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NightOwl

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    An Amateur Progress in Reef Tank Photography

    in Marine Photography

    Hi Lynn,

       I recently started shooting with a sony set up.  Can you share your settings on ISO, Mode (A, Auto,etc) , and any more information on the set-up you are using?  Off camera flash or anything like that.  I switched from a canon set-up where I knew all my settings but now I am trying to force myself to use my Sony set-up.

    Custom PVC Sumps..

    in General Discussion

    3 hours ago, epleeds said:

    He shut down. Had a lot of customer service issues.  

     

    Thanks Eric!  Good catching up with you.

     

    2 hours ago, wildcrazyjoker81 said:

    Yep definitely long gone. I am lucky to have one of his old sumps in storage for a possible future use. They seem to be very well built. Not sure if anyone local is making PVC sumps sadly.7901e7e65c8bc6e23c270f261071a0df.jpgb7419b431377bf15683efbb972addbd7.jpg

    Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
     

    wildcrazyjoker81  -  I have 3 of his products currently on my tank.  A lovely sump and two ATO containers.  Loved the work and they are built like tanks!  I was trying to find out for a buddy of mine who is about to jump back in the hobby and needed a quality sump. Was trying to support local.

    35mm Macro?

    in Marine Photography

    A couple of things to do when trying to take a good top down.  Cut off all pumps and let the tank settle. This will in most cases let your corals relax and get better polyp extension.  Depending on your light set up move the lights or adjust your angle to limit the light going inside the top down box.  I find I can get some of my best shots shooting directly above the coral but it may be an issue if you can't move your lights.  Good luck...and also unlike the good old days where each photo costs you can take as many pictures as you want in digital.  For example the picture below took me 10 shots until I found one I liked and this is still not a great photo.

     

    48254087002_affe6995f8_z.jpgIMG_6683 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

    35mm Macro?

    in Marine Photography

    3 hours ago, A.ocellaris said:

     

    I got the Avast since it was a gift certificate. I have been using it for months and the problem I have is that light reflects inside the tube and the image looks bad :/ 

     

    is this why you dont recommend  it?

     

     I think you may have quoted me instead of darkseeker but post your picture so we can see what the possible issue may be.

    35mm Macro?

    in Marine Photography

    Another vote for 100mm.  Make sure you get a tripod and turn off all pumps when you take your pictures and let the tank settle a bit.  The crop sensor actually helps you out since a 100mm becomes bigger with the crop.

    Any reefers near Capitol Heights MD?

    in General Discussion

    NIGHT OWL i am 5mins from capitol heights so if you need a hand lmk cuz i will once i get a tank. DC (metro) area folks gotta stick together.

     

    jamal - Thanks for the offer.  Let me know what you decide to get...I think I remember your name from back in the day as being one of the DC reefers.  I don't mind lending a hand.

     

    Ummm, new build alert? When are you going to throw that together so we can all drool? 

     

     

    YHSublime - I spend the majority of my time over at RC and have a thread there.  I tried the having threads on multiple sites and it was a pain :(.  If you search in the large tank forum look for Finally My Custom Miracle Build with Fish Room.  I use the same name on the board as well.  Its slowing coming along.

    Any reefers near Capitol Heights MD?

    in General Discussion

    That looks sweet Henry! That stand is a monster. The overflow on the end is really clean as well. If you paint the other side and back black it will disappear completely. 

    Mike that stand is heavy duty.  Top is made from 2 x 4 steel the rest is 2 x 2. It's overbuilt for sure but I did not want to take any chances.  The guys over at Capitol Heights Iron Works did a great job.  Check them out if you need a custom stand!  That's actually the back side of the tank in the picture.  It's in the fish room.  The front will be framed like a picture.  So you will be able to look through the front and see into the fish room.  Three sides starfire glass so no painting it.  More sides to keep clean but this was my dream tank.

    Any reefers near Capitol Heights MD?

    in General Discussion

    I may need some extra hands to move a new tank next Saturday (June 17th) around 8:00 AM.  I know it's Father's Day weekend so trying to get the tank moved in the house early and letting people get back to their families.  If there are any reefers near Capitol Heights  or volunteers that may be able to help please send me a PM.   Some details about the move and what needs to be done. 

