Looking for top down fish pics!

ichthyogeek · Oct 11, 2020

So I have a tub that I'd like to put fish into. I'll measure it tomorrow again, but I'm fairly certain it goes up to 100 gallons (it's around 4' Long x 3' Wide x 2' Deep).

The issue I'm having, is that a lot of the fish we keep are good from a "look at the side" POV, but not from a "look from the top" POV (which I guess is good, camouflage and countershading and all). Feeding pictures are great, but I'd also like to get candid pictures of the fish.

If you have a tank that has a footprint of 12 square feet or less (4'x3', 6'x2', etc.), a top down picture is welcome! I'm interested in fish that aren't going to outgrow this size tub. I'm specially interested in top down pictures of the following fish:

Dendrochirus sp. lionfish (aka the dwarf lionfish!). Special special interest in D. biocellatus (Fu Manchus)
Pterois sphex, or the Hawaiian lionfish (@lion king ?)
Yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Tomini and kole tangs (Ctenochaetus tominiensis, C. strigosus)
Convict Tangs (Acanthurus triostegus)
Bicolor goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides)
Serranus tigrinus (Serranus tigrinus)
Tobys (Canthigaster sp., especially C. valentini, and C. solandri)
Squirrelfish (Sargocentron, Neoniphon, and Myripristis)
Harlequin Tuskfish (Choerodon fasciatus)

xxkenny90xx · Oct 11, 2020

@RC79ATC has some amazing tubs set up. And some cool YouTube videos of them.

ichthyogeek · Oct 11, 2020

I did check their videos out! Granted, 300 gallons is a lot larger than 100 gallons...but if I pretend the scopas is yellow, then I’ve got a good look at what a Zebrasoma looks like from the top down!

RC79ATC · Oct 12, 2020

I love the pond look. And the fact that you can get a 300 gallon tub for about 250$ at Traktor supply makes this type of set up so very economical. It is definitely a different view point but i find it amazing.

lion king · Oct 12, 2020

RC79ATC said:
I love the pond look. And the fact that you can get a 300 gallon tub for about 250$ at Traktor supply makes this type of set up so very economical. It is definitely a different view point but i find it amazing.

Do ytou have a build thread on that pond. How do you set up the filtration,

RC79ATC · Oct 13, 2020

lion king said:
Do ytou have a build thread on that pond. How do you set up the filtration,

I have the start of one yes.

My current set up is 3 x 300 gallon tubs...the center is a refugium/live rock filter. Large skimmer. 2 plastic totes with the lid and side drilled for enter and return. Tote is filled with rock, filter sock, activated carbon/zeolite.

The plumbing is basic with a gravity spill way and PVC drain into the tote through a bulkhead.

It is very simple but pretty effective.

RC79ATC · Oct 13, 2020

lion king said:
Do ytou have a build thread on that pond. How do you set up the filtration,

Like this.

PicassoClown04 · Oct 13, 2020

Sorry I don’t have big fish, but here’s a cherub angel and a couple clowns from the top down!

ichthyogeek · Oct 14, 2020

Well....I just remeasured the tank. I couldn't find the ruler, so used the thumb trick (1 thumb ~=~1")...the tub is a 50 gallon 3'x2'x1' tank...dang it! I might have to rethink all of the stocking ideas I had...and not for the better unfortunately....

Sadly, that means no more pelagic fish spawns...

RC79ATC · Oct 15, 2020

ichthyogeek said:
Well....I just remeasured the tank. I couldn't find the ruler, so used the thumb trick (1 thumb ~=~1")...the tub is a 50 gallon 3'x2'x1' tank...dang it! I might have to rethink all of the stocking ideas I had...and not for the better unfortunately....

Sadly, that means no more pelagic fish spawns...

If you have a traktor supply nearby, they have a 300 gallon Rubbermaid for less than 300$ and it will fit through most standard doors. Use the 50 gallon as the filter box/refugium

OrionN · Oct 15, 2020

I am not sure if these are what you are looking for, but these pictures were taken through the surface of the water, some with a view box others without. Fish and animals are much more colorful looking from the direction of the light, top down.

ichthyogeek · Oct 15, 2020

OrionN said:
I am not sure if these are what you are looking for, but these pictures were taken through the surface of the water, some with a view box others without. Fish and animals are much more colorful looking from the direction of the light, top down.

That is exactly what I'm looking for, thank you!!!

RC79ATC said:
If you have a traktor supply nearby, they have a 300 gallon Rubbermaid for less than 300$ and it will fit through most standard doors. Use the 50 gallon as the filter box/refugium

I've been getting that suggestion a lot, and I might do it....but it's all dependable on where I move, and how much weight I can put on the flooring, as well as ....landlords....
My initial plan was to have the tub hooked up to a pre-planned breeding system. It would function as another part of filtration, since it would hold more free-floating algae species like Chaeto, Sargassum, and Ulva, while simultaneously also housing more spawning fish (pelagics!). A 300 gallon is...intimidating. Very intimidating. The largest I've ever worked with was a 55 aquarium and this tub. The large water volume would be....a lot, and I'd have to recalculate a lot of the maintenance costs , such as the ones for making salt...

RC79ATC · Oct 16, 2020

ichthyogeek said:
That is exactly what I'm looking for, thank you!!!

I've been getting that suggestion a lot, and I might do it....but it's all dependable on where I move, and how much weight I can put on the flooring, as well as ....landlords....
My initial plan was to have the tub hooked up to a pre-planned breeding system. It would function as another part of filtration, since it would hold more free-floating algae species like Chaeto, Sargassum, and Ulva, while simultaneously also housing more spawning fish (pelagics!). A 300 gallon is...intimidating. Very intimidating. The largest I've ever worked with was a 55 aquarium and this tub. The large water volume would be....a lot, and I'd have to recalculate a lot of the maintenance costs , such as the ones for making salt...

I completely understand. I am a bit spoiled as i live near Marineland Florida and can get offshore saltwater fairly easily.

Keep us informed and good luck!

ThRoewer · Oct 16, 2020

Orchid Dottybacks - they only show their full colors when you look at them from above from where the light comes.

ichthyogeek · Oct 16, 2020

ThRoewer said:
Orchid Dottybacks - they only show their full colors when you look at them from above from where the light comes.

Those would be cool! Have any pictures? Alternatively....have any pictures of your comets from the top-down? I had an idea for the tub that consisted of a pair of comets + lionfish....

ThRoewer · Oct 16, 2020

ichthyogeek said:
Those would be cool! Have any pictures? Alternatively....have any pictures of your comets from the top-down? I had an idea for the tub that consisted of a pair of comets + lionfish....

I have an Orchid in a tub but I doubt the camera can capture the brilliance of his color (at least my phone camera won't do). Trust me, the color of them you see on pictures is pale to the iridescence of the colors when seen from above.

Marine Bettas will likely not be suitable as they like to stand in caves. You won't see them much.

But with a gang of Pomacentrus alleni you might get a similar effect as with the Pseudochromis fridmani. Under the right light from the right angle without filtering glass they have the most stunning metallic blue.