by AquaNerd | Apr 23, 2014 | Conservation, Eye Candy, Invertebrates, Photography
Daniel Stoupin is determined to win the internet. He has already shown us how corals can make for some terrific subjects of time lapse photography, and his latest video shows how freshwater life can be just as interesting when displayed in a similar high def format. The clip shows an amazing world full of life, some of which looks like it would be right at home in the oceans or in our aquariums. It focuses on bryozoans, water fleas, mayfly nymphs, mosquito larvae, water mites, ostracods, and the amoeba…which looks extremely menacing in this video. To view this tiny pond life, Daniel used microscopy techniques and macro photography. Unlike the coral video, which used hundreds of thousands of still images to create a breathtaking time lapse, this video was made from a week’s worth of videography coupled with years of experience in finding and videoing these interesting critters. We don’t need to dive into the deep ocean to find the most unusual lifeforms. This short clip is a journey into a bizarre world of microscopic inhabitants of pond water. You will see water fleas, bryozoans, water mites, mayfly nymphs, ostracods, and, of course, hydras by AquaNerd | Dec 20, 2013 | Fish, Science
Photo Credit: Chad Vossen, Vossen Aquatics LLC The Banggai cardinalfish has been a staple in the marine aquarium hobby for many years, despite its high mortality in captivity and the intense pressure on wild populations. Because of the impact the trade has had on this species, hobbyists have gone above and beyond in their attempts to breed the species in captivity. One such individual who is breeding Banggais is Chad Vossen, of Vossen Aquatics, LLC. Chad has been breeding tons of fish this year, and this cardinalfish is just another one of his many success stories. And of course, he’s been sharing his successes with the rest of the aquarium community via social media, with this picture of a 10-day old Banggai egg really catching our eye. Standing out most to us in this egg is the detail of the fish’s eyes. by AquaNerd | Dec 11, 2013 | Corals, Fish, Industry, Photography, Science, Tanks
By: Daniel Leija The use of cell phones is nothing new in this hobby, as they’ve been a vital tool with applications that help us calculate how much calcium to dose in our tank and give us the ability to monitor and control our aquariums from afar. While these apps haven’t been around for too long, comparatively, something that has been in use for what seem like an eternity is cell phone cameras, and hobbyists are always improving aquarium photography with their phones. With the constant competition of who is the best and top dog of the smartphone industry, it is the camera in our phones that is always upgraded. For example, the iPhone 5 has an 8 megapixel camera. This year the iPhone 5s was released, and while it stayed with its 8 megapixel camera, it increased its aperture to f/2.4, allowing up to %33 more light into the camera. It also got really neat features like the burst mode allowing you to capture things in action with more success. It also got the slow-mo feature slowing videos down making for really neat shots of fish eating or swimming. While DSLR macro shots are relatively nice, we all know that is another hobby that gets expensive. Nothing is going to beat a nice crisp shot you get with a true macro lens attached to that awesome camera of your choice, but we have found great success snapping close up pictures of our tanks with our phones by AquaNerd | Nov 18, 2013 | Corals, Fish, Invertebrates, Photography, Science
As an aquarium hobbyist who is also fairly passionate about photography, I am always looking to capture those unique moments when I’m at a fish store or some other venue where fish, corals, and invertebrates take center stage. Often times, I’ll have my camera in hand and I can snap off a few decent shots here and there. More often though, I’ll be without my DSLR and have to rely on my smartphone, which isn’t exactly the most ideal option. The phone of choice for me has been the iPhone, with the 5s being my most current option. For those of you familiar, this phone can actually take decent pictures. Unfortunately, the pitfall for the on-board camera, like with most cameras, is blue LEDs. Thankfully, I stumbled upon this cheap little hack that can get you photos that are closer to what we see with the human eye. by AquaNerd | Jul 3, 2013 | Aquaculture, Events, Fish, Science
The MBI Workshop is the only marine aquarium conference that is dedicated strictly to captive breeding and nothing else, and this year’s gathering is just around the corner. In less than two weeks, aquarium breeders from around the globe will join together at the Cranbrook Institute of Science to listen to world renowned guest speakers and share their experience with breeding marine ornamentals. The guest speaker list is composed of Matthew Carberry, Chad Clayton, Martin Moe and David Watson, with a lunch breaking the day into two even blocks. The conference opens up to the public at 8:30 am on July 13th, closing with its final guest speaker at 4:15 pm. Unlike other aquarium conferences, the MBI Workshop won’t focus on the latest and greatest aquarium gear. Instead, these guys and gals will do nothing more than chat about breeding stuff, a cause we wish we had more time to invest in. In addition to the single day workshop, this particular event is flanked by before and after get togethers that are sure to be fun. If you’ve ever hobknobbed with us aquarium nerds, then you know what we’re talking about. Tickets are sold online only (see link at the top of this page) to the tune of $45, and it gets you into full event including all of the speakers, lunch during the workshop, and even the Sunday BBQ. So, if you’re interested in marine breeding and have a free weekend on July 13th, be sure to swing by and say hello.
