*d2mini's 200g Reeftastic Reef - Part Deux!*

[FrankAbagnale]

Cool blog! I have it bookmarked!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Here's a few new random pics. A little less carnage in these.
If anyone can I.D. the last one, let me know!
It's something I had in the old setup but with the mini crash last year and the stress of the rebuild, some coral didn't fare so well and have been coloring back up over the past few months.
This is one of them and I'm at a loss as to what it is/was.

AND.... I started a blog!!! :wink:
http://www.everydayreef.com
I'm going to give it a go for awhile and see what happens.
Just started so the look will probably change but this should give you a taste of what's to come. It won't be a rehash of everything you see here. But some of the important bits from here and also some unique stuff. The goal is for it to become a more concise collection of helpful tips for both reefing and reef photography. A lot of that gets lost here with all the back and forth banter and minor things posted.

How about starting with adding your R2R build thread link above the RC one?

 

[d2mini]

Very cool blog! I really enjoyed the writeup on the sea swirls. I am strongly considering getting one when I replumb my return plumbing when I get the new return pump. I look forward to reading the blog!

Thanks!

Holy smokes I didn't think rock nems had that kind of power. Wow sorry for the loss. Great pics though! :/

Ya, either did I!

Cool blog! I have it bookmarked!

Thanks!

How about starting with adding your R2R build thread link above the RC one?

haha, ok will do!

I started the RC thread over 3 years ago so it has the entire build... which is why i tend to reference that one.



http://www.everydayreef.com

 

[Ginu]

Thanks!


Ya, either did I!


Thanks!



haha, ok will do!

I started the RC thread over 3 years ago so it has the entire build... which is why i tend to reference that one.



Every Day Reef & Photo

Love your blog and bookmarked. I'm still learning how to take photos and you are right, it doesnt matter what camera and lens are used if the technique is not right.
I started using Lightroom and RAW and its a huge difference, just takes time... now the only problem I'm having is getting the right focus shot... very annoying eventhough I use a D7000 with a 90mm macro lens.

 

[VJV]

Hi. Just to say that I just caught up with this thread and your tank is the most amazing one I have seen!! It is not only beautiful, on the inside, but to my eyes it is one of the best "decor" friendly solutions I have seen. Very nice cabinet and very well integrated with the cabinet and room. Even my wife said she liked it, which is a first [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]. Congratulations! Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your experiences. I know where I am going to get inspiration when I finally decide to build a fish room.

 

[d2mini]

Love your blog and bookmarked. I'm still learning how to take photos and you are right, it doesnt matter what camera and lens are used if the technique is not right.
I started using Lightroom and RAW and its a huge difference, just takes time... now the only problem I'm having is getting the right focus shot... very annoying eventhough I use a D7000 with a 90mm macro lens.

Cool, thanks!
Are you having trouble getting things in focus in general, or getting the focal point where you want it?

Hi. Just to say that I just caught up with this thread and your tank is the most amazing one I have seen!! It is not only beautiful, on the inside, but to my eyes it is one of the best "decor" friendly solutions I have seen. Very nice cabinet and very well integrated with the cabinet and room. Even my wife said she liked it, which is a first [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]. Congratulations! Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your experiences. I know where I am going to get inspiration when I finally decide to build a fish room.

Thanks! I appreciate that. It was very important to us to get the tank to look like it really belonged there. As if the architecture of the room was designed to have the tank in it from the start.

 

[d2mini]

Hope ya'll enjoyed your Mother's Day!


I got a few frags from Unique Corals this past week. Was a busy weekend so I still need to take some pics.


Meanwhile, there is a new post on my blog.
My thoughts on testing my reef and trying not to chase numbers.
Every Day ReefEvery Day Reef & Photo

 

[Dextereef]

Dennis,

Ive went through the thread and cannot find the calcium reactor you are using. Would you mind sharing?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[d2mini]

Dennis,

Ive went through the thread and cannot find the calcium reactor you are using. Would you mind sharing?

Thanks,
Chris

It's a LifeReef.
CO2 is being controlled with the Aquarium Plants Carbon Doser and I now have a Cole-Parmer pulling the water through it.
Pics are spread around earlier in this thread.

Every Day ReefEvery Day Reef & Photo

 

[thejuggernaut]

Love your blog and bookmarked. I'm still learning how to take photos and you are right, it doesnt matter what camera and lens are used if the technique is not right.
I started using Lightroom and RAW and its a huge difference, just takes time... now the only problem I'm having is getting the right focus shot... very annoying eventhough I use a D7000 with a 90mm macro lens.

