Over the past month, we received over 250 photo submissions on the Fluval Facebook page (become a fan if you haven’t already!) for the Winter 2009 Photo Contest. You can view all the entries by clicking the “Photos” tab on our Facebook page.  Despite the difficulty of choosing the winning shots among so many great ones, a winner was crowned.

The winning shots (featured above) were chosen for their clarity, accurate color representation, difficulty (rainbow fish are highly active and difficult to capture without motion blur), and overall beauty.

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Tom was gracious enough to answer a few questions on himself and his experiences with fishkeeping and photography.

1. So tell us about yourself?

My name is Thomas Sabatello. I am 44 years old and an Internet Designer/ Developer. (You can check out his blog Anubias Garden and his Facebook page of the same name, which both cover fishkeeping, aquascaping, and aquarium photography.)

2. What is your background in fishkeeping?

Fish tanks have been in my life ever since I can remember. My parents always had an aquarium in the house whether it was inside or a pond in the backyard. In the past 5 years I have discovered the Planted Aquarium. Places like Fishtown USA in Ramsey, NJ and more recently Absolutely Fish in Clifton NJ have helped inspire as well as keep the hobby alive. Both have been the main suppliers of plants and aquarium fish for me all these years.

3. Tell us some more about the winning shots.

The winning aquarium photo is of a 50 Gallon Planted Aquarium. Substrate is Eco Complete. – Lighting is 4-39 watt T5 Florescent bulbs timed dusk/dawn 12 hour days. Weekly doses of Flourish plant nutrient. Fluval 305 stacked canister filter.

The winning Fish Photo is a Melanotaenia praecox (Neon Rainbowfish) that was raised from eggs in a 20 gallon planted aquarium that was C02 enhanced as well as EcoComplete substrate. Flourish plant nutrients with 3 watts per gallon florescent lighting timed dusk/dawn 12 hour days.

Plants in aquariums – I have a flowering red Barclaya longifolia and Aponogeton ulvaceus as well many types of Anubias, lots of java ferns and mosses, african ferns, willow leaf hygro, too many to mention.

Fish in the 50 Gallon Aquarium include 2 Red Rainbows, 6 Cardinal tetras, 2 clownloaches , 12 various cory cats with babies from the Julie cory pair, 1 Siamese Algae eaters, 3 ottos, 1 albino rubbernose pleco and 3 Japonika Shrimp.

4. What tips would you give to other fishkeepers for taking pictures as
nice as yours?

Set the white balance to fluorescent if possible to match what’s used in the aquarium, use a tripod to keep the camera steady due to long exposure times. Find a camera or lens that can take macro photography.

5. What do you plan to do with your new Fluval EDGE?

I plan on doing a planted aquarium with the Fluval EDGE either a betta tank or Shrimp with tetras.

Finally, we’ve put together some great computer desktop backgrounds for your use based on Tom’s winning shot.  You can download them below!

Screen Resolution (click link & right click to save as): 1920X1280 :: 1280X1024 :: 1024X768 :: 800X600

That’s my EDGE is a new series profiling beautiful and unique Fluval EDGE aquariums from featured hobbyists around the world.  Many are created by advanced hobbyists and do not necessarily represent standard or recommended stocking or alterations for the beginner or average aquarist.

Since it’s retail launch in Summer 2009, the Fluval EDGE has exploded onto the aquatics scene, generating excitement among new and advanced aquarists alike.  After seeing all the incredible things people were doing with the Fluval EDGE, we decided to feature their work here on the Fluval Blog.

So to kick things off, we’ve started with an application that has been constantly asked discussed: a marine, nano-reef Fluval EDGE!  We’ve interviewed the owner of this masterpiece below.

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1. So tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Minh Tran. I currently live in Fresno California. I had my first reef tank about eight years ago. Over the years I’ve had gone through several tanks with various sizes. Currently I have a 135G SPS domiinated mixed reef and a 6G Fluval Edge nano tank. Yes I know that I suffer from Multiple Tanks Syndrome.

2. What is your background in nano-reef keeping?

When JBJ first came out with the first “all-in-one” NanoCube, I quickly grabbed a 24G NC. I knew I would not have been happy with the stock lighting and filtration. I purchased a set of 70W MH, some underwater lighting, fans, extra pumps and turned the 24G into an SPS and clams nano. Over the last several years, I’ve only kept low demand corals. My favorite nano had to be a 15G that was plumbed with a closed loop and a sump, with proper filtration, flow, a decent skimmer and excellent lighting. Corals were thriving and I had the most compliments for that tank.

