34G SPS Solana

[Myka]

Looks great!! Really nice nano goin on there.

Is your floor and wall bare cement? That looks kinda cool. You're in Van, so it doesn't get that cold there, but is it tough to keep warm in the winter?

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Blom

Always liked the Solana's, have to say your pads not to shabby either! Enjoy the trip and congrats on the new job.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Myka

Looks great!! Really nice nano goin on there.

Is your floor and wall bare cement? That looks kinda cool. You're in Van, so it doesn't get that cold there, but is it tough to keep warm in the winter?

Yes the walls and floor are unfinished cement. We really love it since you can be pretty hard on them. Most of the floors are heated underneath, so easy to keep warm. But actually we rarely used the underfloor heating because gas is free in the building and the fireplace is easily warm enough. Being concrete it retains heat and cold easily. So easy to cool in the summer and heat in the winter.

Oh and silent! We can be very loud in here and not worry about neighbors. Actually you can never hear the neighbors unless they really slam something on the ground.

[VFX]

Hey Justin nice Solana! Very sweet indeed.

I thought about putting my MP20 in the same spot as yours but i was scared that if the power ever fails & the return pump stops then the drive part of the Vortech will get submersed.

Did you build something in the back there to protect it?

ps. didn't know you were an animator. I nearly made to jump to Singapore too a couple of years ago but ended up coming to Vancouver.

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[lobsterboy]

thats lookin sick Justin.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by lobsterboy

thats lookin sick Justin.

Thanks man

I am pretty happy about it. Even though I am 99% sure I will be staying here, I have enjoyed this tank much more than any big tank I have owned...maybe just cause it's new though. I miss the fish but they all went to great homes.

It's just nice because it's a fraction of the maintenance and cost of the bigger tanks.

My only concern still is skimmerless. We'll see how that goes with an sps tank.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

VFX- This is my 'dry box' It's held up partly by the vortech magnet but also resting on the return 90 degree elbow. Sorry not the best picture.




And one from a member on RC. His is acrylic and in the middle compartment.



My concern with the acrylic is that I had heard it can craze and it worried me that in such a small space, it could over heat the acrylic. Probably not a real concern but that along with the fact that glass is easier for me to work with was enough for me to try glass.

[VFX]

I've worked as an animator, but I've been comp for about 8-9 years now with occasional bits of animation work. I found that with my barely average 3D skills I got a better rate doing comp.

My Solana is virtually all SPS so I wanted to keep using a skimmer. I used the standard skimmer but it was way too loud & found I could only get it to pull really wet skimmate. Then I tried no skimmer & lots of water changes (10g a week) & now I'm back to skimming as I went from 2 fish to 4 fish. I might try a Tunze 9002 in there as I'm pleased with how they run on my 15g.

Cool, thanks for the box dimensions & pics. I have some acrylic lying around, I might knock something up & see how it goes. I think I'll still be nervous about it though (esp. with my DIY skills). Unless you want to build me a glass box in exchange for cash? :mr grren:

btw - don't you think the reef crest mode is just too damned sick in a 20" cube! Do you have yours turned up to max?

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[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by VFX

I've worked as an animator, but I've been comp for about 8-9 years now with occasional bits of animation work. I found that with my barely average 3D skills I got a better rate doing comp.

My Solana is virtually all SPS so I wanted to keep using a skimmer. I found the standard skimmer but it was way too loud & I could only get to pull really wet skimmate. Then I tried no skimmer & lots of water changes (10g a week) & now I'm back to skimming as I went from 2 fish to 4 fish. I might try a Tunze 9002 in there as I'm please with how they run on my 15g.

Cool, thanks for the box dimensions & pics. I have some acrylic lying around, I might knock something up & see how it goes. I think I'll still be nervous about it though (esp. with my DIY skills). Unless you want to build me a glass box in exchange for cash? :mr grren:

btw - don't you think the reef crest mode is just too damned sick in a 20" cube! Do you have yours turned up to max?

.

Comp work probably makes more money than animation these days I think, so you made the right choice.

I am thinking of getting a 9002 as well actually. Under $200 and seems really nice for a nano skimmer. I just want to keep trying skimmerless for a while longer. I also have four fish, so I do worry a little. The plan was to only keep the two clowns but then I thought the goby would be good to keep the sand clean and I really didn't want to give up the blenny.

My DIY skills are not great either but I could build one for sure. I think you would be fine though if you go get the glass cut and then silicone it. It's really easy.

I do have the MP20 up to the max in reef crest mode. I think it's perfect for this tank. It hits the front glass and really swirls around.

[Delphinus]

Tank looks great. I was wondering if Pixar opening its new studio so soon after you accepted the Singapore jobs was going to cross your radar at all. Haha, I'm not surprised at all.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Tank looks great. I was wondering if Pixar opening its new studio so soon after you accepted the Singapore jobs was going to cross your radar at all. Haha, I'm not surprised at all.

I don't know what your talking about? Pixar? What's a Pixar?







I had heard Pixar might be coming for a year now because I have friends working there (San Fransisco) but I really didn't think it would happen. Vancouver was not the only place they were looking into.