Artistic pics of my tank by Aquatic Prints (Mitchell)

[SkunkClown]

I think these are fantastic! Certainly what is "artistic" to one person isn't to another.

Personally I like this kind of enhancement. I am an artist myself, mostly wildlife painting. I'm not really capable of being creative I mostly just reproduce photos. I really admire the creativity in these photos!

My favorite is the side view of the mandarin dragonet. Just curious, is he eating prepared/frozen foods?

[mattdean]

Thanks. That is my favorite pic as well. It's my screen saver for my 2nd monitor.

I WISH it ate prepared foods! No, just pods. I haven't gone out of my way to try and train him, but I may think about it. I am seeding the rock in my sump with pods, as well as dumping them in the display every now and then, just to be sure.

Cheers

[sumpfinfishe]

I do landscape photography and I'm more of a naturalist, however there is true art in working with both camera and photoshop, not to mention some of the compositions are outstanding-well done!
Beautiful corals and fish too, looks like a happy reef to me!

[mattdean]

Yes, it is a happy reef. I am blessed to have a smooth running tank with happy healthy livestock and corals. I will have a video posted in a few days. I'm looking forward to sharing

[SkunkClown]

Well your dragonet looks very healthy! I have one as well and he ate brine shrimp at the lfs then was not interested in our tank. He has about 250lbs of live rock to graze on though! I find they are such slow eaters. I try to target feed him but by the time he decides he might want to eat it the other fish gobble it up! We have some ravenous dwarf angels and a tomini tang. He seems to be getting enough food from the live rock.

Love your marine betta too!

[mattdean]

Thanks. The mandarin has no interest in anything but hunting pods, unfortunately. I am worried about him starving, so I am constantly seeding the sump and dumping pods in the DY. It's getting expensive

[SkunkClown]

Maybe you have tried this but mine seems to like frozen bloodworms! I just tried feeding him with a turkey baster and he gobbled them up. It helps to turn off the power heads.
I just bought some live copepods. 24 bucks for a small bottle

[mattdean]

I'll try that. I'm due for some new frozen food anyway. Yeah, pods are expensive. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to keep up with the demand on pods, but I'll try!

[ScubaSteve]

Build a "pod pile". Simply make a pile of rubble in the back of the tank somewhere to act as a refuge for the pods. Squirt food in there from time to time and you'll have a pod factory! I did that and had the fattest mandarin who only ate pods.

Wicked photos by the way.

[mattdean]

Thanks Steve,

I have rocks in my overflow, in my sump and very porous rock in the DT. I don't really have a place in the DT for a pod pile - it's a peninsula and I'm a little anal about the layout.

I am trying to seed the fuge more in hopes of building a good base. The problem is having wrasses that also hunt pods.