Aquarium 2023 - Live Plants with Platys.

First created video in a long while. Of course it will be of my aquarium. It's all about making the occupants happy and healthy.

 

Fish Tanks

Goldfish

Green Tiger Barbs 

Latest set up of a 10 gallon and 2 gallon aquarium.  The goldfish 5 years old. The barbs are recent additions.

Fantail Goldfish Almost Three Years Later

If it has been a while since I posted any photos of my fantails, it is because I haven't been very successful at capturing the subject. What it must be like having a big eye staring into your world? I suppose that is what the camera lens must look like. Then I saw a professional photographer set up with Siamese fighting fish. I haven't tried using the Canon G1 macro setting from a distance. Sure enough, it worked even when zoomed in. I still have to diffuse the flash. But now they will be swimming at the front of the tank when I want to take a shot.

New Betta is a Blue Dragon

My new betta is smaller than the previous ones. It eats almost anything, but I am feeding it flakes so its little mouth can accept the food. I have used a macro setting to feature the fins. It has a split in the tail, so it could not be a halfmoon variety.

Challenging Betta Photography

Since bringing home my latest betta, I have been trying to find time to admire him. Working again makes it difficult. It feels like I have neglected it too much when I am home. Where the fishbowl sits is not well lit and winter lighting is so dull; I have trouble getting in a good shot. Until today. The fish's colour and shape are contributing factors to the challenge. He is a normal betta, with regular fins. Does that make him more aggressive? He certainly has flared his gills. He prefers to look at humans through the water surface rather than the glass.

I used the Auto settings with auto flash on this fish. The Canon Power Shot SD870 IS aquarium setting needs more light. The lens has to be right up close to the bowl, or the bounce back will horrible. The first shot used a tissue paper as a diffuser. The second shot was taken with a cut up plastic film container. I like how the light reflected off the table.

Muted Flash

Denizens of the Goldfish Tank

Can't forget the goldfish. The most ideal video subjects, because they won't stay put. It may be cold outside today; it sure doesn't look like that in here. Even the pleco is out nibbling at the algae. I am still learning to use Movie Maker. I am now using the recommended publish settings for better quality, while keeping the file size no bigger than the original clip. That means less pixels. It's due for a water change. I'll tackle that next week.

Bettas, Two Years Later

Passing another milestone, to me,  is something to be proud of. Because it was never that easy to keep fish, not even when they were free. Now, I don't count the days before they die, just the years since I bought one. Hopefully, it will be for a while yet, unless I get a new aquarium.

Betta Antics Mix

When one's fish will not cooperate with the camera of choice, one must resort to making a low resolution movie instead. It's true that a video recorder would produce a better quality capture and play well with the WeVideo app, but my betta are used to still photography. There just is not enough daylight hours now to wait for the perfect shot. So, Canon G1 it is again. Sometimes I think the red one is a tease. He would sneak a look at me behind my back.

Reflections

It's that moment when you realize you didn't have to use a diffuser to take these photos. I have been taking advantage of the acrylic surface and the six-sided nature of the aquarium. The light bounces off this material differently than on glass tanks. The flash usually reflects on the front of the surface. That's why I have to aim it on the trim or some other object directly in line of sight. In these, digital zoom, as shown in the upper right, and the two lower ones, keeps the flash point out of range. I always rhought it was the water surface that was absorbing the reflected light. Now I see that the back of the aquarium has a lot of bounce back too.

Trying to Make It Grow

Trying to Make It Grow, a photo by cin_kong on Flickr.

At the risk of smelling like algae, I got elbow deep in fish water to arrange the new live plants I bought. I've had nothing but anubias (the low lying things anchored on the rocks.) With the amount of excrement these four goldfish output, I am hoping the plants will do well. The algae already do. It's takes forever to remove even with a snail and a plecostomus. If it works out, it's bye-bye plastic plants for this aquarium.

Betta Colour Characteristics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betta_splendens#Colors As I understand it, iridescence occurs naturally. Only black and red are pigments. The best way to see the refraction is by shining a flashlight on the red betta.

Goldfish Camera Settings

This is the one. Shutter speed 1/15. ISO 100. It has been so hot lately, there is nothing like being in the basement, perched in front of the aquarium. Wished I could have used a tripod for this, but I have to hold the camera close to achieve the details on the eyes and fins.

Goldfish Too White

Goldfish Too White, a photo by cin_kong on Flickr.

I used ISO 400 for this shot, however the white on the fish body will allow for ISO 200, and obviously less noise. Definitely, the aquarium lighting will be sufficient. Now if only I can get the patterns on the other side of this fish.

Goldfish, No Flash

Goldfish, No Flash, a photo by cin_kong on Flickr.

Using ISO 400 to achieve the natural lighting. I am still working on reducing the noise, but it is good to know there is a way to photograph without flash.

Now A Video With Goldfish Too

Tank was too dirty to show before. When does it ever stay clean? Maybe after the fish are gone. Did you know the common goldfish can live indefinitely? World records had one living 43 years. All it needs is nutrition and good filtration. Mine has gone through some adverse conditions. Only the size of its environment will be a factor here. Now, I can't wait to get a calico and black variety.

Goldfish, No Lights

Goldfish, No Lights, a photo by cin_kong on Flickr.

This image exists on the internet in two ways. I could not decide which crop I liked best. This version leaves out the more noticeable streaks on the glass and creates a frame around the fish.

About the composition. It was before the aquarium lights had turned on, and I wanted to check on the goldfish and the snail. The fish always seem skittish otherwise. After I scraped off more algae, I wanted to get in as much camera time as possible. They are a challenge to capture.

Under the circumstances, it was hard enough to see the subject much less find them in the viewer. I certainly did not expect that it was possible to even get a shot. To my delight, this has resolved the problem of reflected light I usually have with goldfish.

Fish Videos

I was wondering what to do with the videos I took recently. There was no professional set up, but I must admit they turned out great. I was able to use the editing tools in Youtube to unify the screen resolution from different cameras and add an acoustic track, among other things.

Update: The videos themselves was edited in Windows Movie Maker. I used it to split the clips. After I upload the video to Youtube, I add the text and transitions.

Male Longfin Betta

Male Longfin Betta, a photo by cin_kong on Flickr.

How should I put it? He is very laid-back. Makes one want to check if the fish was still alive. The only light comes from the sun. I have no idea what reflections it can see from a concave surface.

Red Male Longfin Betta

Red Male Longfin Betta, a photo by cin_kong on Flickr.

That is a satiny red. Still learning to capture this new beauty. The roundness of the fishbowl makes it challenging. I can make out some white opalescence under that red that I didn't see in the store.