     

    Will need to offload from a UHaul truck (Tank is going to be kinda heavy -  82" x 40"  x 26")

    Will have to be moved through an basement egress window around the back of the house.  When we moved he stand in i built a ramp so this will help not having to hold the weight of the tank the whole time.

    Will need to be lifted up onto a 40" stand in the fish room.

     

    Thanks

    Local sump builders

    in General Discussion

    Brendan (Pure Reef Systems) has been building acrylic sumps for me for going on 10 years now. Never had any issues with them, and the oldest one is still in service.

    Yea I reached out to them yesterday.  They have some pretty cool looking stuff.  Looks almost like the old AquaBox sumps.

    Anyone using Neptune WAV pumps?

    in General Discussion

    That's what I'm talking about. How big is the new tank?

     

    New tank will be roughly around 315 -320 gallons.  I have had some delays in getting everything squared away on my design.  Should be around 80 x 40 x 26 peninsula style tank.  Eight inches of that will be the overflow area with a viewable area of 72 x 40 x 26. Three sided Starfire glass and viewable from a hole in the wall like my last tank.  I am still finishing up the viewing/walk-up bar area.  Then I can get back to my fishroom work.

     

    To be fair, the pumps are okay not bad. But the problem is the poor customer service given the size and reputation of the company.

     

    To add to my review as a follow up...the WAV pump that was repaired and shipped back to me worked on and off (even after repair!)...it took me quite some time to figure out the problem was with the impeller not the pump itself...sadly, their QC team couldnt figure it out! When I wrote to them that the impeller had issues moving...they sent me a new one (this was the first positive response from them BTW). Since then that pump never gave up...its been more than a month that I had any issues with that particular pump and the other pump never had any issues till date. Overall, the pumps are well built...lot of wave options to chose from...less wire clutter (one wire per pump - connects directly to the EB832 bar).

    I think their customer service has always sucked :(.  They rely heavily on the forums for support which is good and bad.  I looked back through some old emails and saw an interaction I had with them on an Apex head unit and it brought up pain and frustration...lol.  Like it was said before Tunze and EcoTech have some of the best customer service in the business.

    Anyone using Neptune WAV pumps?

    in General Discussion

    I'm being offered a pair for free after 6 months use. Customer not at all satisfied with them.

     

    That says a lot.  I  am glad I asked here first.  Thakki was the second person that mentioned the customer service and its a headache when you spend that much.  At this rate they won't be making pumps long. 

     

    heard that people have had reliability issues with them...i have a neptune controller...but have never liked neptune service

     

    i have couple MP40's WES, that i maybe putting up for grabs..ecotech has the best support ever on anything

     

    i just got the gyre xf250, holy &%$# it moves stuff and very quiet...never experienced support with maxspect...so no comment yet

     

    I have had Ecotech in the past I love their customer service too but I actually gave away a MP10 back when they were the released because it was too noisy.  My  gripe with them it is cost too much to make that much noise.  I think I am going to stick with old reliable Tunze and call it day.

     

    I just hope Neptune focuses on their controllers.  I like them for that.

    Anyone using Neptune WAV pumps?

    in General Discussion

    Hey just wondering if anyone is currently using these pumps and if so how have they been?  I am looking at getting some new pumps for my new tank that will replace my Tunze 6105 and wanted to know if these are quiet and provide good flow.  Looking for people with the actual pumps and some honest feedback on them.

     

    Thanks in advance

    Two part steel stands with levelers

    in General Discussion

    · Edited by NightOwl

    I have to check my email. There is a iron works place in Md. They are very reasonable. BTW do you have a drawing of what you want fabricated ?

    DCReefer1964,

            Thanks for the info!  I have a general idea but wanted to get some idea of cost.  I am not sure I want to go wood or steel.  Did they do work for you in the past?  Just checked and its like 10 mins from my house...niiiiice.

    Places in MD for quality frags and fish

    in General Discussion

    cpu933k - thanks for putting the distance into perspective.  I have only been to QR a few times but the guys there are pretty good.  Tropical Lagoon is think is on Georgia Ave and is the place where I found the the guy who sold me my first saltwater tank (2004).  Its been all downhill...since then...lol.

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