custom 15in cube

[Ross]

I just got a new camera (canon rebel xt) and these are my first attempt at pictures. I am very beginner so don't hate on the pics too much. I'd really appreciate any feedback or suggestions on them. I have not edited them at all. Straight from camera to here.

Tank is a custom 15in cube made by picotanks. Its been setup since July. 20lbs live rock. 10lbs live sand.

Lighting is a maxspect 60w LED light. (very bright)

2 true percula clowns. About 10 snails and hermits. 1 cleaner shrimp.

Approximately 15 different zoos. Frogspawn, a few ricordias, a bunch of mushrooms, green star polyps, clove polyps, crocea clam, xenia, and about 3 or 4 different sps frags.

I do water changes weekly (2-3 gallons). No skimmer. I feed about 5 times a week. Tank has a JBJ auto top off.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3325.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3334.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3322.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3328.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3330.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3331.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3335.jpg

[Europhyllia]

It's beautiful! Congrats :)

[txg8gxp]

looks great

[Regric25]

It looks VERY NICE! Congrats on the new camera.

If you are able to, for the first few shots of the clown, shrimp and the last picture you might try and speed the shutter or close aperture a little to get it to reduce how bright it is. That way its not so blown out.

Im not sure if you are shooting through a photobox or not for the top down shots but if you are try resting the lens on the bottom of the box so it sits flush.(careful not to sink the camera) That way you reduce the glare from the lights above.

If you are not and you are shooting without a box through the water i recommend turning off all pumps and shooting straight top down, because at an angle the water will distort the image and make it blurry. Same rule applies for shooting through glass.

Keep practicing and you will get it. You are off to a great start! Let me know if you have any questions :)

[Ross]

Thanks Reg

I'm shooting on "p" with auto white balance and ISO 1600. I'm not using a photobox, just turned all the pumps off. I may try white balance on "shady". What should I do with my ISO?

[Regric25]

Since you have high lighting in most scenarios you can shoot with ISO 400 and below. Higher ISO usually causes pics to come out grainy. I usually shoot in ISO 100 but you ahve to have a super steady hand or tripod sometimes for that setting as it will slow the shutter and open aperture in low light situations. In high light situations you will not have that problem like shooting outdoors in the day.

Personally I use white balance at auto. I almost never mess with it and if I do its in post processing. If you want to really get to know your camera and what the settings are all about try shooting in the "M" mode or manual mode. This mode will allow you to control everything your camera does.

I mentioned above to adjust your aperture and shutter but in order to do that you want to shoot in the "A" aperture priority, "S" or shutter priority or the "M" mode. "A" means you control the aperture and the camera controls the shutter and "S" is the other way around. "P" program mode allows you to have limited control over your camera.

[Ross]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3361.jpg

Would be cool if my glass wasn't dirty. Shot with 'shade' white balance.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3355.jpg

Pretty cool looking pic. I'd like the green palys to be more in focus. Increase fstop? I was shooting around 5-6.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3354.jpg

This one would be awesome if the fish was in focus. Increase shutter speed? The P setting was giving me f stop of 6.3 and shutter speed of around 60 on these.

[Ross]

Looking better.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3367.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3369.jpg

[Regric25]

Pretty cool looking pic. I'd like the green palys to be more in focus. Increase fstop? I was shooting around 5-6.
(Try f/3.5)


This one would be awesome if the fish was in focus. Increase shutter speed? The P setting was giving me f stop of 6.3 and shutter speed of around 60 on these
(increase shutter a little and raise ISO to about 400.)

[Regric25]

Looking better.





Looks ALOT better

[Ross]

Thanks!

Still playing with my camera. Sooo much to learn.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3327.jpg

[Ross]

Still playing with the camera. Any feedback on the tank or pictures welcome.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3430.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3427.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3425.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3422.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3419.jpg

[txg8gxp]

Your clown pic is really cool.

[ErikH]

Awesome Ross! That light is really sweet.

[Europhyllia]

fantastic shot of the clown!!!

[FireWater]

Sweet tank and shots Ross. Good to see you got another tank up and running. How much longer are you forcing yourself to stay in Lubbock?

[Ross]

Thanks John

I'll be here for awhile, I'm on the LPD now. (don't hate too much lol)

[FireWater]

I don't hate. Just feel sorry for you. LOL

I thought your degree program was not involved in law enforcement.

[Mr Cob]

that tank looks hout!

Love the clown pic too!

