New Solana Aquariuum - Page 3 - Aquarium Advice

Caige · 06-18-2008, 11:07 AM

I should try a fan before the chiller right? it's only a 34gallon tank. REally don't want to spend $800 on a chiller. Now i'm nervous cause summer is here and it's just getting hotter! Prob with fan is I have a glass top and would have to keep that off, i'm thinking...

Oh, I ordered a refractometer ($130) and RO/DI on ebay. I also ordered a TDS meter ($30)..

**roka64** · 06-18-2008, 01:31 PM

Wow, $130 for a refracto is kinda high for home aquariums, what kind is it? You should also get the calibration liquid for both the refracto and TDS meter.
I would remove the glass cover and see where your temp stays. A fan won't help too much if you have a lid covering the tank.

Kurt_Nelson · 06-18-2008, 03:35 PM

I didn't realize those Solana's had glass tops...

As roka64 mentioned, you're going to want to take that glass top off, or least open it up, to allow a small fan to blow across the top of the water. You don't need anything too big - just a little 6" clip on fan will do wonders. An open top tank will also allow for better oxygen exchange with the water and keep you pH levels a little higher... if you're having issues with that.

I'd really recommend having a heater in there. Just make sure it's set properly and don't rely on the markings on the heater to be too accurate. You might have to set it at 82 to get it to be 78, or vice versa. That way your tank won't at least swing to the low side of things. If the tank is running too warm, then it just won't turn on. At least with a heater in there, you won't be one of the folks that post around here each October, complaining that they lost a bunch of livestock because their tank got too cold and they forgot to put their heater in after summer was over!

Caige · 06-18-2008, 04:09 PM

Oops.. refracto was $30... RO/DI was $130. I just took the top off and will buy a 6'' fan tomorrow to see how it goes - temp today at 4p est was 85!!! But after having top off for only 20min already dropped 1degr. Man do I hope I don't have to buy a chiller....

**roka64** · 06-18-2008, 04:15 PM

I doubt you will have to buy a chiller. I had high temp on my 125 and added a floor fan that came on when the lights did. My temp went from about 84ish to 79.

Kurt_Nelson · 06-18-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caige

...I just took the top off and will buy a 6'' fan tomorrow to see how it goes - temp today at 4p est was 85!!! But after having top off for only 20min already dropped 1degr. Man do I hope I don't have to buy a chiller....

You won't. You'll be amazed at the difference a little fan will make. It will make enough of a difference that you'll most likely need that heater! (I'm not joking!)

Caige · 06-18-2008, 09:07 PM

I bought some more live rock today and decided to re-arrainge the tank. This should be the permanent look. I wanted rock up the back wall and took some moving around but I did it. Only thing i'm a little worried about is I have very little empty sand space in the front.

You can also see my raw shrimp

I checked the Ammonia today and it's at .5 (where yest. was 0)... so I guess the cycle is working.

Next is I have to purchase the fan and then wait for cycle to finish.

After reading numerous articles about the cycling i'm finally getting it... Ammonia turns to - nitrite turns to - nitrate. It's sinking in.

**roka64** · 06-18-2008, 10:03 PM

Thats some nice scaping.

cmor1701d · 06-19-2008, 06:57 PM

I agree, nice aquascape in that tank.

Caige · 06-20-2008, 10:39 PM

So I put the piece of shrimp in on 6/17/08 @ 1800hrs. Boy is it ugly looking now! lol
Took some readings tonight at 2230hr as follows:
Temp 80deg f
PH - 7.8
Ammonia 1
Nitrite 5 (it's possible it's a 1, so hard to tell the difference in colors on the test tube for me)
Nitrate 40

I haven't received the fan's yet.. so at the hottest point in the day the tank can go up to 84! good thing I don't have anything in the tank yet.

06-18-2008, 01:31 PM	#22
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,894 Images: 12	Wow, $130 for a refracto is kinda high for home aquariums, what kind is it? You should also get the calibration liquid for both the refracto and TDS meter. I would remove the glass cover and see where your temp stays. A fan won't help too much if you have a lid covering the tank. __________________ Age is relative, you are only as old as you act....of course, this works in reverse.... Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

06-18-2008, 04:15 PM	#25
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,894 Images: 12	I doubt you will have to buy a chiller. I had high temp on my 125 and added a floor fan that came on when the lights did. My temp went from about 84ish to 79. __________________ Age is relative, you are only as old as you act....of course, this works in reverse.... Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

06-18-2008, 10:03 PM	#28
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,894 Images: 12	Thats some nice scaping. __________________ Age is relative, you are only as old as you act....of course, this works in reverse.... Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

06-19-2008, 06:57 PM	#29
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,894 Images: 43	I agree, nice aquascape in that tank. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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06-18-2008, 11:07 AM	#21
Caige Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 146	I should try a fan before the chiller right? it's only a 34gallon tank. REally don't want to spend $800 on a chiller. Now i'm nervous cause summer is here and it's just getting hotter! Prob with fan is I have a glass top and would have to keep that off, i'm thinking... Oh, I ordered a refractometer ($130) and RO/DI on ebay. I also ordered a TDS meter ($30)..

06-18-2008, 03:35 PM	#23
Kurt_Nelson Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: WA Posts: 2,404 Images: 28	I didn't realize those Solana's had glass tops... As roka64 mentioned, you're going to want to take that glass top off, or least open it up, to allow a small fan to blow across the top of the water. You don't need anything too big - just a little 6" clip on fan will do wonders. An open top tank will also allow for better oxygen exchange with the water and keep you pH levels a little higher... if you're having issues with that. I'd really recommend having a heater in there. Just make sure it's set properly and don't rely on the markings on the heater to be too accurate. You might have to set it at 82 to get it to be 78, or vice versa. That way your tank won't at least swing to the low side of things. If the tank is running too warm, then it just won't turn on. At least with a heater in there, you won't be one of the folks that post around here each October, complaining that they lost a bunch of livestock because their tank got too cold and they forgot to put their heater in after summer was over!

06-18-2008, 04:09 PM	#24
Caige Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 146	Oops.. refracto was $30... RO/DI was $130. I just took the top off and will buy a 6'' fan tomorrow to see how it goes - temp today at 4p est was 85!!! But after having top off for only 20min already dropped 1degr. Man do I hope I don't have to buy a chiller....

06-20-2008, 10:39 PM	#30
Caige Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 146	So I put the piece of shrimp in on 6/17/08 @ 1800hrs. Boy is it ugly looking now! lol Took some readings tonight at 2230hr as follows: Temp 80deg f PH - 7.8 Ammonia 1 Nitrite 5 (it's possible it's a 1, so hard to tell the difference in colors on the test tube for me) Nitrate 40 I haven't received the fan's yet.. so at the hottest point in the day the tank can go up to 84! good thing I don't have anything in the tank yet.