Tank of the Month - October '06

Skipper · 10/01/2006, 03:35 PM

This month we are featuring Chris Ward's (cward) beautiful reef aquarium:

More details can be found here or by clicking on the picture above.

Congratulations, Chris!

If you'd like to nominate a tank
for Tank of the Month, click here
or use the button to the right.

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hannam11 · 10/06/2006, 10:06 PM

This is a great tank. Very nice job

SERVO · 10/06/2006, 10:09 PM

Congrats Chris!!!!!

Happy to finally see your tank here! Can't wait to provide you with new additions to grow out into monster colonies!

mflamb · 10/06/2006, 10:11 PM

Absolutely gorgeous. I've enjoyed studying your setup. Do you ever ship frags!?!?

Gary Majchrzak · 10/06/2006, 10:16 PM

Simply beautiful. A breath of fresh air. Congrats, Chris.

Jeremy B. · 10/06/2006, 10:20 PM

Congrats buddy!!! That is one tank I could lay back in the recliner and watch for hours, so realistic!

Kip · 10/06/2006, 10:21 PM

super nice... love the mature corals... the dedication to minimal stocking for future growth is to be highly commended.

2 big thumbs up!

JPMagyar · 10/06/2006, 10:24 PM

Chris,

Its obvious but let me restate it anyways - your tank ROCKS !!

But, I also wanted to say thank you for introducing a new thought into my own world of reefkeeping. I must admit I never really consider the concept of allowing corals to "grow out", and although I'm not ready to give up all that real estate in my tank today. Someday when I build that "big one" I will definitely leave added room for growing out several massive colonies because I am totally in love with yours. They add a real sense of naturalism to the tank.

Thanks for sharing such a spectacular tank!!!

Happy Reefin'

Viszlat,

Joe

jackson6745 · 10/06/2006, 10:27 PM

Beautiful Reef. Well deserved!!! I would love to see a few growth shots through the years if you have

Corn · 10/06/2006, 10:35 PM

grate job I knew that you would get TOM you have one of the best layout sps tanks that I have seen.

Markk96 · 10/06/2006, 10:46 PM

Awesome tank Chris, very well done.

Mark

affan · 10/06/2006, 11:00 PM

Good stuff. Truly an inspiration and an honor very well deserved. Congratulations

Behroz · 10/06/2006, 11:17 PM

grate tank chris.thanks for shring your tank.i have 92g and i like to trasfor to 150g .in 92g ihave 80 pund sand bad .i bougth 160 pund new sand .can you hlpe me wich way i have to used.sand. tanks

david walker · 10/06/2006, 11:49 PM

grate tank chris nice job!!!!!!!

rbaker · 10/07/2006, 12:11 AM

Congratulations Chris!!! You've created a beautiful reef!

dc · 10/07/2006, 12:46 AM

Another beautiful tank! It looks great!

Johan Susanto · 10/07/2006, 05:19 AM

nice tank chris. simply not to crowded.
how thick is the sand in display tank? is
is it fine sand?
how you maintence your sand keep clean?

mhurley · 10/07/2006, 07:09 AM

Congrats Chris!

Hop · 10/07/2006, 07:32 AM

Great tank and well deserved! Inspirational!

emora · 10/07/2006, 07:49 AM

Absolutely beautiful. Such an inspiring departure from the eclectic bit-of-everything set-ups we usually see.

cward · 10/07/2006, 08:20 AM

Thank you very, very much everyone. I have to admit that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have a tank that could be "TOTM", but I'm very glad someone thought it was good enough to nominate. Feel free to ask any questions you might have and I will do my best to answer them as quick as I can.

jackson6745, I will post some growth shots in this thread tonight.

Johan Susanto, I have a goby that does a pretty good job at keeping the sand clean, but my flow also keeps the sand moving. The sand is Carib-Sea Aragamax select, which has a grain size of 0.5 - 1.5 mm.

tom obrecht · 10/07/2006, 08:44 AM

WOW WEE!! Nice job on a great tank!

tom obrecht · 10/07/2006, 08:47 AM

Oh, by the way, I'm setting a new system up and would love to find out where you purchased the rails that the lights move on?

cward · 10/07/2006, 08:54 AM

Thank you Tom. I bought the barn door track at a local store here in Columbus, but it is made by Stanley and I'm sure you can get it at a Farm and Fleet or Tractor Supply store.

hollback · 10/07/2006, 11:14 AM

Congrats Chris. The photos don't do this tank justice. You just can't imagine how big these corals really are.

10/06/2006, 10:09 PM	#3
SERVO Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,147	Totm Congrats Chris!!!!! Happy to finally see your tank here! Can't wait to provide you with new additions to grow out into monster colonies!

10/06/2006, 10:11 PM	#4
mflamb Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seffner Florida Posts: 8,420	Absolutely gorgeous. I've enjoyed studying your setup. Do you ever ship frags!?!? __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Tampa Bay Reef Club Educational Director 2009.

10/06/2006, 10:16 PM	#5
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 29,517	Simply beautiful. A breath of fresh air. Congrats, Chris. __________________ 16 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems. Current Tank Info: 72x24x30 225 gallon peninsula reef aquarium

10/06/2006, 10:20 PM	#6
Jeremy B. RC Sponsor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 5,002	Congrats buddy!!! That is one tank I could lay back in the recliner and watch for hours, so realistic! __________________ PremiumAquatics.com

10/06/2006, 10:21 PM	#7
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,525	super nice... love the mature corals... the dedication to minimal stocking for future growth is to be highly commended. 2 big thumbs up! __________________ Sept'06 TOTM Taking a break from the hobby while we move to a new house.

