Tank of the Month - October '06

Skipper · 10/01/2006, 01:35 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, 08:06 PM

This is a great tank. Very nice job

SERVO · 10/06/2006, 08:09 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, 08:11 PM

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

Gary Majchrzak · 10/06/2006, 08:16 PM

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

Jeremy B. · 10/06/2006, 08:20 PM

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

Kip · 10/06/2006, 08:21 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, 08:24 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, 08:27 PM

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

Corn · 10/06/2006, 08:35 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, 08:46 PM

Awesome tank Chris, very well done.

Mark

affan · 10/06/2006, 09:00 PM

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

Behroz · 10/06/2006, 09:17 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, 09:49 PM

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

rbaker · 10/06/2006, 10:11 PM

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

dc · 10/06/2006, 10:46 PM

Another beautiful tank! It looks great!

Johan Susanto · 10/07/2006, 03:19 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, 05:09 AM

Congrats Chris!

Hop · 10/07/2006, 05:32 AM

Great tank and well deserved! Inspirational!

emora · 10/07/2006, 05:49 AM

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

cward · 10/07/2006, 06:20 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, 06:44 AM

WOW WEE!! Nice job on a great tank!

tom obrecht · 10/07/2006, 06:47 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, 06:54 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, 09:14 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, 08:09 PM	#3
SERVO Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,305	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, 08:11 PM	#4
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	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. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

10/06/2006, 08:16 PM	#5
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	Simply beautiful. A breath of fresh air. Congrats, Chris. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

10/06/2006, 08:21 PM	#7
Kip Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dropping 2, hitting 3 Posts: 2,495	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, 08:24 PM	#8
JPMagyar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NY,NY Posts: 2,072	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 __________________ Joe Peck TOTM Apr. 2013 Advanced Aquarist Featured Tank March 2011 Reef Hobbyist Magazine journalist, and all around SPS nut! Current Tank Info: 240 with 750 gal total system, ATI LED Powermodule, MTC-HSA 1000. MTC Pro-Cal..

10/06/2006, 08:06 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, 08:20 PM	#6
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	Congrats buddy!!! That is one tank I could lay back in the recliner and watch for hours, so realistic!

10/06/2006, 08:27 PM	#9
jackson6745 Yeah Yeah Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rockaway Park, NY Posts: 5,822	Beautiful Reef. Well deserved!!! I would love to see a few growth shots through the years if you have __________________ Richard - Officially done shipping coral. Don't ask! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2357196"]http://www.reefcentralcom/forums/showthread.php?t=2357196 Officially Done Shipping

10/06/2006, 08:35 PM	#10
Corn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 510	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, 08:46 PM	#11
Markk96 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belleville, IL Posts: 4,974 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, 09:00 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, 09:17 PM	#13
Behroz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 19	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, 09:49 PM	#14
david walker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: VA Posts: 8	grate tank chris nice job!!!!!!!

10/06/2006, 10:11 PM	#15
rbaker Reef Central Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 32,642 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

10/06/2006, 10:46 PM	#16
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	Another beautiful tank! It looks great! __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

10/07/2006, 03:19 AM	#17
Johan Susanto Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sulawesi Posts: 201	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, 05:09 AM	#18
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	Congrats Chris! __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube

10/07/2006, 05:32 AM	#19
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Great tank and well deserved! Inspirational! __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

10/07/2006, 05:49 AM	#20
emora Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Madrid, Spain (originally from Seattle, WA) Posts: 161	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, 06:20 AM	#21
cward Premium Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Granville, Ohio Posts: 5,006	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.~~~

10/07/2006, 06:44 AM	#22
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	WOW WEE!! Nice job on a great tank! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

10/07/2006, 06:47 AM	#23
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	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!! TOTM May 2006

10/07/2006, 06:54 AM	#24
cward Premium Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Granville, Ohio Posts: 5,006	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.~~~

10/07/2006, 09:14 AM	#25
hollback Team RC Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 3,586	Congrats Chris. The photos don't do this tank justice. You just can't imagine how big these corals really are. __________________ Jason Μολὼν λαβέ "Dressed up like plankton, sucked in by baleen." Current Tank Info: 40,000 Tablespoons