Top Down Pics with Acrylic Boxes?
 

I'll start.

....by asking a question: who uses those acrylic boxes to take top-down photos of their corals? Sub-question: where did you get it/them? Sub-sub-question: is it a "must have"?

I personally use a Nikon Coolpix 8800VR. It's got some nice features, not the least of which is Vibration Reduction. I have had moderate success so far with this camera, but would like a nice digital SLR in the future.

hey you're supposed to start your own thread!! :razz:

I'll move it.

oops wrong thread

LOL. I just got so excited....(trigger fingers). :redface:

I use a top down "tube" not box....fits perfectly around my nikon lens.
Great pics.

I wanted to take some top down pictures and thought of building my own acrylic box. I went to Industrial Plastics to buy some acrylic and they had some premade boxes (10x4x3) for $10. The size of the box worked for my camera Canon G9 although a slightly larger (10x6x4) box would be better.

Tom R

Check this article out...
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/5/aafeature2

The article has instructions on building your own boxes in a few different configurations.

Cheers, Chris

I wonder if it would work if you took one of those little 2.5 gallon tanks they sell at Petsmart and used that? They are like $15 I think. Might work? Yea/nea?

Ya, sounds like that'd probably work fine. Get one with a flat bottom so it doesn't hold air bubbles.

We purchased our acrylic box for taking pics from a company in the US called Drs. Foster and Smith.

Sarina

I use an acrylic box for all my top down shots. If I didn't use it I'd always be fighting the glare. They work perfect to break the surface.

Was it this?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=16821

Hi Keri,

That's exactly the one we purchased, it works great for viewing corals and taking photographs.

Sarina

Thanks!

No problem!

Let us know if you end up purchasing one....they're quite nice.

Sarina

Will do!
Drew might want a crack at making one but really, last time I priced out acryllic and you factor in time and effort, not really worth it....unless he wants a project :)

Hi Keri,

I hear you, acrylic is quite pricey...we build a large sump this past Jan and priced out acrylic at that time for it and it was pretty expensive...so we opted to go with thick glass. It turned out beautifully, however, it's heavier than our tank!

Drew, let us know if you end up making one yourself!

Sarina

My first calcium reactor was the "DJ88 Mark I" DIY model (old timers will remember this). It was a tube mounted on top of a rectangular box. When I retired the reactor and moved onto other DIY projects I scrapped the acrylic. I hacksawed off one end of the box and that is now my acrylic camera box. :lol:

Acrylic work is super easy if you don't care about finessing it. If you have, say, Kari standards, then maybe it's not so super easy (unless you happen to be Kari). But if you have, say, Delphinus standards, it's not altogether too bad! :lol:

Surface viewing box
 

Keri,

Ocean Aquatics sells these--might be the same one that DrsFosterSmith has. I didn't find it on their website, so you might have to call them. It's sure to be cheaper than cross-border shipping.

Regards,
Nevin

Nevin,

That's a great suggestion, sadly we didn't call Ocean Aquatics when we were looking for an acrylic box...that was one of the places we didn't know about at the time (nor were we creative like Tony :wink: ...good thinking Tony!). Wendell most likey has something like this or he might be able to get it in if he was asked.

It is indeed more expensive having something shipped to Canada...yet having said that we were able to get some pretty neat stuff from Drs. Foster and Smith...it was worth the extra money.

Sarina

I made mine. It is custom fit to the openings in the top of my tank. I use it all the time...not only for photography, but also any time that I'm working in there because it helps me see things more clearly.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/000_0262.jpg

Wow..the tank has really changed since this photo was taken!

Nice job on the acrylic box! I also like the size and shape of it....you're giving me ideas...time for another project in between getting our newest tank up and running!

Thanks for sharing!

Sarina

Would you mind telling me what the dimensions are of the box you made?

Sarina

I'd say give it a go.. u can pick up a nice piece of acrylic at home depot for $23 (24x18) 1/4" think...

Did you use Weld-on 40 or whatever its called?