Tank Pics

[jquigley78]

Well, its almost been a year(in June) since I upgraded my tank, going from a 55 to a 75 with sump, better skimmer, lights, well pretty much everything got better. So I thought I would post some pics just to see what people think and because I havent done so in awhile.

All the SPS's started out as small frags except for the green prostata.

[jquigley78]

Left side of tank:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/LeftSide.jpg

Right side of tank:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/RightSide.jpg

Couple of coral shots:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/IMG_1251.jpghttp://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/IMG_1201-1.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/IMG_1192.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/IMG_1141.jpg

My favorite fish:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/IMG_1168.jpg

Clowns new home:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/IMG_1163.jpg

My one and only Clam:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/jquigley78/Maxima.jpg

[spsick]

sweet brain, where'd ya get it? told you that thing fills out!

[droinablunt]

nice tank!

[mtfatwork]

Nice shots Josh! What kind of camera are u using?

[coldwaterreefer]

was going to ask the same thing because i'm looking into getting a different camera.

[wolmutt]

Sweet torch, I've got one about that size, placed in exactly the same part of my tank, sucker stings anything that gets within a foot. It looks like yours has some really bright tips. Good job with the pics!

[jquigley78]

I am using a Canon G7 which is just a glorified point and shoot. It works pretty well, but the macro mode doesnt work as well through the glass, because it has a green focus light that gets "lost" shooting through green glass. Your best bet is going to be digital SLR with a real macro lens, that focus's manually. Any of the cheap Nikons or Canons will work well as long as you buy a "real" lens for it(not the ones that come with them).

Thanks for the comments. I figured I should share some pics as that is what makes this site so much fun!

[jquigley78]

Mary, the third pic is of an acro that you gave me, and although you cant see it when all my lights are on, with just the actinics it has the most beautiful green polyps I have seen yet on an acro that has a purple base. It used to be just another brown "mystery" acro.

Its funny how many of my SPS have colored up substantially with being able to lower the lights closer to the water surface.

[zryder]

I am using a Canon G7 which is just a glorified point and shoot. It works pretty well, but the macro mode doesnt work as well through the glass, because it has a green focus light that gets "lost" shooting through green glass. Your best bet is going to be digital SLR with a real macro lens, that focus's manually. Any of the cheap Nikons or Canons will work well as long as you buy a "real" lens for it(not the ones that come with them).

Thanks for the comments. I figured I should share some pics as that is what makes this site so much fun!

I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ-20, wich is also a big lens point and shoot, and the problem i find with mine, witch may be partially related, is that when in macro mode, tank inahbitants are nearly at the end of the macro range... and zooming shortens the focal range of macro. macro is really designed for the lens to be an inch or so away from the object. As a testament to that, I took my camera to the como park conservatory, and took some amazing pictures (www.godsofwarkilrogg.com/Conservatory). I have tried shooting tank pictures in normal mode, but again, if you try to zoom in for your coral to fill the field of view, it cant focus on something too close at zoom. Not sure if a good SLR with a good lens will do better, but I would hope it would.
just my observations. Nice pics, though. I really like the one with the clown. Most of mine are using too slow of a shutter to get a pic quite that good. kudos to you.

[jquigley78]

Thanks! I do think an manual Macro lens (1:1) will do the trick, but they are expensive, as they are a specialty lens. My camera is more for everyday/anywhere photos, when I dont want to set up my "big" film camera. Othewise I use a Mamiya RZ67 which I love dearly, and allows me to print up to 30"x40", which you could never do with pretty much all digital cameras except for the ones over $10,000(not including lens)!

Oh yeah it might help if I tell you guys that photography is kind of my forte. Currently I am working on my Masters in Fine Art Photography at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

[kjdeut]

Nice looking tank. It is pretty cool when those SPS start to change from the brown stick to some nice colors.

[REEFSTOCK]

I love the big turban.

Looking great Mr. Q!

[jquigley78]

Thanks Everybody! Yes that is kind of the fun with SPS is watching them change color over time as they adapt to your system. So far I have had really good luck and the only SPS that I have lost were tiny frags, that just never made it more then a week in my tank. The majority have done just fine indeed!

[SLPReefer]

Sweet tank. Love the birdsnest!