Birds eye view: do you take top-down shots of your reef?

Do you take top-down shots of your reef?

  • Yes, I have successfully taken top down shots of my reef.

    Votes: 137 35.3%
  • I’ve tried with mixed or limited success.

    Votes: 105 27.1%
  • No, I haven’t tried.

    Votes: 144 37.1%
  • Other

    Votes: 2 0.5%

  • Total voters
    388

Peace River

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Birds eye view: do you take top-down shots of your reef?

We normally view our corals, fish, and entire reef from the side, but top-down views can be stunning! What is your experience with photographing your tank from the top? In addition to enjoying the beauty, have you discovered any other benefits such as observing things that you wouldn’t have seen from the front such as new growth or potential areas of concern? What equipment do you use for your top-down shots? Do you prefer shots of specific corals or full tank top down shots? Please share an tips or questions that you have in the following discussion thread.

MarounC_TopDownShot.jpeg

Photo by @maroun.c

If you are interested in learning more about taking top-down shots of your aquarium, you may want to start with this R2R article on top-down reef photography. Also, you can check out the Photography section on Reef2Reef.
 

exnisstech

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I have to turn off too many devices to get the water still and hope the tangs stay out of the way to take top down shots. I will say that a lot of fish look different top down. I had fish in a stock tank on the basement floor for a couple of months once and totally enjoyed the view and the way the fish would turn sideways to look up. Now I know why blue green chromis are named that. They are blue when viewed from above. I would love to have tank that the top is at waist height.
 

Smite

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I build my aquariums with top down viewing in mind. It's my favorite way to enjoy my tank. I have a tall sided viewer I use made by Eshopps. It's large enough to fit my phone. I cant set it in there and take pictures no problem.

I use a Avast Marine Porthole for my DSLR shots. With acropora it's the only way to see all the details.
3.4.2023 acro macro-03.jpg
Tongs millepora.jpg
Tongs nasuta.jpg
 

fish farmer

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I don't have a lot of space above my tank since the tank was put into a existing "window" in my wall. Lights are close, so I get glare. I can only fit my phone in to take shots and they are close ups, no option of full tank shot from above.
20221129_145137_HDR.jpg


I can do angled shots.
20221129_150044_HDR.jpg
 

swervinscoot

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Every time I service the tank I have to take one or two. It’s a 125g with 3 RS50’s
 

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TheDuude

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I take my screen top off, shut off all flow, and observe the tank from above at least once a week. It's amazing how much even "Ultra low iron" glass distorts the corals color. Also good to look for dead spots with detritus build up.

Attached a top down of the fireworks but always seem to get pretty bad reflection of the led pucks on the water surface.

Any photography SMEs with some advice for this?
I guess I could just crop it out.
PXL_20230218_234109868.jpg
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 68 52.3%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 67 51.5%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 33 25.4%
  • None.

    Votes: 29 22.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 6.9%
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