Fail's SPS 14 Gallon Biocube

[Fail_sh3d]

Just a few more "learning the camera" shots. I think I had the ISO up a little too much...

 

[jackson6745]

Better, but you can get way better pics with that camera. Corals are looking good

 

[Fail_sh3d]

Better, but you can get way better pics with that camera. Corals are looking good

Thanks, Richard. The crappy thing about this is that I work 60 hours a week so there is limited "mess around" time with the camera... :facepalm:

I really appreciate the encouragement.

I need a good post program like lightroom or something.

 

[Fail_sh3d]

I think that these came out a lot better. Open to criticism.

 

[sahin]

Your shots are very decent considering you are running LED's. Seriously, the number of times I close a thread because the only colour you see in the photos is blue...

However, there is room for improvement.

• Try and improve the white balance further. The photos still have quite a heavy blue cast.
  
• Focus could also be slightly improved...maybe use a tripod if you arent.
  
• Boost up the ISO a little or use a either a larger aperture or slower shutter speed (if possible) as the photos are a tiny bit dark.

Sort those 3 out a bit more and your photos will improve by a fair bit. Hope you dont mind the quick suggestions.

 

[Fail_sh3d]

Your shots are very decent considering you are running LED's. Seriously, the number of times I close a thread because the only colour you see in the photos is blue...

However, there is room for improvement.

• Try and improve the white balance further. The photos still have quite a heavy blue cast.
  
• Focus could also be slightly improved...maybe use a tripod if you arent.
  
• Boost up the ISO a little or use a either a larger aperture or slower shutter speed (if possible) as the photos are a tiny bit dark.

Sort those 3 out a bit more and your photos will improve by a fair bit. Hope you dont mind the quick suggestions.

Thanks, Sahin.

Currently I am using a tripod. (cheapo Slik) and on the last group of photos I used a remote.

I was using 400 ISO and 5.6 aperture.

I have a white balance card, but have yet to try it. My room is dark, you think I should take it outside, set the white balance, and then try those settings again?

 

[Fail_sh3d]

Just thought about this...

You think the curvature of the biocube is messing with the focus? I'm shooting perpendicular to the glass in almost all shots.

 

[glaukos]

I don't know much about photography failshed buddy,but i really enjoyed your photos!
Corals look awesome.
If i didn't know,that the move was few weeks ago i wouldn't believe it!
Welldone:thumbsup:

 

[sahin]

Just thought about this...

You think the curvature of the biocube is messing with the focus? I'm shooting perpendicular to the glass in almost all shots.

Yes! I hated my JBJ 28G Nanocube because of the curved glass.

Nothing you can do about that unfortunately.

With regards to the white balance, get someone to hold the card under the tanks light and take a white balance reading with that. Else place the card carefully in the tank and take a white balance reading...heck try even taking a white balance reading on the sand...works sometimes.

 

[tysmith]

When I was playing around with my shots I just started shooting and manually adjusted the white balance little by little until the colors looked correct on the back of my camera. I'll find the settings I used. The main thing is to shoot in full manual. You get much better control. Especially under LEDs.

 

[Fail_sh3d]

I don't know much about photography failshed buddy,but i really enjoyed your photos!
Corals look awesome.
If i didn't know,that the move was few weeks ago i wouldn't believe it!
Welldone:thumbsup:

Thanks, G! I really appreciate it. I got super lucky when I moved.
Nothing major happened, and I got a brand new sand bed out of the whole ordeal.

Yes! I hated my JBJ 28G Nanocube because of the curved glass.

Nothing you can do about that unfortunately.

With regards to the white balance, get someone to hold the card under the tanks light and take a white balance reading with that. Else place the card carefully in the tank and take a white balance reading...heck try even taking a white balance reading on the sand...works sometimes.

Yeah, that is my struggle. The cube has plotted against my photography.
I'm going to try that tomorrow with the white balance. Thanks, Sahin!

When I was playing around with my shots I just started shooting and manually adjusted the white balance little by little until the colors looked correct on the back of my camera. I'll find the settings I used. The main thing is to shoot in full manual. You get much better control. Especially under LEDs.

