Any opinions on the Solana tank?

Tang Salad · 01/29/2008, 07:12 PM

I've always built my tanks piece by piece in the past, but don't have the space/time to do so in my new location. This got me thinking about the Biocubes and the Red Sea Max. Today I saw a Solana tank, which is also all-in-one, but is rimless (looks very nice) and comes with a 150W MH.

Anyway, I want to know if anyone here has one or has seen one set up. I'm most concerned about the built-in skimmer and if it's overly noisy or if it skims well enough. But any opinions are greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks-
TS

And here's a link if you haven't seen one before.

tydtran · 01/29/2008, 07:25 PM

I saw one set up at the local store here in Pennsylvania. Looked very nice and clean. Skimmer was relatively quiet and I noticed it was producing reasonable looking skimmate. The light fixture looked very nice and water movement in the tank looked reasonable. Overall, I thought it was a very nice all in one setup.

The only advantage that the red sea max has over the solana is the curved corners on the tank.

SuperAWE · 01/29/2008, 07:38 PM

The Solana's are a nice setup. You can go with the retro ball light but lots of people go with a Sunpod and it looks real sweet with the finished glass edges.

Check this person's Solana out:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1303025

fightingobblers · 01/29/2008, 07:44 PM

I just set up a solana in my daughters room. The skimmer isn't terribly loud - the fan on the sunpod is louder than the skimmer.

Skimmer hasn't broken in fully yet and there isn't much of a bioload so I can't comment on how well it actually skims.

Tang Salad · 01/29/2008, 09:46 PM

Thanks everyone. It sounds like the skimmer might not be too bad. I guess with such a small tank, you don't really need major skimming, especially if you keep the bioload low.

SuperAWE- interesting idea about the light. I had been leaning towards the included suspended MH. I like the fact that it's suspended, but don't like that it's silver. (Maybe a job for some Kryon Fusion paint though).

What's the advantage of the Sunpod? I'd seen that other thread, but couldn't see the fixture in it.

Thanks again

fightingobblers · 01/30/2008, 09:46 PM

The sunpod also had 12 leds built in 6 white, 6 blue (each color controlled individually) otherwise its pretty much just personal preference

Radioheadx14 · 01/30/2008, 10:36 PM

I have had one set up for a month, while i don't have the light, i do love the tank. very nice!

mikeyj28 · 01/31/2008, 06:06 AM

I have had my Solana set up for 1 month now and i must say its been pretty good, the two draw backs that i dont like are the return line lets in a lot of air wich causes micro bubbles, Ive had to replace the 14K already and the skimmer seemed to be working great then just kinda died off. I dont know why but it dosent seem to produce much anymore. As for being loud its not that bad. Just some things to think about.

davew0670 · 01/31/2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikeyj28
I have had my Solana set up for 1 month now and i must say its been pretty good, the two draw backs that i dont like are the return line lets in a lot of air wich causes micro bubbles, Ive had to replace the 14K already and the skimmer seemed to be working great then just kinda died off. I dont know why but it dosent seem to produce much anymore. As for being loud its not that bad. Just some things to think about.

my skimmer has done the exact same thing on my solana and I get a lot of micro bubbles. Ive filled up every single slot with live rock rubble except the return section. Wonder if all the rock organisms are taking care of most of the waste?

fightingobblers · 01/31/2008, 10:13 AM

I haven't had the first microbubble.

I left the bioballs in the bottom of the media compartment, then filled it with Matrix.

Then a bag of Purigen and some carbon (not what was supplied with the tank).

llamart · 01/31/2008, 11:35 AM

Those are the Elos knock offs. My LFS distributes Elos tanks and had a Solana set up right next to it. It looked like a very nice tank that was cheeper than a Elos. I did noticed the quality of the stand was not as good and did look at the sump/skimmer that it came with. I also liked the light a lot and it was very nice looking overall. If price is not a issue check out the Elos, you might like the intake and all in one sump/skimmer better.

fightingobblers · 01/31/2008, 04:48 PM

Yeah, the stand leaves a little to be desired - it's basically like something from IKEA.

If you're looking for this to be your main tank and you want to spend some more money, then I agree something like an Elos would be a better option. The solana for me was a quick somewhat inexpensive (at least less than if I was buying some that's self contained) option for people that want a second/third... tank without the additional hassle.

