 I'd be doing great! Planning to add a DJ power strip to clean things up under the tank. Hopefully, I can add more live stock soon. I have one ricordea, and hand full (20 ployps) of zoas, and a true percula in there. They all seem healthy and the ric is eating well, so no complaints there. Will be slowly increasing the photo period over the next several days. I have been running reduced cycle to assist in the algae fight so we'll see how the increased light cycle does.

Will post some pics when the algae dissipates. Btw....any recommendations on taking pics with a POS point-n-shoot??

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[creefer]

Had my skimmer taken apart last night for a cleaning and was thinking about drilling small holes in the impeller blades in an effort to increase bubble production and skimmate. It seems to pull pretty well but I can't help but think that this, or a mesh mod, would improve skimmate production.

Any thoughts?

[dlhirst]

Nice looking set up. I have a 34G tank myself, very similar overall. I must say - I wish my original GHA bloom looked so insignificant... The algae was so thick, it looked like shag carpet from a 60s jet set pad. I swear you could hear Mel Torme' in there!

Not sure if you have been feeding that clown at all, but you might stop for a bit. It's so hard to feed only enough food for one fish, that you are likely feeding most of it to the algae. If he gets hungry, he can always start working on the algae himself.

Good luck, and glad to see another small tank guy here!

[creefer]

Nice looking set up. I have a 34G tank myself, very similar overall. I must say - I wish my original GHA bloom looked so insignificant... The algae was so thick, it looked like shag carpet from a 60s jet set pad. I swear you could hear Mel Torme' in there!

Not sure if you have been feeding that clown at all, but you might stop for a bit. It's so hard to feed only enough food for one fish, that you are likely feeding most of it to the algae. If he gets hungry, he can always start working on the algae himself.

Good luck, and glad to see another small tank guy here!

Thanks. You're killing me with the Mel Torme' comment!! That's great!

I have been feeding the clown however really not much. When I feed him Mysis, I put only a few in there and only add more if he is searching for more. Otherwise, not feeding anything at all. I don't plan on posting any pics until some of this GHA starts to dissipate.

[creefer]

Maybe I can get the mods to move this to the members aquariums forum. Based on the rules of the nano contest being a system with total water volume of less than 34g, I may not fit the nano category.

[creefer]

Updates!

I told myself no more pics until the GHA subsides a little. It appears as though it has started to do so. I have been tracking the progress of the tank in excel using it as a log of all tank activity for the short term.

If anyone is following this, they'll know my stupid mistakes. But, after the DI cartridge arrived, I have done 3 WC totaling about 80% of the tank's volume. I think this has helped with the GHA. Also, started dosing MB7 and Reef biofuel a week ago. I thought the water was pretty clear running chemi-pure elite, but this seems to have made it more clear.

Stock has changed a little. I added 2 large turbos, an algae blenny, emerald crab, and a few zoas. Please excuse the algae in the pics. I can only hope that I'm gaining on it. Params are still pretty solid. No detectable levels of phosphate, trates, ammonia, or trites. Hopefully the GHA will continue to subside,

Anyway, here's some pics....quality is a bit lacking....tough to get pics with LED and POS point - n - shoot.

[Sir Patrick]

Nice progress! Glad to hear your algea issue is subsiding.

[creefer]

Thanks, Chris. I 'm pleased to see it begin to dissipate. I'm really looking forward to getting this thing stocked a bit better. Looking forward to the January swap in Lansing.

[dlhirst]

Looks really nice. I like the rock work... If I can ever figure out PhotoBucket, I will post a picture of mine...

[creefer]

Looks really nice. I like the rock work... If I can ever figure out PhotoBucket, I will post a picture of mine...


Thanks. I would like to see a pic of yours. I don't use photobucket, I upload direct to the forum. I really like the size of the cube and appreciate the comments on the scape. I was actually thinking of adding a piece of rock in the center to add more filtration capacity. I like it as is and think I should let it sit and mature for a while.

[creefer]

Added 3 frags today. 2 different montis and 3 polyps of red people eaters! Will post pics later. GHA is nearly gone thanks to the 2 turbos and the algae blenny. The beginnings or coraline are showing as well.

[creefer]

New pics of the tank and stock. Advice and comments welcome.

[creefer]

Made a few more additions. Couldn't resist. Picked up a frag of hammer coral, a frag of GSP, and a few more polyps of ricordea on Sunday. Last night, I noted that I have what looks like diatoms. What would cause them to return and what's the best way to get them to go away? Params still looking good btw.

[Sir Patrick]

Coraline is growing in great! Nice additions!

I must have missed it....I will move this thread to the members reef area for you.

[creefer]

Thanks for the comments and the move, Sir.

[creefer]

Out of town for a few days and left the tank in the hands of the wife....hope all is good when I return.

[Sir Patrick]

I will keep my fingers crossed for ya!

[creefer]

Thanks. I did my best to give her specific instructions....

[dlhirst]

Trying your suggestion... attaching a picture directly. I guess I really SHOULD read the instructions now and then...

[creefer]

Trying your suggestion... attaching a picture directly. I guess I really SHOULD read the instructions now and then...

Your tank looks great!

[MizTanks]

Made a few more additions. Couldn't resist. Picked up a frag of hammer coral, a frag of GSP, and a few more polyps of ricordea on Sunday. Last night, I noted that I have what looks like diatoms. What would cause them to return and what's the best way to get them to go away? Params still looking good btw.

