MedRed's 60 Gallon Solana XL

[MedRed]

Current FTS: 10.29.2012

• Equipment:
  Tank: Current Solana XL 60
  Lighting Fixture: Giesemann Infiniti
  Lighting Bulbs: 1x250w 14,000K Phoenix HQI w/ ATI T5 (3xBlue+ and 1xPurple+)
  Lighting Hardware: Geisemann hanging kit
  Lighting: Aqua Illumination Sol Blue LED x 2 w/ all 70 optics
  Lighting: EcoTech Radion XR30w x 2
  Lighting Hardware: AI 24" Hanging Kit and Current USA Hanging Arm Kit
  Lighting Hardware: AI 24" Hanging Kit now hung from the ceiling
  Sump: Advance Acrylics Custom Sump 24" x 11" x 16"
  Powerheads: Vortech MP10w ES x 2
  Return Pump: Eheim 1262 w/ Two Little Fishies Ball Valve
  Bioreactor: NextReef SMR1 w/ 250ml Warner Marine ecoBak & Mag-Drive 3 pump
  Dosing: Bubble Magus BM-T01 Dosing Pump w/ 3 x Bubble Magus 1.5l reservoirs
  Skimmer: SWC Cone 160
  ATO: Tunze Osmolator
  Salt: Seachem aquavitro Salinity
  Heaters: 2 x 150w Ebo Jagers
  Rock: X lbs of reefcleaners.org Florida Reef Rock
  Substrate: 20-25 lbs Caribsea Aragamax Select Dry Aragonite #00025
  
  Quarantine Tank:
  5 Gallon Marineland Eclipse tank w/ Biowheel (bare bottom)
  50 watt Marineland Stealth Heater
  Tetra Whisper Air Pump
  Rena Micro Bubbler Airstone
  Artificial Caves x 2
  (No live rock, no dead rock, no substrate)
  
  Supporting Equipment:
  
  RO/DI: airwaterice.com Reefkeeper Typhoon III 100 GPD w/ HM Digital DM-1 Inline TDS Meter
  Hanna Instruments 96822 Digital Refactometer
  Brute 32 Gallon Trash Cans x 2 (for mixing salt)
  Petco Powerhead SKU: 1191306 x 2(for mixing salt)
  Marineland Stealth 100 watt heater x 2 (for mixing salt)
  Tetra Whisper Air Pump x 2 (for mixing salt) retired this method
  API Reef Master & Saltwater Master Test Kits
  Hanna Instruments HI 758 Checker HC Handheld Colorimeter Calcium
  Hanna Instruments HI 755 Checker HC Handheld Colorimeter - Alkalinity
  Aquamend epoxy
  JB WaterWeld epoxy​
  
  Modifications:
  StevieT sourced inTank custom smooth acrylic overflow
  Black Magic Insta-Cling 5% Static cling window tint for back glass
  
  Livestock:
  
  
  [*]Fish
  Candy Basslet Pair (Liopropoma carmabi)
  Gladiator Picasso Pair (Amphiprion percula)
  Helfrichi Firefish Pair (Nemateleotris helfrichi)
  Neon Goby Pair (Elacatinus oceanops)
  Blue Spot Jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti)He jumped 1 year and 5 months on the only night I left the lid off the tank :-(
  Tiger Blenny (Ecsenius tigris) Redo
  Tiger Blenny (Ecsenius tigris)[/s] Went MIA the first night
  Tanaka's Pygmy Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella tanakai)disappeared
  Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) Sold, to make way for the Tiger Blenny
  Red Spot Cardinalfish x 5 (Apogon parvulus) Sold, didn't fit with scape
  
  
  [*]Invertebrates
  1 x Blood Red Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
  1 x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
  3 x Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) Bubble algae management... not permanent
  4 x Pom Pom Crabs (Lybia tesselata)
  4 x Porcelain Crabs (Petrolisthes sp.)
  2 x Anemone Porcelain Crabs (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)
  2 x White Spot Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis) Traded
  
  
  [*]Clean Up Crew
  1 x Blue Tuxedo Urchin
  2 x Red Tuxedo Urchin
  2 x Fighting Conch Snails
  3 x Caribbean Nerite Snails
  5 x Mexican Cerith Snails
  5 x Caribbean Cerith Snails
  5 x Nassarius Snails
  5 x Banded Trochus Snails
  5 x Tongan Nassarius Snails
  5 x Astraea Snails
  10 x Spiny Star Astraea Snails
  10 x Mini Cerith Snails
  
  
  [*]Softies
  Zoas
  Gorgonians
  Ricordea Florida
  Ricordea Yuma
  [*]LPS
  Acans
  Chalices
  Elegance Coral
  Torch Corals
  Favias
  Lobo
  Goniopora
  Alvepora
  Dendros
  Sun Corals
  [*]SPS
  Acropora
  Montipora
  Stylophora​
  
  Schedules:
• Giesemann Lighting:
  
  Time: 7:00 am | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| Off: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+
  Time: 9:00 am | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| On: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+
  Time: 10:00 am | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|On: Center Phoenix Halide| On: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+
  Time: 18:00 pm | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| On: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+
  Time: 19:00 pm | On: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| Off: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+
  Time: 22:00 pm | Off: Rear T5 2x Blue+|Off: Center Phoenix Halide| Off: Front T5 1x Blue+/1x Purple+​
• AI Lighting:
  Time: 06:00 am | W:01% BL:05% RY:05% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 07:00 am | W:10% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 09:00 am | W:20% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 11:00 am | W:30% BL:40% RY:40% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 13:00 pm | W:20% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 16:00 pm | W:10% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 19:00 pm | W:01% BL:10% RY:10% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
  Time: 22:00 pm | W:00% BL:04% RY:04% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: On
  
  
• Radion Lighting:
  Natural Cycle
• Water changes:
  5 gallon water changes once weekly (sometimes throw an extra change a week for giggles).
  Filter sock changed once a week of if clogged. Filter socks are turned inside out, washed in the washing machine with bleach, sent through an extra rinse cycle with Seachem Prime, turned right side in, and then allowed to dry before the next use.
  
