Tangency's 90 Gallon

Wow! It's only been maybe 6 at most since I saw your tank in person and it's like a totally different tank! It's matured so much! Looks great!
 
6 months of growth.

August 2011

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February 2012

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Thank you for the compliments AVDweeb, Smitty and Mark. That means a lot to me.

randalls goby: 50mm, extension tube
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wheeler's goby: 50mm, extension tube, off camera flash fired left, focus stacked
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asterina starfish: 50mm, extension tube, off camera flash fired left
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asterina starfish crop: 50mm, extension tube, off camera flash fired left
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green ricordea: 50mm, extension tube, off camera flash fired above
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green ricordea 2: 50mm, extension tube, off camera flash fired above left
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Again great pictures.What brand of extension tubes are you using,Kenko maybe? I am looking into purchasing macro lenses or tubes ,can't decide.
 
MMreefcrazy said:
Again great pictures.What brand of extension tubes are you using,Kenko maybe? I am looking into purchasing macro lenses or tubes ,can't decide.
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Thank you.

I did pick up kenko extension tubes. I found them on Ebay for a great deal. I would try to do the same and save yourself at least a hundred bucks. Kenko is nice because you can stack the 3 rings for different magnification amounts. The build quality is okay, not great. I have found them to work best at 35-50mm. Macro tubes give you added magnification 4:1 but limit your working distance and because of that they are tough to work with. For example... if I have a 50mm mounted on the 3 tubes and my lens is pressed against the glass, I can take a picture of anything 2" or less away from my lens. In short, they cut my working distance of a 50mm lens down from 1.5 feet to about 2 inches. Extension tubes be used with any of your lenses (better on non telephoto lenses) or with a macro. I think that the combination of larger working distance macro and tubes is where your could really get some fantastic detail. All in all... I am happy with them.

I have been looking at macro lenses also. I decided a 60mm macro is just too short of a working distance if you want to shoot fish. So, I have been debating between the Tamron 90mm (affordable and extremely sharp) and the Nikon 105mm (internal focus, vibration reduction, faster focusing). I have heard good things about Sigma 105, and the Nikon 200mm is wonderful glass but out of my price range. Ultimately, the Nikon 105 VR won out for me. If you want to try macro on a budget, you can purchase a reverse ring for a 35/50 prime lens for about 12$. The reversal ring will allow you to take some fantastic macro shots with out the lens. But, your working distance is cut down even more and controlling aperture is more difficult.

slumpysix said:
I don't know which is cooler, the starfish or the ric! Very nice setup....
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Thank you. I liked the ric too!

bennyblanco said:
Very nice Jeff! I love the macro shots!
Brett
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Thank you.
 
1 year anniversary! The last year has been stressful, fun, and rewarding. I have both read a ton and learned a lot, only to realize how little I know. All in all, I am really happy with the progress.

I have recently moved some things around and gave a few pieces/frags away. I will be really happy when the two staghorns (from Brett and Mark) that are currently located in the back of the red montipora can be seen in the FTS photos (they're so close!).

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and the latest addition a zoanthid rock.

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thanks for looking.
 
Hey i will be setting up my 90 gal soon. Can you throw out a list or your equipment? i love your tank!!!!!! I can only hope mine looks like yours!!!
 
I just went through your thread / build and find it amazing at the tank, corals, fish and photos are flawless! You're an asset to this Chicago Reefs :perfect10:
 
Just a small update. Corals seem to be doing well and growing steadily. I have been dosing manually for a few months and am ready to invest in a dosing pump to automate the daily additions. I am hoping that the equipment addition will accomplish two things: even more stable water parameters for increased growth and less time testing and tinkering with the aquarium. I am noticing both the astrea starfish and aptasia population rising. Neither of which is causing problems yet but I am unsure how I plan on combating either issue long term. The current plan consists of physical removal of the starfish and frequent kalk paste treatments on the anemones. I am aware of other chemical treatments and natural predators but I need to do more research first.

Anyway... I spent some time with the camera this weekend. Here are a few pictures:

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I finally added a Bubble Magus dosing pump to automate supplementing alkalinity & calcium. So far, I am really happy with the pump. The unit is not too noisy (about the same as a skimmer for just a few seconds), really easy to setup and modify, I no longer have to manually dose, and most importantly my parameters have remained stable.

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June Full Tank Shot:
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If anyone would like some GSP, Blue Mushrooms, Xenia, Palys, or Monti Cap for their tank... just let me know.
 
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