A very pregnant copepod from my glass

["Umm fish?"]

Well, I'm trying to be patient and wait out the cycle on my tank. In the meantime, proof that it supports life!

Thought you all might be interested.

Thanks!

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

A+ Job for being a good patient reefer, nothing good comes fast.
A+ for an amazing macro photograph. It almost looks like you used a microscope or something. What is this...4:1...5:1? Really, great great great work!

At least the tank will be mandarin-ready by the time it cycles

 

["Umm fish?"]

Thanks! And good eye: I took the shot at 5x but the 100% crop was a little too big to post so I reduced it a little. So somewhere between 4x and 5x.

I took the shot hand-held but braced the fingers of my left hand against the glass (as the focus point was about 3/4" back off the glass). So, it's probably a little softer than it could have been but I could follow the female around until she stopped moving.

A+ Job for being a good patient reefer, nothing good comes fast.

Well, you know.... It's not my first time 'round the block.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Well, messing around with the camera and macro lens again tonight. More copepods:

As you can see, the hair algae is growing in pretty nicely.

And a little closer crop of the last one:

And this is a crazy one. In this one you can see sugar-fine sand, diatoms, and ciliates.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I suppose "fine" depends on your perspective of the world!

 

[Alexander180]

Wow those are some extremely detailed pictures. I just got a nikon d80 this week. my first dslr and cant wait to pick up a macro lens.

I have always found it fun to watch pods and hitchhikers during the cycle.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Here's the full image from that last one. It's funny the range of sizes that you actually get with "sugar fine."

Thanks, y'all! Good luck with that new camera, Alexander. And congratulations: You've found a hobby that's just as expensive as reefkeeping!

 

[madisonrose05]

very cool

 

[jthao]

awesome!!

 

["Umm fish?"]

Thanks, y'all!

 

[Brandon M]

Wow, great shots!

 

[juancho24]

That is incredibly close.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Thanks, y'all! Here's a group photo I took at 1x:

They are reproducing awfully well.