ALRHA's Reef

[alrha]

Red-Sea Sailfin Tang

<img src="http://www.manhattanreefs.com/gallery/files/3/1/4/Sailfin.jpg" alt="Red-Sea Sailfin Tang" />

 

[jenniebutterfly]

very nice love the caps.

 

[Josh]

You have two longnose hawkfish and they swim together like that? That is really cool!

 

[mshur]

albert,
good job,,keep up with good work!!!!!
btw, hows aq-jr. working for u?

mike

 

[bad coffee]

Looks good. Let me know when you're fragging that pipe organ!

B

 

[alrha]

You have two longnose hawkfish and they swim together like that? That is really cool!

it is one and his reflection.

 

[alrha]

Looks good. Let me know when you're fragging that pipe organ!

B

I wouldnt be comfortable fragging it, but it looks like my blue tuxedo urchin fragged it for me, look at his back!

 

[ctxmonitor]

Really nice tank!! You monti cap is pretty large.. Nice collection of corals. I bet those pic don't do them justice.. You really need a to spend some money on a better camera rather than on corals

 

[alrha]

You really need a to spend some money on a better camera rather than on corals

I'm using the SONY DSC-T7 (i.e. not a cheap camera) it's $500.
What i could do is read the instructions. So far i've only taken pics on Auto mode.

 

[stingnyc]

try your camera on macro setting and use a tripod. that should make a noticable difference.

 

[alrha]

i used a tripod. gotta look into the macro setting.

 

[jhale]

awesome looking tank.
what is that large colony on the right hand side? it's kind of burgundy colored.

without a skimmer I'm curious how your nitrate levels are?
is there a reason you don't use a skimmer?

J

 

[jackson6745]

Albert you need set the white balance on the camera so everything doesn't come out so yellow.

How do you like the DE 400's? That tank must be blinding in person!

 

[alrha]

what is that large colony on the right hand side? it's kind of burgundy colored.

a "Cat's Paw" coral. it is HUGE. might actually be looking to sell it soon (too big for my tank)..

 

[alrha]

without a skimmer I'm curious how your nitrate levels are?
is there a reason you don't use a skimmer?

undetectable with Salifert's kit (using the 0-10ppm test). sometimes i may get a reading of 1ppm. the most i ever saw it at was 5ppm once.

dont use a skimmer b/c my system does not seem to need it. it run perfectly without it. my rock/sand/macroalgae/scavangers/critters/corals/etc seem to be able to handle all the nutrients in the tank. if i dont need it, why pay/hassle with one. I first tried it out on my old system when i added a refugium and took off my skimmer to clean it. i got lazy putting it back on and discovered that even though it was off for a month, the macro algae grew like mad and everything else remained fine (corals actually seemed nicer). did some research online and found that there is actually a strong following of skimmerless systems. it also leaves all the beneficial plankton in the water for the corals, and there is less/no need to feed the corals. It worked on my old system so i figured might as well try it out on my new system (could always add a skimmer if I needed to). Seems to be working nicely and i am very happy with it - the more natural the better IMO.
p.s. i change about 5gal every 2 weeks on Avg (~5%/month)

 

[Sean]

Alrha

I tried to fix your picture up by altering the color balance for you let me know what you think.

 

[alrha]

Albert you need set the white balance on the camera so everything doesn't come out so yellow.

will have to figure that out - shouldnt be so yellow.

 

[alrha]

How do you like the DE 400's? That tank must be blinding in person!

Love 'Em. Not BLINDING, but real nice.

 

[alrha]

Alrha
I tried to fix your picture up by altering the color balance for you let me know what you think.

Thnx Sean. how'd u do that? photoshop? i tried the "Automatically Adjust Levels" but it didnt help. i'm not fancy enough (yet) to do it manually.

 

[Sean]

yeah photo shop used the color balance
do you have photoshop?