10/06/2006, 10:06 PM	#2
hannam11 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: St Augustine, FL. Posts: 37	This is a great tank. Very nice job

10/06/2006, 10:24 PM	#8
JPMagyar Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NY,NY Posts: 698	New philosophy. Chris, Its obvious but let me restate it anyways - your tank ROCKS !! But, I also wanted to say thank you for introducing a new thought into my own world of reefkeeping. I must admit I never really consider the concept of allowing corals to "grow out", and although I'm not ready to give up all that real estate in my tank today. Someday when I build that "big one" I will definitely leave added room for growing out several massive colonies because I am totally in love with yours. They add a real sense of naturalism to the tank. Thanks for sharing such a spectacular tank!!! Happy Reefin' Viszlat, Joe __________________ Click on the Red House above to visit my website! Current Tank Info: 220 gal tank with 300 gal sump.

10/06/2006, 10:27 PM	#9
jackson6745 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rockaway Park, NY Posts: 4,813	Beautiful Reef. Well deserved!!! I would love to see a few growth shots through the years if you have __________________ Richard Current Tank Info: 34 Solana SPS Reef

10/06/2006, 10:35 PM	#10
Corn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 513	grate job I knew that you would get TOM you have one of the best layout sps tanks that I have seen.

10/06/2006, 10:46 PM	#11
Markk96 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belleville, IL Posts: 4,731 Blog Entries: 1	Awesome tank Chris, very well done. Mark __________________ "Are you guys ready?" "Let's roll." Current Tank Info: Former 200 Gallon Oceanic Tank. 2 250W SE XM bulbs on Lumenarc Mini Reflectors. 2 Tunze 6100's and a Tunze wavebox. Now a JBJ 28 Gallon HQI Tank.

10/06/2006, 11:00 PM	#12
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	Good stuff. Truly an inspiration and an honor very well deserved. Congratulations

10/06/2006, 11:17 PM	#13
Behroz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 12	grate tank chris.thanks for shring your tank.i have 92g and i like to trasfor to 150g .in 92g ihave 80 pund sand bad .i bougth 160 pund new sand .can you hlpe me wich way i have to used.sand. tanks

10/06/2006, 11:49 PM	#14
david walker Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: VA Posts: 8	grate tank chris nice job!!!!!!!

10/07/2006, 12:11 AM	#15
rbaker Reef Central Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 30,757 Blog Entries: 4	Congratulations Chris!!! You've created a beautiful reef! __________________ Ryan A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. -- George Bernard Shaw

10/07/2006, 12:46 AM	#16
dc Moved In... Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 32,545	Another beautiful tank! It looks great! __________________ Debi ><> Now that we're all moved, Please be patient there's still lot's of tweaking to do. THANKS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10/07/2006, 05:19 AM	#17
Johan Susanto Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sulawesi Posts: 204	nice tank chris. simply not to crowded. how thick is the sand in display tank? is is it fine sand? how you maintence your sand keep clean?

10/07/2006, 07:09 AM	#18
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 35,404	Congrats Chris! __________________ Mike "Vow to get up early enough to watch a few sunrises with someone you love." Current Tank Info: Oceanic 29G Biocube

10/07/2006, 07:32 AM	#19
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,628	Great tank and well deserved! Inspirational! __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

10/07/2006, 07:49 AM	#20
emora Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Madrid, Spain (originally from Seattle, WA) Posts: 148	Absolutely beautiful. Such an inspiring departure from the eclectic bit-of-everything set-ups we usually see. __________________ Pásate por mi Blog en Español www.arrecifemadrid.com Current Tank Info: 100 Gallon reef, 40G Mini-reef, 30G LPS tank and 16G nano/prop tank

10/07/2006, 08:20 AM	#21
cward RC Mod Join Date: May 2003 Location: Granville, Ohio Posts: 5,032	Thank you very, very much everyone. I have to admit that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have a tank that could be "TOTM", but I'm very glad someone thought it was good enough to nominate. Feel free to ask any questions you might have and I will do my best to answer them as quick as I can. jackson6745, I will post some growth shots in this thread tonight. Johan Susanto, I have a goby that does a pretty good job at keeping the sand clean, but my flow also keeps the sand moving. The sand is Carib-Sea Aragamax select, which has a grain size of 0.5 - 1.5 mm. __________________ ~~~Having a high post count doesn't automatically give you a high reefing IQ.~~~ Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Series/240g GEO cube/60g GEO frag tank/150g Rubbermaid/120g GEO sump/ 2300 watts of halides

10/07/2006, 08:44 AM	#22
tom obrecht Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,829	WOW WEE!! Nice job on a great tank! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! Current Tank Info: I'M OUT!

10/07/2006, 08:47 AM	#23
tom obrecht Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,829	Oh, by the way, I'm setting a new system up and would love to find out where you purchased the rails that the lights move on? __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! Current Tank Info: I'M OUT!

10/07/2006, 08:54 AM	#24
cward RC Mod Join Date: May 2003 Location: Granville, Ohio Posts: 5,032	Thank you Tom. I bought the barn door track at a local store here in Columbus, but it is made by Stanley and I'm sure you can get it at a Farm and Fleet or Tractor Supply store. __________________ ~~~Having a high post count doesn't automatically give you a high reefing IQ.~~~ Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Series/240g GEO cube/60g GEO frag tank/150g Rubbermaid/120g GEO sump/ 2300 watts of halides

10/07/2006, 11:14 AM	#25
hollback Team RC Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,905	Congrats Chris. The photos don't do this tank justice. You just can't imagine how big these corals really are. __________________ Jason "Dressed up like plankton, sucked in by baleen." Current Tank Info: 40,000 Tablespoons