20 Gallon Long Journal

[Fosty]

Tank Stats:
1x 55 watt CF 6700K and 1x 13 watt CF 6700K
DIY C02 System
Aquaclear 200 Filter
100watt Submersible Heater
Eco-Complete and Tahitian Moon Sand

Plants:
Ludwigia Repens
Ludwigia Inclinata Var. Verticillata (''Cuba'')
Hemianthus Micranthemoide
Limnophila Aquatica
Cryptocoryne Wendtii ''green''
Cryptocoryne Wendtii ''red''
Rotala Rotundifolia
Monosolenium Tenerum (''Pellia'')
Limnophila Aromatica "Red"
Eusteralis Stellata
Blyxa Japonica
Glossostigma Elatinoides
Elatine Triandra

Fish:
5 - Harlequin Rasbora
2 - Siamese Algae Eaters
1 - Male Apistogramma Cacatuoides "Sunburst"



Tank as of Early January, 2005

Tank as of March 20, 2005:

Light Setup (1 x 55 watt CF and 1 x 13 watt CF)

I have no skill at all with a digital camera. I don't even use my own camera, I borrowed my sisters Samsung Digimax V5 Digital Camera.

[Bayleo]

Try taking a shot after dark (no lights on in the room), with a fully lit tank and no camera flash.

[hoffboy]

And use a tripod or rest the camera on the back of a chair or something. Also, try positioning the camera dead center vertically and horizontally.

[Fosty]

Try taking a shot after dark (no lights on in the room), with a fully lit tank and no camera flash.

They acutally all had the lights in the room off and were taken after dark. They all also had the tank fully lit. The walls behind the tank were lit just from light escaping the canopy and sides of the tank. I think I had the flash on for one or two of the shots, but the rest were with no flash. Next time I think I will try to find a way to keep the wall from getting lit behind the tank.

And use a tripod or rest the camera on the back of a chair or something. Also, try positioning the camera dead center vertically and horizontally.

Hopefully I will be getting a digital camera of my own soon, and a tripod would be the first thing I get. I will try the back of a chair until then. Next time when I use a tripod/chair I will try to position the camera dead center, but when I tried this time they just vcame out too blury due to me kneeling on one knee trying to take the picture at an akward position.

Thanks for the advice Bayleo and hoffboy.

[Ibn]

Good handholding techniques and a higher shutter speed goes a long way also.

[Fosty]

I just got a Minolta DiMage Z20 5 megapixel camera and I'm going to try to do this right. It has an 8x optical zoom and a 6x digital zoom. So I'm all set for camera. Now I just need to get the hang of getting good pictures (and of course all the things that need to be done with my tank).

Tank as of April 25, 2005:

Does anyone know any good programs for photo-editing? And also, does anyone know any good sites to post photos online? I'm currently using photobucket.com, but I really don't like the way it works.

I'm always looking for suggestions for improving my aquascape (if you can call it that).

[hoffboy]

Wow, MUCH better!

And as far as photo editing goes, is there another program besides Photoshop?

[Marc]

Originally Posted by hoffboy

Wow, MUCH better!

And as far as photo editing goes, is there another program besides Photoshop?

I use MS paint for quick croping or reducing image size.

[GTApuffgal]

Nice new camera! How much fun!

And the tank looks terrific. You would never know it's a 20 - looks much bigger!

[Fosty]

And as far as photo editing goes, is there another program besides Photoshop?

Funny you should say that, because I don't have and have never had photoshop. All I have now is the "Microsoft Office Picture Manager" and "DiMage Viewer." The first is really basic, but is easy to use and great for basic crops and balancing the color tones a little. The DiMage viewer came with the camera and is really hard to use and it has some really advanced things to mess with the color, but it can't do simple things like crop pictures and resize them.

I use MS paint for quick croping or reducing image size.

I really like some things about paint, but I haven't been able to get paint to really handle large pictures well on my computer. Its great for messing with stuff though (see my avatar).

And the tank looks terrific. You would never know it's a 20 - looks much bigger!

If only if it was a bigger tank....

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where or how to add mini riccia to this aquascape? I have a lot growing, but it doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. I'm also getting a good sized Windelov Java Fern this week and hope to put it under the filter area so the flow won't mess with the stem plants as its been.

[GTApuffgal]

Originally Posted by Fosty

If only if it was a bigger tank....

I feel your pain, Fosty! (20H here...)

[Ibn]

Has filled in very nicely and the aquascape is great considering that it's a 20 gallon.

For editing, Photoshop is great, and if you're dealing with RAW, then Photoshop CS. Photoshop CS2 just came out recently and I heard that it was awesome.

Photobucket is a decent host as long as you stay within its boundaries. For posting, shrink the image for 800 at the long end and then do a "save for web" in Photoshop to bring it below 250k. Once you're there, just upload to photobucket (that way it doesn't resize your pictures).

[Stu]

Jasc Paint Shop Pro is a cheaper (and IMO easier to use) alternative to Photoshop, and can match almost all of it's abilities.

Probably the biggest difference is the amount of commercial plugins available for photoshop, as it's the "brand leader", but the majority of people will probably never use a plugin.

[Fosty]

Originally Posted by Stu

Jasc Paint Shop Pro is a cheaper (and IMO easier to use) alternative to Photoshop, and can match almost all of it's abilities.

Probably the biggest difference is the amount of commercial plugins available for photoshop, as it's the "brand leader", but the majority of people will probably never use a plugin.

I'm going to get the 60 day trial of it and I'll stick with it if I like it.

And a close up of Hemianthus Micranthemoide:

[Marc]

This last macro shot- just a comment- Move the camera back just a tiny bit. Its focused on the back leaves and not the front.