Ron Hunsicker's 715-gallon Reef Tank

Article by Mark McDowell, Ph.D. - [ The Digital Reef ]

Forget what you have read about what can and can't be done with reef tanks, how many fish you can have in a tank, this coral can't live in this tank, etc… Ron's tank is by far the best tank that I have ever seen that combines the beauty of corals with the diversity of fish only found in nature. There are over 100 corals and almost 200 fish in Ron's 715-gallon reef tank. I know why Ron's store - Ron's Saltwater Heaven is named as such. His store is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The magnificent 715-gallon display tank is located in the center of his store and when you take a look at it, you will actually think you are in the ocean in the Red Sea with the abundance of fish. I contacted Ron and told him that I would like to feature his tank and write a review of his store as well since I had heard so much about him and will be passing by his place on my way back to Ohio from New York. He told me that I would not be disappointed and he was absolutely right!!!

Every fish and coral in this tank was extremely healthy, every tang was nice and fat and every coral was brilliantly colored and fully open. What more could you ask for? If you are a 1-tank trip away from Williamsport, PA, you must come and see Ron's tank. It's like looking at a reef tank at a national aquarium, maybe even better…

Tank Description: The tank is a 715-gallon glass custom tank that is 96" long, 48" in depth and 36" tall. There is over 1,700 lbs of Fiji live rock in the tank and a few pieces weigh over 80 pounds (how he got the pieces in, I will never know). There are too many corals to mention all of them but there are quite a few that stand out like the biggest elegance coral that I have ever seen that has to have over a 25" base. Leather corals, soft corals, brain corals, you name it and it's in this tank. There is just about every kind of "I wish I had that fish" in this tank ranging from the beautiful sohal tang, orange shoulder tang, flame angel to the rare skunk tilefish. The tanks is lighted with 18 VHO bulbs that are on a timer and are at full tilt staring at noon. It is awesome to watch the tank at around 11:30 am with the blue lights on and see the sun come up at 12. Filtration is provided by 4 of Ron's famous air driven counter current 6' tall protein skimmers and 1 downdraft skimmer (see picture below) and the continuous use of activated carbon. Flow is achieved by using several pumps to generate as much surface agitation as possible.

Words can't to this tank justice, so let's let the pictures do the talking:

Elegance Coral	Sohal Tang
Percula Clown Fish	Achilles Tang
Blonde Naso Tang	Blue Morpho Tang
Powder Blue Tang	It's Feeding Time!!!
Goby	Copperband Butterfly
Brain Coral (night shot)	Brain Coral (day shot)
Purple Tilefish	Protein Skimmers (6' tall)

If you want more information about Ron's tank, you can e-mail him at ronslthn@csrlink.net or visit his website at http://saltwaterheaven.com/.