Aqua 55G

[Aqua]

Hi to all.
First I would like to compliment this site and all the effort you people put in it.
It is great tool for someone new to the hobby like me.
At first I was only reading and “stealing” all the knowledge and experience from here but I feel now is time to change that and to become active member of this community.

My aquarium is rather low-tech using most of the equipment from my freshwater setups and lots of DIY since my resources are quite limited. My first aquarium set up 12 months ago was 20G where I did all my mistakes as beginner. After 6 months of “fun” with 20G I changed it to what I have now.

55G main tank
15G sump
20G fuge(currently bare)
DIY protein skimmer
DIY Nilsen Kalk reactor
18lb live rock
15lp base rock
25lb DIY rock (cement and crushed oyster shell)
1 ½ inch aragonite sand
Light:
2X NO 40W actinic
4X NO 40W daylight (6500K)

Livestock:
1 yellow tail damsel
1 green star polyp
1 rock with poor looking zoo’s
3 mushrooms
Couple snails and hermit crabs

Tank picture.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/Aqua2.jpg

[scooby]

looks good. How about a couple shots of the sump and fuge.

[IJO]

[welcome]

Once that DIY liverock gets covered in coralline you won't be able to tell the difference... nice looking tank and welcome to AC :)

IJO

[ih8cyano]

00

Coraline.....

[Aqua]

Geting there.
:)

[Aqua]

Some new addition to my tank thanks to Johnny Rock. :)

Leather coral
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/c1.JPG

[Aqua]

Another one. :)

Button Polyps
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/c3.JPG

[Aqua]

One more. :)

Candy Cane

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/c2.JPG

[john rock]

HOLY COW! what are you using for a camera? I have a job for you! free frag! I need a few pics done. Are you available some night this week after work or on a weekend night.:eek:

[liv]

very nice !!!

[One Salty Dog]

How many Maga pixel's is your cam? All you using a tripod? Very good quality PICs
Rob

[gofast]

What kind of camera do you use the pic's are GREAT

[Aqua]

I am using Nikon COOLPIX 990. It is 3.4 Mega Pixel camera.
All pics are done with a tripod. It is a mast when taking pictures of an aquarium.

[Aqua]

Johnny

When corals are so good it is not hard to take good pics of it. I will be glad to photograph your aquarium.
You have a PM.

[Aqua]

Latest addition.

Another nice Candy Cane coral.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/cc1.JPG

[Aqua]

And finaly my tank does't look like pile of rock.

Thaks Johnny and Gerry.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/x1.JPG

[john rock]

your more than welcome! I recognize PERCULAS corals anywere!:D

[Conan]

indeed!! I've got the same!

[Aqua]

Thanks to clown_fish here is new addition to my tank.
Not only that I had a chance to meet him but also to see his beautiful tanks.

Toadstool frag No1:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/toadstool1.JPG

Toadstool frag No2:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/toadstool2.JPG

[Aqua]

This is overall shot of my tank as of today June 27/04.
Please note that lighting is all NO fluorescent and all corals are frags obtained from people on this forum.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/new.jpg

[DAN]

Aqua
Welcome to AC!!!
Those pics awsome job !!!!!!!!!
DAN

[Aqua]

Guess what is this?

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/ncc.JPG

[DAN]

I know that I've seen it before but can't put a name to it
some sort of star polip I guess.:)
DAN

[Aqua]

Here is daytime shot.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mirn/ccd.JPG

[DAN]

Sure didnt look like a cndy cane with all the long polips extended out like that really nice !!!!!!!!!!
Man you take some beautifull pics with that camra!!!!!
DAN

[Aqua]

Thanks.
I guess 20+ years in photography pays off. I owe Canon A2 and Minolta X700 that I used a lot for close-up photography over many years and learn how to do it right. Only it is not as convenient as digital cameras in this internet age.
Pain going thru getting decent quality digital scan of regular prints is not something I will recommend to anyone.
When it comes to taking pictures of aquarium there is a lot of experiment with settings since cameras settings aren’t customized to that type of lighting so if you use regular film it will take long time and many rolls of film before you get it right.
Currently I am using Nikon Coolpix 990 that is quite outdated but yields some decent pics(all pics I post were taken with that camera).
I am looking to update my gear with Nikon D70 but it is not priority at this time.
Another camera that I will recommend is Canon D Rebel.
Both are very good.

[DAN]

Any how AWSOME job on the pics:biggrinbo
you seem to real;y know you way around that camra keep up the great pics!
DAN

[x-link]

how did you get all that coraline to the glass,what are your parameters,what do you use plesase teach me.thanks

[Flame*Angel]

Very healthy caulastrea!

[saltyjr]

Your tank is looking great, inspires me to start my own.

-Joel

[Aqua]

Thanks for comments.
When it comes to having coraline grow on the glass I guess my lighting has major role.
I have 6 NO fluorescent 2 of them actinic and 4 6500k daylight. When I setup tank for first time I had only 2 actinic and 2 6500k over period of few months and coraline had much stronger colors and growth was amazing.
No any special additives, just ordinary KW that I dose daily.
Almost forget most important ingredient: time.

[clown_fish]

Aqua,

Very very nice pics. I'm glad that the frags are doing well for you.