3. What are some of the special or unique things you did with your Fluval EDGE?

I decided to attach a small T5 fixture for proper lighting. I’ve also replaced the stock halogen with LED replacement, but those simply didn’t have the spread necessary, so they are more or less serving as moonlight. I found that the power filter was dumping too much micro bubbles, so I added a piece of sponge so that the output could be more gentle. I added a very small powerhead for a gyre effect. I used high grade carbon and most importantly I performed 90-95% water change 2 to 4 times a month. The new water is simply taken out from the big tank during its water changes.

4. What species of fish, invertebrates, or corals can be found in your EDGE? Have you had any trouble keeping any of them alive and healthy in the tank?

I mostly have very hardy corals in there at the moment: zoanthids, palythoas, hammer, cloves, ricordeas and a candy cane. There’s a Rose Bubble Tip anemone that’s been doing fairly well for almost 3 months now. I don’t have any fish. I have an assortment of crabs and shrimps: hermit crabs, Porcelain crab, Boxer crab, Sexy Shrimp, Harlequin Shrimp,…I found that crabs are generally more hardy since I lost a couple of Glass Anemone Shrimp in this tank. I fed the Harlequin with asternia stars from my other tank.

5. What is your overall opinion of the Fluval EDGE as a nano-reef aquarium?

Aesthetically, it’s one of the best nano tanks. Its functions are limited as a reef tank, but certainly workable.

6. Do you have any tips or recommendations for someone looking to do a tank similar to yours?

Keep a low rock work and leave some room at the back; better water flow and more room for your hands without knocking over corals. Have patience and perform regular water changes to keep water quality high.

Have you converted your EDGE to saltwater? Tell us about it in the comments!

The last week has been incredibly active over at Fluval’s Facebook page thanks to huge participation in the Fluval Winter 2009 Photo contest.  Looks like everyone really wants that Fluval EDGE, which will be awarded to the photo contest winner!

If you haven’t checked them out yet, head over to the Fluval Facebook Photo Gallery and view over 100 aquariums and fish photos already submitted. To enter your own, just upload 2 photos (1 up close fish/creature portrait, 1 full tank shot) to Fluval’s Wall.

With all of the excitement and aquarium photos, we thought we’d offer some tips to help you take that award winning shot, even if you’re just using a regular point and shoot camera.  So without further ado, here are 10 Tips that can dramatically improve your aquatic photography:

1. Turn off your flash! If you do nothing else, absolutely remember this: Turn off your flash when photographing your aquarium or individual fish.

Nothing kills a great aquatic photo like your camera’s built in flash.  By turning off your camera’s flash, you allow your camera to view the aquarium exactly (theoretically) as you see it in real life.  This will eliminate unnatural colors, reflections and flash burst in the glass, and unhappy fish.  ”But now my pictures are blurry!” Don’t worry, we’ll address how to fix that below.

2. Take A LOT of pictures. Sometimes getting a great aquatics photo is just a numbers game. With the advent of digital photography and the ability to take virtually unlimited photos without significant extra cost, this is perhaps the simplest way to get better aquatic photos. Just take more of them and chances are that one in a hundred will be absolutely stunning!

3. Don’t shake the camera. Without your flash turned on, your camera will likely automatically increase the exposure time (decreasing shutter speed) to compensate for the flash being turned off. This turns any camera movement into a failed photo due to image blur.  Try to hold the camera perfectly still while squeezing the button.

4. Use a tripod. This point goes along with not shaking the camera. By using a tripod or setting up a make-shift table or stack of books, you can completely eliminate ALL camera movement. You might also consider using your camera’s delay timer so that you never even touch it during the shot.

5. Take your pictures at night with all nearby house and room lights turned off. This eliminates any reflection or glare from lights, items, or people (including the photographer) in the room. It also places the entire focus of the picture on the aquarium itself. *And yes I know this rule was broken in the title shot above. Proof that good photos can still be shot when breaking these rules.

6. Replace your aquarium light bulbs or upgrade to higher output lighting. Since you’ve promised to stop using your camera’s flash, it’s even more important that your tank is well lit so your camera can soak up every last bit of light from the aquarium. Remember to replace your bulbs on a yearly basis. Brighter lights mean brighter tank, brighter fish, and better pictures.

7. Shoot in “Action” or “Burst” mode. With so much movement in many aquariums it can be hard to catch just the right shot.  Now a feature even in many new point and shoots and a standard in DSLR’s, burst mode will fire off 3 or more shots automatically.