Tank looks awesome Creefer! Be careful where you put those GSP's. They spread like a wild fire and will choke out anything in their path. Some peeps such as myself have glued them onto the back of the tank, giving them plenty of room to spread.


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[creefer]

Tank looks awesome Creefer! Be careful where you put those GSP's. They spread like a wild fire and will choke out anything in their path. Some peeps such as myself have glued them onto the back of the tank, giving them plenty of room to spread.


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

Thanks, Jamie. I have been thinking of gluing it to the back wall. I just haven't done so yet. I'm kind of afraid to take it off the frag plug. It's started to grow over the plug on one side. It's just sitting on the rocks now and the snails knock it down every day.

[creefer]

So I have been bi%^&*#@ about my terrible camera....today while charging the HD Video cam, I realized that it takes stills. So, I messed around for a few minutes. Here are some new shots and some new livestock.

My photo skills need attention, but you get the idea.

[MizTanks]

Looks great to me!! Every time I see a really nice tank with really awesome looking corals in it I say, I want that one and that one oh and yeah that one too. I'm getting a lot of ideas from tanks like yours for my upgrade :)


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[creefer]

Thanks, Jamie! I am looking forward to seeing your upgrade.

[creefer]

It looks like I have a problem....I have a seam on the tank that looks like it's beginning to fail. I have emailed the manufacturer, Current USA, and will be calling the retailer here locally tomorrow. Here is a terrible picture of what's going on. You need to zoom in to see it, but it's clear what's happening. In the front left side of the tank at the top, the silicone is starting to pull away from the glass. It's black silicone, so I noticed it when I was cleaning the glass last night. There were areas that didn't look solid black. So, I touched the silicone and it is physically loose to the touch. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully the local retailer can help on this matter. It will definitely tell what kind of retailer they are.

[cg5071]

Good luck!

[MizTanks]

Awww geeeezz :( iffin it ain't one thing it's two. Is that salt creeping all the way down? I'm seeing a white line.


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[creefer]

I think that the white line is deceiving. There is not salt creeping down yet. At this point, it's not terrible however it's definitely cause for concern considering it' stocked. I talked to the retailer and they gave me contact information for the manufacturer. I have emailed them with no response yet. I'm going to keep a close eye on it and if it gets worse, I will get a rubber maid container and use it until the situation is resolved.

[creefer]

Good and bad news. Tank seam has not changed, so I'll simply keep an eye on it. Retailer was pretty helpful and seems like they will continue to be.

Bad news....cyano! It's not that bad yet however it could get that way. It started out as bright neon green stuff and is slowly starting to turn into that nasty brownish red crap. I'll try to get some pics up later. Basically doing manual removal, stopped dosing carbon (reef biofuel) and ramped up the MB7 dosing. Any other ideas? Seems to all have happened after adding new stock. I added a green monti digi, a small pocillipora frag, armor of god, a ricordea yuma, and 2 bangaii cardinals.

[creefer]

I guess it's time for an update. Pics will be loaded tomorrow. Cyano gone....thank god! Lost both the bangaiis. Neither of them ate in my tank. They seemed to eat well at the store but for whatever reason didn't eat here.

I have since added a ponapee birds nest, a really nice green welso, an acro whose name I can't recall, and a rose milli. The rose is a little more brown than I would like but still cool. Also added a six line wrasse. Pics tomorrow morning.

[creefer]

No pics......bummer. Maybe tomorrow night.

[creefer]

After continued threats of photos that I never posted, here is a video. Quality is not the greatest because I didn't use a tri-pod. However, the video is better than the pics I can take. I look forward to comments on this.

Pictures by creefer01 - Photobucket

Hopefully I have done this right.

[creefer]

Link fixed.....comments welcome.

[EMUreef]

your tank is very well done man! I like it and i like the aquascape! It'll be exciting what becomes of it when it grows out more.

[creefer]

Thanks. I'm likely gong to pick up a few more sps next week using the super bowl funds! Will post updates then.

[Sir Patrick]

Love the video!!

[creefer]

Thanks, Chris. I'll be updating again after I pick up a few pieces this week. I'm going to try to get a video of the tank with the blue LED only if I can.

[creefer]

No updated video yet, but soon. Stopped by the Trop today!! Love the new acquisitions...

[creefer]

Will update soon with video. I modified the stock skimmer a bit by drilling some holes in each blade of the impeller. I've been looking for better skimmer performance, so I'll see how this works. So far so good I guess.

[Sir Patrick]

That should help!

[creefer]

Seems like it has. It's a bit thicker now, which is really what I was after. I will continue to watch in hopes of getting the nice, thick, black, nasty stuff that I see out of most other skimmers.

[creefer]

I have not updated this in quite a while. I was at bluwc's place yesterday grabbing the nem I won in the give away and took a recent fts. I gotta had it to bluwc....his cube is sweet. It's making me think more and more about the new system I'm planning. Here is a recent fts. Don't mind the browned out acro in the center....I got it for $15 and it started to color up a bit in last few weeks. It should all be better once I get my new skimmer. The solana stock skimmer is crap.

[larryandlaura]

Very nice front shot. How's the anemone?

[creefer]

Very nice front shot. How's the anemone?

The anemone is doing well. I need to get some food for it, but otherwise it seems happy. The clowns have started to give it a look but have not attempted hosting it yet.

[larryandlaura]

Well hopefully they will host. Good luck!

[creefer]

Well hopefully they will host. Good luck!

Thanks. I hope they do as well.