Mike's 300 Double-D

[prop-frags]

Thought we'd share some recent macro shots:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6274946717/" title="nt 1673 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6274946717_afe6137362_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1673"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6274949123/" title="nt 1675 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6096/6274949123_6ce618f2ec_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1675"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6275476710/" title="nt 1677 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6097/6275476710_c856a13d61_z.jpg" width="640" height="434" alt="nt 1677"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6275480568/" title="nt 1680 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6106/6275480568_e843d144cc_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1680"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6275483442/" title="nt 1684 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/6275483442_6787e9248b_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1684"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6275467970/" title="nt 1669 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6275467970_11d59bf48b_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1669"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6303924119/" title="nt 1746 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6303924119_82c021d178_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1746"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6274961931/" title="nt 1687 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6274961931_2d08eabeed_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1687"></a>

 

[prop-frags]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6275486056/" title="nt 1686 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6275486056_5112f22c63_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1686"></a>

C. lineatus
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6337110200/" title="nt 1786 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6337110200_6a23e7daf1_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1786"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6336349813/" title="nt 1776 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/6336349813_db73ccaf5d_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1776"></a>

C. Rubrisquamis
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6336350273/" title="nt 1777 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/6336350273_5945e56e8d_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1777"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6336348745/" title="nt 1772 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/6336348745_d4702f6022_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1772"></a>

M. bipartitus male
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6337109620/" title="nt 1781 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/6337109620_4b8576abf2_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1781"></a>

M. bipartitus females
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6337106186/" title="nt 1773 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6337106186_4dbb7df579_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1773"></a>

 

[prop-frags]

G. bellus male
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6337105202/" title="nt 1771 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6097/6337105202_67ba8787c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1771"></a>

M. kuiteri female
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6337104744/" title="nt 1770 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6337104744_97ef58bae3_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1770"></a>

P. diacanthus
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6336347249/" title="nt 1769 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6336347249_315c5e677c_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1769"></a>

Z. desjardinii
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6284546279/" title="nt 1707 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6103/6284546279_5182f8287d_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1707"></a>

 

[Taqpol]

I can NOT get over how insanely crisp and vibrant your fish pictures are! Shooting a moving target is much harder then taking a beautiful macro of a coral. I imagine you're probably going to say you just practice a lot and a lot of pictures to get the one gem, but there has to be something else going on here.

I have some questions.

As far as the camera side goes, I assume you use the Auto focus mode that tracks whatever you're AF point is on and aim at the eyes. What kind of aperture and shutter settings are you using? Any amount of flash (Either camera based or external)? Do you always try and shoot perfectly parallel to the glass?

For post processing, do you take a much wider picture and then crop it down for dramatic effect (I imagine that would be easier)? Any other sorts of post processing? I am trying to figure out how you get the entire fish so perfectly and crisply in focus while still maintaining a high level of background blur.

 

[Mikesville510]

One of the best Z. desjardinii, I've seen!

 

[JACK733]

Nice Tank!!!

 

[prop-frags]

I can NOT get over how insanely crisp and vibrant your fish pictures are! Shooting a moving target is much harder then taking a beautiful macro of a coral. I imagine you're probably going to say you just practice a lot and a lot of pictures to get the one gem, but there has to be something else going on here.

I have some questions.

As far as the camera side goes, I assume you use the Auto focus mode that tracks whatever you're AF point is on and aim at the eyes. What kind of aperture and shutter settings are you using? Any amount of flash (Either camera based or external)? Do you always try and shoot perfectly parallel to the glass?

For post processing, do you take a much wider picture and then crop it down for dramatic effect (I imagine that would be easier)? Any other sorts of post processing? I am trying to figure out how you get the entire fish so perfectly and crisply in focus while still maintaining a high level of background blur.

Hi Alex, this is Terry... I shot the latest pictures using our Tamron macro lens.

I shoot in RAW and in general, here are the settings I used for those particular fish pics:
Manual Focus
No Flash
F Stop: F/3.5 - F/4.0
Shutter Speed: 100-250
ISO: 200-400

As for post processing, I do sometimes have to make adjustments to exposure depending if pic was over/under exposed. I do not usually crop the pics. The blur you see is due to the short depth of field on the macro lens and the fact that I am panning with a moving target as our fish are quite active, LOL. I normally try to stay perpendicular to the glass to avoid distortion.

You can click on any of the pics to go to Flickr and you will see a link to the right of the picture for the Nikon D300s camera settings I used for that particular shot. I really am not an expert, I just experiment with the camera a LOT and YES there are many occasions where I do snap quite a number of pics to find the "perfect" one to post to Flickr. Hope this helps!

One of the best Z. desjardinii, I've seen!

Thank you Mikesville510! He was a rescue (free to good home) and has been in our care for about 8 years now. We are fortunate to have him as he is quite an amazing specimen and has a wonderful temperament.