Yea, macro lenses are super cool, but sometimes they can have a really shallow DOF, especially when shooting wide open. If you have your camera set in auto aperture and shutter, it will usually open it up all the way to keep shutter speeds up. I would try putting it in aperture priority, and stepping it down a few (F5.6). Try to get atleast 1/30, although 1/60 would be better, especially when hand holding. Set your ISO to either auto, or play around, raising it till you are getting your minimum shutter speeds. That way you will get a little bit long DOF and should get more "keepers".

 

[d2mini]

Yea, macro lenses are super cool, but sometimes they can have a really shallow DOF, especially when shooting wide open. If you have your camera set in auto aperture and shutter, it will usually open it up all the way to keep shutter speeds up. I would try putting it in aperture priority, and stepping it down a few (F5.6). Try to get atleast 1/30, although 1/60 would be better, especially when hand holding. Set your ISO to either auto, or play around, raising it till you are getting your minimum shutter speeds. That way you will get a little bit long DOF and should get more "keepers".

This is why I only shoot in manual mode.
Set it to the aperture you want, a decent shutter speed like you said, and if you still need more light, jack up the ISO.
Cameras are getting better and better at higher ISO reducing the amount of noise. I usually shoot at around 800-1600 ISO depending on the situation.
I usually have my aperture fairly open, around f/5




Every Day ReefEvery Day Reef & Photo

 

[gettaReef]

Really enjoyed your article regarding water parameters. Do/have you ever tested or followed less popular parameters such as potassium, strontium, iron, iodine, etc...? If so, what are your thoughts about their importance, dosing methods, and tests to use? Just curious I guess

 

[d2mini]

Really enjoyed your article regarding water parameters. Do/have you ever tested or followed less popular parameters such as potassium, strontium, iron, iodine, etc...? If so, what are your thoughts about their importance, dosing methods, and tests to use? Just curious I guess

Thank you... And good question!

I do have test kits for these. But just personally, I have a couple issues about testing for these elements.
1) I find the tests themselves to be difficult, to a point where I do trust the outcome. So i really wouldn't want to dose if i'm not positive how much to dose.
2) If I do trust the outcome, this is now something else I need to test for on a regular basis and then figure out a way to dose for anything that needs it. I just don't have the time to spend on this.
3) My tank does just fine without testing/dosing these elements, probably because they are maintained enough through water changes. At optimum levels? Maybe not. But that's ok for me.

Like my blog talks about, I strive to find that happy medium where i can have a successful tank while fitting it in to a busy life. It is a hobby after all and I try to remember that. Not always successfully, but I try.
Testing for these elements has not proven to be a priority for me and something I can get away without worrying about.
I wouldn't mind doing a Triton Test at some point just out of curiosity. And I would trust that a lot more than the hobby test kits.




Every Day ReefEvery Day Reef & Photo

 

[thejuggernaut]

This is why I only shoot in manual mode.
Set it to the aperture you want, a decent shutter speed like you said, and if you still need more light, jack up the ISO.
Cameras are getting better and better at higher ISO reducing the amount of noise. I usually shoot at around 800-1600 ISO depending on the situation.
I usually have my aperture fairly open, around f/5




Every Day ReefEvery Day Reef & Photo

That's another positive for shooting raw. If you are in full manual and you miss your exposure by a few stops, you can usually bring it back in post processing without loosing much detail, or adding much noise. JPEG, not so much.

 

[d2mini]

New Pics!

www.everydayreef.com

 

[d2mini]

I did a quick video tour of the fish room.
Figured it might be a little easier to see/understand than the random photos I've posted.
Check it out and let me know if you have any questions.
I ran through it kinda quick.

 

[143MPCo]

Dennis,
Thanks for taking the time to make, edit, and post the videos, I do have one question if I may... What type of GAC are you using and how much for your current volume of water?

BTW, I liked the old look of the system better but understand the need to improve it.
Thanks Again!
A--

 

[d2mini]

Dennis,
Thanks for taking the time to make, edit, and post the videos, I do have one question if I may... What type of GAC are you using and how much for your current volume of water?

BTW, I liked the old look of the system better but understand the need to improve it.
Thanks Again!
A--

haha, ya well... looks don't really come into play. This setup is better functionally in pretty much every way.
I'm using Rox carbon from BRS in the canister. Not sure exactly how much... somewhere around 1 cup.
And I end up leaving it in there way too long. Should change it out every 2-3 weeks but it goes for more like 4-6.

Thanks!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Your tank is stunning!!

 

[d2mini]

Your tank is stunning!!

Thanks, Krista!