I've been shooting in AV priority. I have been playing with ISO and aperture, but not so much shutter speed. I haven't felt comfortable enough for manual yet. But I'm sure eventually I will.

 

[Bello]

The second round of shots does indeed look way better :thumbsup:

I think I have the same bright green tenuis/vermiculata type coral that you have, love it!

Tanks looking good :thumbsup:. Weren't you thinking about using a 20L for a frag tank? Any updates on that?

 

[Fail_sh3d]

The second round of shots does indeed look way better :thumbsup:

I think I have the same bright green tenuis/vermiculata type coral that you have, love it!

Tanks looking good :thumbsup:. Weren't you thinking about using a 20L for a frag tank? Any updates on that?

Thanks, Bello! Yeah I really love that coral and have been trying to figure out the name.

The 20 long is drilled and ready to go. I'm building the stand next week and should have it up and running in the next 2 weeks.

 

[tysmith]

I might have missed this in the thread somewhere but what do you plan on doing with the 20L? Is it gonna be connected to the biocube? Or it's own system?

 

[watchguy123]

I am so amazed How do you do it. Great color, great growth in a tiny tank. Really awesome. And your photos are really good. Kudos.

 

[Fail_sh3d]

I might have missed this in the thread somewhere but what do you plan on doing with the 20L? Is it gonna be connected to the biocube? Or it's own system?

Yeah, I have a 20L that is going to be a frag tank for when this stuff needs trimming. I hate having the rack in my biocube... It's shading stuff and kills my minimalist idea for the tank.

I am so amazed How do you do it. Great color, great growth in a tiny tank. Really awesome. And your photos are really good. Kudos.

Thanks, watchguy! I really appreciate it. It's been a long and frustrating road, but I wouldn't have learned if it hadn't been.

 

[tysmith]

Also if you look through my flikr and go down and check out the "additional information" tab hit more and it will show you the settings I used. That will give you a good starting point for beginning shooting in manual. Good luck. I know that it seems to be scary because it is unknown territory but it gives you the most control and will really help with your photography. When I first started shooting pictures of my tank my camera was always dark I think its because the camera is shooting at what it thinks will give you the best shot and some times its not the case especially with LEDs. They can be a little more tricky. And if you are shooting in AV boosting your ISO will only make your camera think it can shoot in a faster shutter not necessarily make your shots any brighter. And you dont want to start cranking up ISO because that can start messing with your image quality.

 

[tysmith]

Yeah, I have a 20L that is going to be a frag tank for when this stuff needs trimming. I hate having the rack in my biocube... It's shading stuff and kills my minimalist idea for the tank.



But is the 20L going to be a whole new system or is it gonna be connected to the biocube?

 

[Fail_sh3d]

Yeah, I have a 20L that is going to be a frag tank for when this stuff needs trimming. I hate having the rack in my biocube... It's shading stuff and kills my minimalist idea for the tank.



But is the 20L going to be a whole new system or is it gonna be connected to the biocube?

The frag tank will be a separate system on its own. I have already drilled, got the lighting, have the skimmer, built the sump, etc. Just need to build that stand and I'm good.

Also if you look through my flikr and go down and check out the "additional information" tab hit more and it will show you the settings I used. That will give you a good starting point for beginning shooting in manual. Good luck. I know that it seems to be scary because it is unknown territory but it gives you the most control and will really help with your photography. When I first started shooting pictures of my tank my camera was always dark I think its because the camera is shooting at what it thinks will give you the best shot and some times its not the case especially with LEDs. They can be a little more tricky. And if you are shooting in AV boosting your ISO will only make your camera think it can shoot in a faster shutter not necessarily make your shots any brighter. And you dont want to start cranking up ISO because that can start messing with your image quality.

And I will check that out. Thank you, buddy!

 

[glaukos]

I wish i was closer and take advantage of the frag tank failshed buddy!
I'm sure it will be great,can't wait seeing it up and running