Nice Tank!!!

Thank you Jack733!

 

[prop-frags]

...I normally try to stay perpendicular to the glass to avoid distortion.

Ooops.. We should have proof-read before submitting - that should have been parallel, LOL. :lolspin:

 

[Taqpol]

Ooops.. We should have proof-read before submitting - that should have been parallel, LOL. :lolspin:

The lens was perpendicular, so its all good. I can't believe you shoot the moving targets with manual focus, that is just incredible! It definitely gives me some ideas for my own shots.

 

[prop-frags]

Our new babes while they were in QT:

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jwNwtdH6RG4?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here are some pics of the male after we released them from the acclimation box tonight:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6349402572/" title="nt 1818 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6349402572_caae9a4fb0_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1818"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6348653175/" title="nt 1819 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/6348653175_7953607d55_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1819"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6349404476/" title="nt 1820 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6060/6349404476_26247bd9f9_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1820"></a>

 

[aquaph8]

Cool video. How are the rhomboids?

 

[prop-frags]

Brett, the Rhomboids are doing great. We kept them in the QT with the flashers (not what we'd normally do), but so glad we did. It was obvious when the Bellae's arrived that Kevin from PIA had given them a lot of extra TLC and they were quite plump and healthy.

Putting them in with the Fairy's made the transition so much easier. By day 2, the flashers were swimming around the Tom's gravel cleaner we use to siphon out the QT like it was nothing unusual. It took the Rhomboids 2 weeks to calm down enough (especially the male) to go hide in the pvc pipe, LOL.

We will definitely post some pics of them soon.

 

[pookstreet]

Beautiful fish and pix :thumbsup:

 

[Akrite]

Brett, the Rhomboids are doing great. We kept them in the QT with the flashers (not what we'd normally do), but so glad we did. It was obvious when the Bellae's arrived that Kevin from PIA had given them a lot of extra TLC and they were quite plump and healthy.

Putting them in with the Fairy's made the transition so much easier. By day 2, the flashers were swimming around the Tom's gravel cleaner we use to siphon out the QT like it was nothing unusual. It took the Rhomboids 2 weeks to calm down enough (especially the male) to go hide in the pvc pipe, LOL.

We will definitely post some pics of them soon.

How long do you keep your fish in QT and do you treat them for anything or just observe them?

 

[110galreef]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryl93/6275486056/" title="nt 1686 by terryl93, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6275486056_5112f22c63_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="nt 1686"></a>

Do you know what this is? I believe I have the same coral. I got it in kind of bad shape and is now finally lookig healthy with polyps out.

Also my m. bipartius female I ordered a few weeks back showed her face after about 10 days of hiding. Been out swiming a lot since! :bounce3:

Such beauties. Would it be safe to add a male in a few weeks?

Thanks,

 

[Shtefan]

Your fish and photos are stunning!!!!!

 

[ange062]

This tank is downright awesome! The diversity of corals and fish and overall health of the system is outstanding. The photo/video work is amazing as well! Congrats!

 

[prop-frags]

How long do you keep your fish in QT and do you treat them for anything or just observe them?

We treat w/Prazipro as a preventative for flukes/worms. Otherwise, we just observe and treat as necessary. Time in QT really depends on where the fish came from. The Rhomboids, for example, came in with ich and we treated with hypo salinity. They were in our QT for approx 10 weeks.

Do you know what this is? I believe I have the same coral. I got it in kind of bad shape and is now finally lookig healthy with polyps out.

Also my m. bipartius female I ordered a few weeks back showed her face after about 10 days of hiding. Been out swiming a lot since! :bounce3:

Such beauties. Would it be safe to add a male in a few weeks?

Thanks,

We believe it is Stylocoeniella armata. Glad to hear your little lady is out and about. I have not seen males for sale, but honestly haven't really looked. As long as you use an acclimation box though you should be able to add one.

Our male was acquired as a young female and changed after being in our tank for about a year and a half. We added our little ladies about a year after he made the change. We used an acclimation box and had no issues at all.

Your fish and photos are stunning!!!!!

Thank you Shtefan for the compliments and for participating in our thread!

Beautiful fish and pix :thumbsup:

Thank you Kenny! As nice as the pics are, they do not do the male justice at all.

This tank is downright awesome! The diversity of corals and fish and overall health of the system is outstanding. The photo/video work is amazing as well! Congrats!

Thank you ange062! We appreciate the kind words and thanks for taking the time to post on our thread!

 

[aquaph8]

Happy Thanksgiving Mike and Terry, hope you two had a great day.

 

[prop-frags]

Appreciate that, Brett...Same to you and yours.
We have so many things to be thankful for...we hope all of our RC friends here in the States enjoyed the holiday.