148.6L (39.2 gallon) aquarium journal

[elephantnose3334]

Today's Canon photo session. Getting better at taking good pictures of my silvertips. Earlier today, I fertilised some Flourish in the tank, before I will do a water change tomorrow. And yes, I took a pic of one of the silvertips eating a flake.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Day 112. Might not do a water change today because my parents might get home late. Aside from this, here's a photo of the tank at its current state I took today:

 

[Fishkeeper123]

Your tank is beautiful and incredible photos. It really showcases the silver tips. Is this going to be a species only tank or do you plan on adding any other fish?

 

[elephantnose3334]

Your tank is beautiful and incredible photos. It really showcases the silver tips. Is this going to be a species only tank or do you plan on adding any other fish?

The tank is species-only, and for a good reason. They are known to nip the fins of other fish (not as aggressive as serpaes, but still), and they might not be suited for an average community tank for that reason. Except for hitchhiker snails, this tank is exclusively for them.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I just did a water change (20L/2 10L jugs full of water) and filter clean today. I washed the sponge and filter media while saving some of the beneficial bacteria that's on it. Cleaned the slime off from the overflow area of the HOB filter. I tried to clean a HOB filter for the first time.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Yesterday's (one photo) and today's photo sessions (the rest). The photos are tweaked to make the silvertips pop out more as the originals were a bit duller. I fed the fish (as always) and checked on their behaviour. No casualties in the tank as of today. The 18 silvertips are doing pretty good although some males are a bit paler than others (is this normal colouration or does this has to do with age?). The blurred circles in some photos are from the water flow as it enters from the filter to the tank.

 

[Colin_T]

If the males are feeling happy and excited, they will have better colours than males who are just having an average day. It's nothing to worry about unless a group of them suddenly turn pale overnight, that's usually an indication something is wrong with the water. However, they will also usually be paler in the morning when the lights are first turned on.

 

[elephantnose3334]

If the males are feeling happy and excited, they will have better colours than males who are just having an average day. It's nothing to worry about unless a group of them suddenly turn pale overnight, that's usually an indication something is wrong with the water. However, they will also usually be paler in the morning when the lights are first turned on.

Do you like the pictures of the silvertips I took?

 

[Colin_T]

Yes, the pictures are looking good. The ones with the wood (out of focus in the background) are better than just the fish on its own, and the pairs are better than single fish but they are in focus and clear, so looking good. If you get any with the fish displaying (fins flared out) then you will have some really good pictures.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Yes, the pictures are looking good. The ones with the wood (out of focus in the background) are better than just the fish on its own, and the pairs are better than single fish but they are in focus and clear, so looking good. If you get any with the fish displaying (fins flared out) then you will have some really good pictures.

Trying to do that for a while. It is hard getting pics of the males sparring.

 

[Colin_T]

Trying to do that for a while. It is hard getting pics of the males sparring.

That's why they are the best pictures
Most of the guys in ANGFA that take fish pics takes hundreds or even thousands before they get the one really great shot of males showing off together or a male and female displaying or actually breeding. That's one of the advantages of using a digital camera, you can take thousands of pictures and check them on the computer. Delete any you don't like and keep the rest. Recharge the camera batteries and take more. Eventually you start getting the odd picture of males displaying or a fish yawning, or something unusual and that goes into the keep file. It's just a matter of practice, practice, practice, and sometimes you get lucky and happen to have the camera pointed at the tank when the fish do something really cool.

 

[elephantnose3334]

That's why they are the best pictures
Most of the guys in ANGFA that take fish pics takes hundreds or even thousands before they get the one really great shot of males showing off together or a male and female displaying or actually breeding. That's one of the advantages of using a digital camera, you can take thousands of pictures and check them on the computer. Delete any you don't like and keep the rest. Recharge the camera batteries and take more. Eventually you start getting the odd picture of males displaying or a fish yawning, or something unusual and that goes into the keep file. It's just a matter of practice, practice, practice, and sometimes you get lucky and happen to have the camera pointed at the tank when the fish do something really cool.

Gotcha. I might try that tomorrow. A few fish are pale but the rest are somewhat colourful. And they're fast moving when they spar, usually after feeding time. I just have to zoom out a bit for sparring pictures. Let's hope the Canon SD card isn't full before that.

 

[MattW]

I usually take around 200-300 pictures and only pick 3-4 in the end. My SD card reader is a godsend for deleting images after every shoot. No way I could do that manually

 

[elephantnose3334]

I usually take around 200-300 pictures and only pick 3-4 in the end. My SD card reader is a godsend for deleting images after every shoot. No way I could do that manually

Yeah. And interacting with the silvertips are a godsend for me because most people forget that these tetras make a good focal point, they usually go for neons or black skirt tetras (normal and GloFish for the latter, GloFish variety is illegal in Australia) for a nice community fish; and that these fish don't usually become interactive until they really settle in. They have that schooling instinct when I move a finger around the tank.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I will post a full tank shot tomorrow for an update. 120 days since the tank was set up today (St Patties Day!), 4 months. I like seeing the fish and it does make me feel happy when they come up to me every time I enter the toyroom.