Shallow SPS Cube

[_Aaron_]

I thought I'd start a thread for my tank, it completed it's cycle at the end of April this year. It's still fairly young and I've had a few issues but I've got things back on track the last few months.

The Tank

Progress so far...

FTS 06/10/13


October FTS by --Aaron--, on Flickr


October FTS by --Aaron--, on Flickr

The tank measures 24(l)x24(w)x18(h) and is built by Windsor Aquatics, it is braceless and rimless, finished in black. It will has a left hand weir in black with a black background to match. The sump has 2 chambers which measures 21in(l)x18in(h)x17in(w). The display is 170L before displacement and the total system volume is around the 220L mark. The tank is controlled through my Profilux 3.1N.

Lighting

GHL Mitras 6200 HV

Light composer file is here. Last tweaked 28/8/2013

Filtration

I have used 17kg of Aquaroche to create my own structures.

The Skimmer is a Deltec SC1455, I use Ozone through this skimmer.

Livestock

Pink Skunk Clowns x 2 (Amphiprion perideraion)
Sunspot Goby(Amblyeleotris guttata)
Yasha Goby (Stonogobiops yasha)
Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartus)
Bicolour Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
Scooter Blenny (Synchiropus ocellatus)
Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)

SPS dominated reef with some LPS.

Equipment

GHL Profilux 3.1 N (Ph, Temp, Conductivity and Redox probes, level and leak sensors, Vortech module)
Deltec SC1455
Vortech MP10W ES x 2
Ocean Runner 2500
Devon Discus Ozone
GHL 3 channel doser (controlled through Profilux)
Reefloat 25 ATU (controlled through Profilux)
Aqua Medic 300w Titanium heater
Chippypah Reactor (used for PO4 media)

Water Parameters

Tropic Marin Bioactif Salt

Salinity - 1.0262
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
PO4 - 0.024
NO3 - 0.2 (Salifert)
Calcium - 420 (Salifert)
dKH - 8.3 (Salifert)
Magnesium - 1310 (Salifert)
02/09/2013

Husbandry

25L water change on a weekly basis.
200ml of ATI phosphate remover every 4 weeks.
200g of carbon every 4 weeks.


Build Progress Photos

April


May

May FTS by --Aaron--, on Flickr

June

June FTS by --Aaron--, on Flickr

August

Colours returning by --Aaron--, on Flickr

October

October FTS by --Aaron--, on Flickr

 

[_Aaron_]

Some photos of the inhabitants.


Angry Gramma by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Leopard Wrasse by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Skunk Clownfish by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Maxima by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Pom Pom Crab by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Female Yasha by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Sunspot Goby by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Acropora by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Acropora subulata by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Acro by --Aaron--, on Flickr

 

[zzl630]

Nice tank. Beautiful shots. What kind of lens are you using?

 

[MammothReefer]

great work, nice photos. That gramma looks mean ha.

 

[blackchicken]

Nice work here, do you have some photos of your maximas? Which lens do you use? 60/100?

 

[_Aaron_]

Nice tank. Beautiful shots. What kind of lens are you using?

Thanks, Sigma 105mm.

great work, nice photos. That gramma looks mean ha.

It doesn't take any crap lol.

Nice work here, do you have some photos of your maximas? Which lens do you use? 60/100?

Sure, I'm using a 105mm Sigma.

Some pics of my Clams, I'll do a top down tomorrow for a better view from above.


Squamosa by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Squamosa by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Maxima by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Maxima by --Aaron--, on Flickr

 

[wav0718]

what camera body are you using to take these amazing shots?

 

[_Aaron_]

I'm using a Nikon D600.

Some pics showing the colours on the clams.


Top Down October by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Top Down October by --Aaron--, on Flickr

 

[reefsahoy]

Forget the camera! Without a great subject you wouldnt have such a nice picture! NICE tank! Noticed you had a radion then the mitra. Why the switch? Thanks

 

[_Aaron_]

Thank you.

Basically GHL offered me a 6200HV just before they got released to the public to test and review. I was that impressed with it I got rid of the Radion Pro in the end. The spread from the unit is fantastic (first thing I noticed) and I felt it was the better option to use for my tank. Also the rest of the GHL stuff I'm using is rock solid and superbly built like the Mitras.

The Radion was still good though when I used it and my only gripe was ES live was a PITA. It kept altering my schedule each time i went in. However it was in beta at that point (not sure if it's still in beta now). I also had LED's remain on very slightly when the unit was off, I was informed this was a software issue, it may of been resolved by now.

 

[Frontosa99]

Congratulations!!!
Absolutly stunning tank and photos!

What camera gear do you use?

 

[_Aaron_]

Congratulations!!!
Absolutly stunning tank and photos!

What camera gear do you use?

Thanks, it's still pretty young (5 months). I'm looking forward to watching it all grow out over the next 12 months. I use a Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm and some shots I use a SB700 flash remotely.

A few more pics.


Montipora by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Acan by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Montipora by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Heliofungia by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Alveopora by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Alveopora by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Porcelain Crab by --Aaron--, on Flickr


Cleaner Shrimp by --Aaron--, on Flickr

 

[glaukos]

insanely beautifull pics aaron!!
Welldone!

 

[ksicard]

I've never seen better photo's of a reef, bravo.

 

[v1...rotate]

Great to see you posting your tank here Aaron!! I've been following your other thread in the photography section for some time.

The quality of your photos are simply outstanding!! Well done

Could you share some more info here or in your other thread on how you take such clear photos and techniques you use please.

Thanks
Andrew

 

[s2nhle]

Wow, awesome.

 

[s2nhle]

how much intensity you are using on your light?

 

[Haksar]

Nice tank and amazing pictures.

 

[jroovers]

Nice to see your tank over here on the SPS forum Aaron, fantastic photos, definitely the best I've seen on any forum. Cheers! :thumbsup:

 

[_Aaron_]

Shallow SPS Cube

insanely beautifull pics aaron!!
Welldone!

I've never seen better photo's of a reef, bravo.

Thank you both, much appreciated.

Great to see you posting your tank here Aaron!! I've been following your other thread in the photography section for some time.

The quality of your photos are simply outstanding!! Well done

Could you share some more info here or in your other thread on how you take such clear photos and techniques you use please.

Thanks
Andrew

Hi Andrew.

Thanks for checking out my thread and your kind comments. I've posted some info on the other thread. To be honest there's not any real secrets. Best advice I can give is find the highest ISO without compromising massive amounts of quality. This will give you more scope with the aperture and shutter speeds. Shoot in RAW, keep the lens straight at the glass to minimise any distortion. Fish - faster shutter and wider aperture. Corals - slower shutter and narrower aperture. I don't use a tripod personally and they're not much use for moving objects like fish but for static stuff it may give you an edge. For stuff further back you can push the lens against the glass to stabilise the camera.

Wow, awesome.

Thanks.

how much intensity you are using on your light?

Full blast on high output. I've recently added some corals quite high up so I'm running some cloud cover to stop them being fried. I'll reduce it over the coming weeks.

Nice tank and amazing pictures.

Thank you for looking.

Nice to see your tank over here on the SPS forum Aaron, fantastic photos, definitely the best I've seen on any forum. Cheers! :thumbsup:

Thanks Jordan. That's really kind, I think you definitely have talent from the images you post up.