8. Increase your camera’s ISO setting. Just like for taking great night shots, increasing your camera’s ISO to 400, 800, or 1600 (if you have a killer DSLR) will increase it’s sensitivity to light and take advantage of every ounce of light emitted from your tank.  You’ll have to be careful though as this can also lead to increased “noise” and grain in the image.

9. Follow some basic rules of photography composition. Something as simple as placing a fish in the photo off center can make it much more visually interesting.  Get creative with angles, framing, and even cropping after you’ve put the image on your computer.

10. Buy a better camera. While all of these tips can help even the amateur with a simple point and shoot take better pictures, a better camera with a better lens can make a world of difference. Canon and Nikon (among others) now make a number of entry-level DSLRs that can propel your aquatic photography to the next level.

Do you have your own aquatic photography tip to add to our list? Tell us about it below in the comments!

At Fluval, we are huge fans of aquatic art and beauty.  We are continually amazed at the effort and creativity that goes into our fishkeeper’s aquariums and want them to be recognized for it!

We’ll be judging our favorite photos on the following criteria: Technical merit (quality of photo in terms of lighting, resolution, etc), Aesthetics (beauty of the fish or aquarium) and Artistic flair (creative approach to capturing the scene, such as unique angle or perspective).

Here’s how to enter your fish and aquarium into the contest:

1. Visit the Fluval Facebook Page and become a Fan.

2. We’re looking for two pictures per entry: 1 portrait of a single fish (or group of fish) and 1 complete tank shot (you must provide both to be eligible).

3. Post your pictures to Fluval’s wall with a short description of the fish or aquarium

4. Share your pictures with friends and comment on your favorites!

All entries must be posted to the Fluval Facebook wall by midnight January 17th, 2010. The winner of the Fluval EDGE (in Pewter, Black, or Burnt Orange – your choice!) will be announced on Monday, January 25th, 2010.

Contest is subject to the following rules and regulations:
1. All valid entries must include an attached file that shows aquarium/fish. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright in all pictures entered.
2. All entries must be in digital format.
3. All entries must be at minimum resolution of 150 DPI (or higher) and sized 240 x 240 pixels or larger – Larger entries may be reduced to fit the allotted space and to allow optimized download. – Suggested maximum size should be less than 1 M.
4. No lewd, obscene, exploiting or abusive graphics will be accepted.
5. By submitting a photo to the Fluval Facebook page, each contestant agrees to abide by the rules and regulations governing this contest.
6. Multiple unique entries are allowed, but only one person per household can win. Any and all duplicate pictures will be discarded.
7. All entries must but uploaded and submitted to the Fluval Facebook page “Wall” (www.facebook.com/fluval) by the contest close date of midnight January 17, 2010.
8. The contest draw will be January 24, 2006 at 12:00 PM. One (1) winning entry will be selected from all eligible entries received. Winners will be notified by e-mail shortly after the contest draw date. The prize must be accepted as awarded. No substitutions, refunds, transfers or cash equivalent payments will be allowed. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries received.
9. Prizes:
A. One (1) First Place Prize: 1 x Fluval EDGE Aquarium Kit (Item number 15395 or 15396 or 15397) Approximate Retail Value: $149.99 USD
10. All accepted photos may be displayed on the Fluval Blog (www.fluvalblog.com), Fluval Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/fluval), and Fluval Twitter Page (www.twitter.com/fluvalblog) as they are received for the duration of the contest period.
11. This contest is open to legal US Residents 18 year of age or older, Canadian residents of legal age or if under the legal age with the permission of a parent or legal guardian.
12. The following are excluded from entering: employees, representatives, agents and of Rolf C. Hagen Inc. its subsidiaries and partners and their immediate families, participating dealers; their immediate families; and any persons with whom they are domiciled.
13. No purchase is necessary for entry into this contest.
14. All entries become the sole property of Rolf C. Hagen Inc. and none will be returned. By entering this contest, all entrants agree to the use and publication of their names, likeness and addresses to be used for promotion purposes by Rolf C. Hagen Inc., or its advertising agencies, without compensation either during or after the contest.
15. A list of the winners’ name and province and the winning photographs will be published on the website shortly after the winners have been informed.
16. Selection of winners will be by a panel of judges selected from the Web and Marketing departments of Rolf C. Hagen Inc.
17. Photos will be judged based on technical merit (quality of photo in terms of lighting, resolution, etc), aesthetics (beauty of the water garden or pond) and Artistic flair (creative approach to capturing the scene, such as unique angle or perspective)
18. All decisions by judges are final.
This contest is subject to all Federal, Provincial and Municipal laws and regulations.

