My 8 Gallon Nano at 10 months

[fras]

This has now been taken down to upgrade to a 24g so I thought I may as well post it here. It was a fun tank to own while it lasted & I learned alot, but it eventually succumed to a flatworm infestation - mostly down to lazyness on my behalf I guess..

Spec:
Tank: Mirabello 30
Lights: 2x 24w 50/50 compact T5 (2x fans in the hood to cool)
Filtration: 4kg LR, Current USA fission skimmer
Flow: 2x minijet PH

Stock:
Bicolour blenny
Around 10 hermits, 3x astrea, 3x nassarius
I had a skunk cleaner for around a month but it unfortunately died (RIP shrimpy).
Various softy corals and a couple of LPS.

This is a FTS from around 1 month or so ago(before the flatworms got a hold):

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/13(2).JPG

Different angle:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/13.JPG

Next post will be corals.

[Daza]

Looking good mate!!

[fras]

Coral shots woohoo!

Bossiella SP, a kind of branching coralline algea:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/bossiella2.jpg

Green Candy Cane, this is looking much healthier in my new tank:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/candy2.jpg

Progression of a leather, not really sure on type can anyone help?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/leather11.jpg

Toadstool leather:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/leather7.JPG

[fras]

Couple more coral shots:

Yellow polyp:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/yellow2.JPG

Red Shroom:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/red-shroom.JPG

The evil that is FLATWORM!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/flat.JPG

Rear compartment with skimmer & 1 PH, another one goes to the left:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/placement.JPG

[fras]

Fishy!!

Spitting:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/lennyspit1.jpg

Peaking:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/lenny2.JPG

Profile shot:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/lenny10.jpg

So sweet until he became a CORAL MUNCHER!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/poorlytoad.JPG

[fras]

Last post I promise :D

Couple more fish action shots:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/lenny12.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/tank/lennygreen.JPG

[clippo]

nice tank that mate - great shots too.

[pipatic]

very nice, got pic of the upgraded tank ?

[fras]

very nice, got pic of the upgraded tank ?

Not a proper one yet, this is an end shot taken last week before I aquascaped, the tank has a 30x12 footprint:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fraser23/24g/12.04.06.JPG

I may start another thread for the updated tank, thanks everyone for the kind words :)

[dark_stranger]

Where did you get the fussion skimmer from? was it any good as I cant seem to find a uk based seller? also what did you do with the back compartment? Im asking as I am currentyl setting up one & want to set up a back comaprtment to hind the gubbings.

[fras]

I got the skimmer imported from America, pm me if you want the dealer. The skimmer itself costs less than £18 so you wont get stung for import tax. I've just sold mine as I'm using a deltec mce on my new tank, overall i'd say it was ok for the money, without the rear section there would have been microbubbles & it never skimmed a dry froth (my deltec hasn't yet either), but it regularly skimmed a yellow/brown liquid.

I still have the background, it's a bit grubby and held together with zip ties, I wouldn't feel right selling it really. I'm sure you could make a much nicer looking unit with some acrylic.

[Pete_H]

Hey Fras - awesome tank, awesome photos. What camera & lens do you use? I realise that most of the quality of the pics comes from the talent of the photographer, but I'd like to get some kit that in theory would allow me to take something like that, one day anyway!

Cheers,

Pete

[fras]

Thanks, photography is my other main hobby although there are lots of people much better than me on this forum (check out the photography section).
I use a Canon 350D camera with a mixture of lenses, 18-55 kit, 90mm tamron, 70-200 Canon, 50mm Canon. None are perfect for the job, I think I'd get the Canon 60mm Macro if I had the spends.

[Pete_H]

Would you recommend the 350D? I've been looking on e-bay for 20Ds and 30Ds, but am not sure they are worth the extra. I'm using a Pentax istD (who thinks of these names) from work at the mo, but will have to give it back in a few weeks. Canon seem to be the folks with the lens for macro work though. I had a squint through a MP-E 65mm 1x-5x macro lens in Jessops the other day. Sadly I can't see me being able to afford the lens in the near future, and would probably be really difficult to use anyway. Looks like fun if you know what you are doing though!

[zpyder]

This may be a bit of a simple/noob question, but is there any logic behind the numbers in SLR names? Is it like Gfx cards where there's no real logic and they just make bigger numbers = better, or is the 350D got something that is 350 wide/pixels etc? Just curious!

[gregcope]

No its a cannon model number.

Usually with cannon SLR's the lower the model number the better - anything below a 20D is very expensive and used by pro's.

[fras]

True greg although the more budget slr's go the other way, as in the 30D better than 20D, 350D better than 300D etc.

Pete if you're after a Canon (the pentax, nikons etc are all good alternatives) I'd recommend you look at the new 400D (350D successor). It has more MP (always nice) and a better focus system amongst other things. It's cheap too so it might leave you some extra money for that all important glass!

The MPE's are v impressive, even quite elite! I'm surprised your camera store had one in stock to play with, I'm pretty sure a standard 1:1 macro would be enough for most aquarium shots though.

[Pete_H]

Thanks for the advice Fras. I was surprised with the MP-E too! It was £80 cheaper than the shop round the corner that would get it in for me, but £720 is still too much! How do you mount your camera? Do you use focusing rails? Or a just a tripod?

Cheers,

Pete