[Ross]

It wasn't, I majored in wildlife management. I decided to stay because I love Lubbock! Its a great city!

[tonyydeee]

Great pics dude.

Omg omg LOVE the top down on of the clown!

[Ross]

Had to get a new clown, my old 2 were fighting way too much and they wouldn't stop.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3503.jpg

[jorgejr]

awesome tank man!! love the diversity! great job.

[Ross]

My clowns contiuned to fight unfortunately...so i got 2 new clowns. Both tank bred onyx clowns. They are very nice...I'll post pictures tomorrow.

[Zack]

How big are the ones that you are getting?

[Ross]

One is about 2 inches and the other is a little bigger. They are still settling in. They will eat a little and spit it right back out. Hopefully they settle in soon. I also got a tiny royal gramma who hasn't come out much yet.

Terrible pics but you get the idea. I'll take better ones later
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3563.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3569.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3568.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3567.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3566.jpg

[Zack]

Do you think you may have two females? I had that problem and after trading in both fish and starting fresh with two small .75" clowns everything is going great!

[Ross]

I hope not. These are the smallest I could get. I think being tank raised they should both be males because I'm assuming they were all in a big tank together. Time will tell. The smaller one is doing the 'shake' next to the bigger one. Is that a good sign?

They found my frogspawn..hopefully they'll host . Still terrible pics.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3602.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3601.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3598.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3592.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3572.jpg

[FireWater]

Good luck with them Ross. Tell me more about the tank. I'm really interested in changing out my Finnex at work and I am looking for something a little smaller.




Guns Down

[Zack]

First off those pics are awesome! The shaking dosent neccesarily mean one is male, how are they fighting? Is there actual biting and fin damage? From my eXperience with females do not usually harm the males (maroon clowns not included) however if two females are together the fighting is much more aggressive and will either result in death of the weaker one or the relegation of the weaker one to a corner of the tank.

[Ross]

What do you wanna know about the tank John?

These 2 haven't started fighting yet. They have been hanging out together for the most part and the little one will do the shake next to the bigger one.

[FireWater]

Any pics of the whole tank - filtration?
How is the quality of the tank itself?
I am not too familiar with them yet and there is not too much on them when I did some research.

What are your pros and cons on the tank?

[Ross]

Heres a link of the website. Currenty the site says down but when I ordered mine it was down as well, just email him and he will make you a tank.

I don't have any pics of the filtration right now, i can snap some later. The quality of the tank is outstanding. Very good attention to detail and workmanship. I'd definetly buy another one. Mine is a 15x15x15. The back is a sump with 3 chambers, similiar to a nanocube or one of those. The only thing I'd like to change on mine is a bigger return pump.

I have it set up with an ATO (jbj) which works well so I don't have to worry about topping off. I also have that koralia 1 in there for extra flow. I still may upgrade the return pump to a maxi jet, i just haven't messed with it yet. Overall I like the tank a lot.

[Ross]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3637.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3624.jpg

[FireWater]

Thanks for the info Ross, but there was no link on your post. I did a search for Mr Pico and found a little info on it.

[Ross]

Update: the new onyx clowns are doing well. Getting along so far and eating well. They really seem to like my frogspawn.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3655.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3646.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3645.jpg

[Ross]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3685.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3675.jpg

[hobogato]

well done ross! it is really growing in nicely

[Zack]

That last pic is sick! Did you shoot it in burst mode?

[Ross]

Thanks guys. The last pic was compete luck but its pretty awesome!

[Zack]

Nice!

[Ross]

I just got some AWESOME new pics of the fish...standby..im uploading on photobucket. My coolest single pic yet...

[Ross]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3771.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3765-1.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3710.jpg

[FireWater]

Sweet pics Ross.
It kind of looks like a conversation between my wife and I(If we were fish). The clown looks like it doesn't have a clue.

[Ross]

These guys learn pretty fast. I thought these were funny.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3842.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3837.jpg

[hobogato]

great argument pics ross

[Europhyllia]

Yikes the gramma looks scary!

[ErikH]

too funny. :)

[Ross]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/aqiarium/_MG_3896.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/aqiarium/_MG_3927.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/aqiarium/_MG_3911.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/aqiarium/_MG_3905.jpg

[hobogato]

looks like everything is going well ross - great pics as well

[Ross]

New addition: RBTA

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Rossthehoss/_MG_3978.jpg

[BSJF]

Looks like someone found a home. The gramma looks like he wants a dentist - open wide!