It’s been an exciting year to be the new Fluval Edge.  While it officially debuted in February at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL, many people saw it for the very first time at the Superzoo show in Las Vegas and HH Backer show in Chicago.

At all 3 US industry events, the Fluval Edge has made big impressions for such a small aquarium.  In fact, the Edge is quietly amassing a list of awards that firmly speak to the innovative design the aquarium has brought back to the aquatics industry.  Congratulations Edge, take a bow!

Global Pet Expo, Orlando, FL

2nd Place Aquatics Category

Superzoo, Las Vegas, NV

1st Place Aquatics Category

2nd Place Overall Best in Show

HH Backer, Chicago, IL

1st Place Overall Best in Show

Since debuting the Fluval Edge we’ve received an incredible amount of positive feedback on this progressive, stylish aquarium. We’d like to answer some Frequently Asked Questions on the Fluval Edge, many that are asked to do the unique size and design of the aquarium.

Do you have a question about the Fluval Edge?  Ask it in the comments below and we’ll answer it!

Q: Does the opening in the top allow for adequate gas exchange and appropriate oxygen levels in the aquarium?

A: While the opening is relatively small, the Fluval Edge filter creates a significant amount of surface agitation and movement to allow for proper gas exchange. The filter moves up to 100 gph (378 lph) and can be adjusted using the full flow control down to 33 gph (124 lph).

Q: Will tank cleaning and maintenance be difficult due to the size of the top opening?

A: Cleaning a Fluval Edge is made easier thanks to specially designed Fluval Edge maintenance tools including an Edge Gravel Vac, Edge Algae Magnet, and Edge Fish Net. Each of these are specifically designed to allow for easier angled access through the top opening.  We’d also like to point out that a specially designed shatterproof 25 w Edge heater is also available.

Q: Can fish and other inhabitants be safely and humanely kept in this small of an environment?

A: Yes, commonly referred to as “nano” tanks, aquarists around the world have kept small aquariums for many years. While water parameters may be especially sensitive due to the tank’s small size, a close and careful eye can manage these at appropriate levels. Practical Fishkeeping Magazine has some excellent resources and information on keeping a freshwater nano aquarium.

Q: Can marine fish be safely kept in a Fluval Edge aquarium?

A: Generally, we only recommend the Edge as a freshwater setup primarily due to its small size. Already considered a small freshwater aquarium, as a marine setup, the Edge would likely pose a significant challenge to even the most advanced hobbyist.

In case you missed it, the Fluval Edge aquarium made its international debut at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida back in February of this year. Since then, the Edge has started showing up at retailers, first in the UK, then in the US and now in the rest of the world.

The Fluval Edge is a 6 gallon/23 Liter glass aquarium that brings cutting edge style and design to the “nano” tank category. Considering its size, this aquarium was designed with the advanced hobbyist in mind; however, through proper education, the Fluval Edge is not beyond the grasp of a relatively novice fish-keeper. Understanding the basic limitations of small aquariums is important for success with a Fluval Edge aquarium. More on this later…

Most people are excited and intrigued by one of the most unique aspects of the Edge’s design: the glass top. The raised opening of the glass top sits hidden under the canopy and allows for the water level to hide above the viewing area of the tank. This creates a clean and modern floating “water cube” effect devoid of traditional rims.

But while the visuals speak for themselves, how about a look under the hood?

Filtration: The Fluval Edge aquarium comes equipped with the Fluval Edge filter. The Edge features full 3-stage mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. Thanks to the attached base/backing/canopy, the filter is completely hidden from view but is easily accessible and easy to maintain by removing the top canopy.

Lighting: The Edge sports a unique halogen light fixture built into the canopy of the aquarium. Powering two 10 watt halogen light bulbs, the hinged fixture can be lifted out of the way while the user does maintenance on the aquarium. Also of note, the top of the canopy contains many small holes to allow warm air to escape that is generated while the lights are turned on.

Recommended Stocking and Use: It is extremely important to consider proper use and animal husbandry when considering any small “nano” aquarium.
There are two keys to properly stocking a Fluval Edge aquarium:

1) Choose appropriate species of fish that will both stay small and be comfortable in a relatively small environment.

2) Don’t overstock! While the Edge filter contains enough biological and chemical filtration to filter an aquarium twice or three times its size, resist the temptation to put too many fish in the tank. Five or six small species should be able to coexist happily in most cases.

For more information, visit your local aquatics store or ask questions in the comments below!