City's 15 gallon Column NANO reef build

[Dj City]

We've got power!

 

[Dj City]

I now have all the equipment for this tank.

I have my rock soaking in saltwater with a heater, powerhead and a few pounds of live rock from my 110gal tank. It's been in there for 2 days now.
I have added seachem stability and ammonium chloride.

I also have dr Tim's one and only along with a bottle of ammonium chloride.

Here is where I need a little advice.

Should I continue with the rock in the brute container with the powerhead or should I put the rock in the tank, add my CaribSea "live" sand and get the cycle started in the tank?

If I do it in the tank, should I use the Dr Tim's one and only AND the ammonium chloride or just the One and only?

I would also be adding the Seachem matrix to the HOB fuge at the same time to get everything going with the cycle.

Your thoughts?

 

[Dj City]

I think im going to set the tank up depending on how I'm feeling on Sunday.
I had a motorcycle accident so I'm kinda sore.
Ok I am very sore!

If I feel up to it, I think it would be a good idea to place the rock structures and sand in the tank, put the seachem matrix in the HOB refugium, add some fresh red sea blue bucket saltwater and get this going.
I will add the ammonium chloride, then the Dr Tim's one and only.

Then wait for the cycle to complete.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Sounds right to me. I have never used Dr Tim’s or the like, but the directions should say which.

If you are going to add sand and have any concern about the pillars stability, consider adhering / fastening them to something like a thin acrylic sheet. It would be unseen under the sand and could brace one or both structures.

Hope you are feeling better!

 

[Dj City]

Sounds right to me. I have never used Dr Tim’s or the like, but the directions should say which.

If you are going to add sand and have any concern about the pillars stability, consider adhering / fastening them to something like a thin acrylic sheet. It would be unseen under the sand and could brace one or both structures.

Hope you are feeling better!

Thank you.

The road to recovery should be a short road. I have bumps, bruises and lost some skin but other than that, I'm fine. My bike is in the same condition as me. Bumps, bruises and loss of paint.
Insurance repairs the bike, Time repairs me.

I have reinforced and expanded the base of the rock structure so toppling should not be an issue.

I need to decide how I want to mount the powerstrip.
I could buy two blocks of wood, screw them into the stand and then screw the powerstrip into the blocks.
Or,
Use heavy duty Velcro.

I'm leaning towards the velcro because the stand is cheap and I don't want to weaken it or ruin it trying to put screws into it.

 

[Dj City]

WE ARE WET

​

 

[Dj City]

7 cups of Red Sea Blue Bucket got me where I want to be.

I have the Matrix in the refugium but i have not turned on the skimmer and lights will be off until the cycle has completed.

I will be using Dr. Tim's One and Only to start things off but im waiting till everything has settled in the tank before I start it up.

 

[Kevin Jaako]

Wooooo. Start the clock!

 

[NY_Caveman]

WE ARE WET

​

Sweet!

 

[cmoore1167]

Cant wait to see the coral placement on here

 

[Dj City]

Cant wait to see the coral placement on here

I can wait.

I want the tank RIGHT before I place corals or fish.
This hobby is expensive and if I can save money by taking my time...
Im all for it!

 

[Dj City]

What a difference 24 hours makes.

I turned the skimmer on to help clear up the water (cloudy surface).

Let's see what it looks like in 48 hours.

 

[Kevin Jaako]

Wow, really nice man. Totally unique.

 

[JBKReef]

What do you think?

What can be improved?
Should I add anything?

Audibly said "wow" when I saw that scape. Well done.

 

[Dj City]

Keep at it man. You’ll eventually get it just how you want it, so don’t settle and don’t get discouraged. I definitely got tired of stacking rocks together, but ya get there. Eventually.

I can see your vision and I’m excited to see where you end up!

KJ

Is what I created anything like what you thought I had in mind?

I ask because I stated...
I did not want a solid rock wall.
I did not want a pile of rocks in the middle of the tank.
I did not want simple pillars.

I want something with plenty of open space
I want something that reaches towards the top of the tank.
I want a cliff / overhang or two.
I want a cave or two.
I want an island or two.

I'm curious if "you" think I've achieved it or if this is what you envisioned as my initial idea.

I may end up adding a cave and some ledges to the back wall.
Maybe hide the pump with them.

I don't want the rockwork to be too busy so I have to see if I can create something tasteful for the job.
I have no idea how I will attach something to the back wall but it's a nice idea (at the moment).

 

[Dj City]

Wow, really nice man. Totally unique.

Thank you!

 

[Dj City]

Audibly said "wow" when I saw that scape. Well done.

Thank you!

 

[Dj City]

Better look at the Nano column..

 

[Dj City]

Life!

I was not expecting to see a star in the tank.
I hope it's not a pest.

I added the Dr. Tim's one and only this afternoon.
Why did I do this today?
I tested the tank yesterday and had ammonia.
Today I tested for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and found only ammonia. The same amount of ammonia that was in the tank yesterday.
So....
I added Dr Tim's one and only (bacteria in a bottle).

NOW THE CLOCK BEGINS!​

 

[Kevin Jaako]

Is what I created anything like what you thought I had in mind?

Can’t say. I’ll never know exactly what you had in mind [emoji1]

What I CAN say is: You don’t have a solid rock wall. Or a pile of rocks in the middle of the tank. And your pillars certainly aren’t simple.

You’ve got plenty of open space and something that reaches towards the top of the tank.

I may end up adding a cave and some ledges to the back wall. Maybe hide the pump with them.

I think you’ve got a really good thing going right now with negative space. You’ve created an epic aquascape in a tiny footprint without it feeling crowded. You certainly could build a cave or a ledge or a structure to hide your pumps, but I think you run the risk of taking away from the minimalism and drama that you’ve got going just as is.

Things might look a little spindly or incomplete now, but I think when your structure starts filling out with coral growth it’ll fill right out and be a real jaw dropper. I’ll be following this one for sure :)

KJ