01/29/2008, 07:12 PM	#1
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Any opinions on the Solana tank? I've always built my tanks piece by piece in the past, but don't have the space/time to do so in my new location. This got me thinking about the Biocubes and the Red Sea Max. Today I saw a Solana tank, which is also all-in-one, but is rimless (looks very nice) and comes with a 150W MH. Anyway, I want to know if anyone here has one or has seen one set up. I'm most concerned about the built-in skimmer and if it's overly noisy or if it skims well enough. But any opinions are greatly appreciated. Many Thanks- TS And here's a link if you haven't seen one before. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

01/29/2008, 07:44 PM	#4
fightingobblers Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 204	I just set up a solana in my daughters room. The skimmer isn't terribly loud - the fan on the sunpod is louder than the skimmer. Skimmer hasn't broken in fully yet and there isn't much of a bioload so I can't comment on how well it actually skims. __________________ It's not worth doing, unless you do it right! Current Tank Info: For Sale

01/29/2008, 09:46 PM	#5
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Thanks everyone. It sounds like the skimmer might not be too bad. I guess with such a small tank, you don't really need major skimming, especially if you keep the bioload low. SuperAWE- interesting idea about the light. I had been leaning towards the included suspended MH. I like the fact that it's suspended, but don't like that it's silver. (Maybe a job for some Kryon Fusion paint though). What's the advantage of the Sunpod? I'd seen that other thread, but couldn't see the fixture in it. Thanks again __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

01/30/2008, 09:46 PM	#6
fightingobblers Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 204	The sunpod also had 12 leds built in 6 white, 6 blue (each color controlled individually) otherwise its pretty much just personal preference __________________ It's not worth doing, unless you do it right! Current Tank Info: For Sale

01/31/2008, 10:13 AM	#10
fightingobblers Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 204	I haven't had the first microbubble. I left the bioballs in the bottom of the media compartment, then filled it with Matrix. Then a bag of Purigen and some carbon (not what was supplied with the tank). __________________ It's not worth doing, unless you do it right! Current Tank Info: For Sale

01/29/2008, 07:25 PM	#2
tydtran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 853	I saw one set up at the local store here in Pennsylvania. Looked very nice and clean. Skimmer was relatively quiet and I noticed it was producing reasonable looking skimmate. The light fixture looked very nice and water movement in the tank looked reasonable. Overall, I thought it was a very nice all in one setup. The only advantage that the red sea max has over the solana is the curved corners on the tank.

01/29/2008, 07:38 PM	#3
SuperAWE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 245	The Solana's are a nice setup. You can go with the retro ball light but lots of people go with a Sunpod and it looks real sweet with the finished glass edges. Check this person's Solana out: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1303025

01/30/2008, 10:36 PM	#7
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,601	I have had one set up for a month, while i don't have the light, i do love the tank. very nice!

01/31/2008, 06:06 AM	#8
mikeyj28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 834	I have had my Solana set up for 1 month now and i must say its been pretty good, the two draw backs that i dont like are the return line lets in a lot of air wich causes micro bubbles, Ive had to replace the 14K already and the skimmer seemed to be working great then just kinda died off. I dont know why but it dosent seem to produce much anymore. As for being loud its not that bad. Just some things to think about.

01/31/2008, 11:35 AM	#11
llamart Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 275	Those are the Elos knock offs. My LFS distributes Elos tanks and had a Solana set up right next to it. It looked like a very nice tank that was cheeper than a Elos. I did noticed the quality of the stand was not as good and did look at the sump/skimmer that it came with. I also liked the light a lot and it was very nice looking overall. If price is not a issue check out the Elos, you might like the intake and all in one sump/skimmer better.

01/31/2008, 04:48 PM	#12
fightingobblers Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 204	Yeah, the stand leaves a little to be desired - it's basically like something from IKEA. If you're looking for this to be your main tank and you want to spend some more money, then I agree something like an Elos would be a better option. The solana for me was a quick somewhat inexpensive (at least less than if I was buying some that's self contained) option for people that want a second/third... tank without the additional hassle. __________________ It's not worth doing, unless you do it right! Current Tank Info: For Sale Last edited by fightingobblers; 01/31/2008 at 04:55 PM.