  
• Feeding
  Instant Ocean Marine Omnivore Pellets (Fish) *Staple
  Instant Ocean Marine Herbivore Pellets (Fish)
  Hikari Tropical Micro Pellets (When clownfish were small)
  PE Frozen Mysis (Fish & Coral)
  H20 Life Frozen Mini Marine Mysis (Fish & Coral)
  H20 Live Frozen Cyclops (Coral)
  Reef Nutrition Oyster Feast Liquid (Coral)
  Reef Nutrition Phyto Feast Liquid (Coral)

FTS Archive:
10.16.2010 (no water)

10.30.2010

11.14.2010

12.06.2010

01.02.2011

01.30.2011

02.21.2011

03.22.2011

04.13.2011

04.29.2011

06.15.2011

09.26.2011

11.11.2011 (14 days after Radions)

01.30.2012

03.10.2012 (17 days after switch to MH+T5)

03.26.2012

05.12.2012

06.30.2012 Featured Tank

08.28.2012

10.29.2012 (34 days after switching to halide pendants)

04.15.2013 (128 days after AI Nano LED added to Halides/105 days post ATO fail induced tank crash while on vacation #sad)

05.20.2013 (3 Days after replacing AI Nano LED with 150w Halide)

12.22.2013

08.07.2014

__________________________

 

[MedRed]

I'm long overdue for joining this site. I wish I knew about it earlier! I'll be updating my build thread here as I go along. Thank you everyone for such an awesome, local site!

 

[Mr. Plant]

Very cool ! I didn't realize the base was only 2 rocks... Nicely done !

 

[MedRed]

Thank you Mr. Plant. There are actually 3 separate pillars that each stand on their own. They are pushed together and kept as one piece with a light application of epoxy. The right rear pillar was broken off from the other two in an effort to catch my old tail spot blenny.

 

[evad1]

really really nice tank..one of the best local ive seen in awhile
good job and very inspiring

 

[baherrick]

What epoxy did you use to attach the corals to the rock? You were able to do it under water?

 

[BeanMachine]

Pretty sweet Mike. Those acros have grown quite a bit in just a few months. What's ur dosing regimen? Sorry if I missed that.

 

[Clockwork John]

Very interesting, very unique take on aquascaping... I've never seen pillars done quite like that. I like it.

 

[newe70]

Awesome dt...I like your aqua-scape.

 

[Likwit]

Dope tank!

 

[MedRed]

Dope tank!

Awesome dt...I like your aqua-scape.

Very interesting, very unique take on aquascaping... I've never seen pillars done quite like that. I like it.

really really nice tank..one of the best local ive seen in awhile
good job and very inspiring

Thanks guys!

Pretty sweet Mike. Those acros have grown quite a bit in just a few months. What's ur dosing regimen? Sorry if I missed that.

Thanks Cody. They took off when I switched from LEDs to MH+T5. I'm up to 24mls a day of alk and cal and 16 mls of mag. I dose aquavitro fuel twice a week.

What epoxy did you use to attach the corals to the rock? You were able to do it under water?

I use JB waterweld sandwhiched between superglue to glue the frags to the rocks. I do add them underwater

 

[Illuiix]

Man guys, I've been medred's fan for the past 3 years on nano-reef.com. If it wasn't for him and my inspiration from his current tank, I don't know where I would be..... lol

Glad to have you join socalireefs, Mike!
I'm a new member as well.

 

[happaman]

sweet tank. Very creative rock work for sure. I like the elegance-looks healthy. Do you spot feed it?

 

[MedRed]

sweet tank. Very creative rock work for sure. I like the elegance-looks healthy. Do you spot feed it?

Thank you. I don't spot feed it. It just seems to like its spot.

Man guys, I've been medred's fan for the past 3 years on nano-reef.com. If it wasn't for him and my inspiration from his current tank, I don't know where I would be..... lol

Glad to have you join socalireefs, Mike!
I'm a new member as well.

As always, you are far too kind!

 

[baherrick]

Great tank! Inspired me to buy one from a fellow reefer. Are you using a top on your tank? If so, is it custom?

 

[MedRed]

Thanks baherrick! I'm using the glass top that came with the Solana

 

[Vegas]

thats a sweet looking tank man

 

[baherrick]

Thanks baherrick! I'm using the glass top that came with the Solana

So, you are using the wooden rim that came with the tank? Isn't it a hassle to remove the glass top when you do feeding and maintenance? Also do you have any information on your dosing routine? Thanks for all the info.

 

[MedRed]

thats a sweet looking tank man

Thank you!

So, you are using the wooden rim that came with the tank? Isn't it a hassle to remove the glass top when you do feeding and maintenance? Also do you have any information on your dosing routine? Thanks for all the info.

Yes, I'm using the wood trim kit. The lid is hinged so it's super easy to feed. I do take it off for maintenance. It's not a hassle at all. For dosing, I'm at 24 mls a day of alk and cal and 16 mls of mag. I dose aquavitro fuel twice a week. hope this helps!

 

[baherrick]

Did you cut your glass and create your own hinge? How well are you able to maintain temp? Are you running a chiller?