Okay guys. It's nice probing this forum. This is my first post ... yipee
I am a Professional Photography student as well as a Photographic assistant. The key to taking great pictures of aquariums is to keep the lighting simple.
* NO BUILT IN / POP UP FLASH!!!
*NO MIXED LIGHTING. - It may be technical but different lights have different color temperatures. Mixin these lighting temperatures will result in a badly lit and often color cast image.
Example :
http://www.projectwoman.com/uploaded_images/whitebalance-742417.jpg
The image on the left is the color temperature mix of tungsten and possible flash. Tungsten are the normal common bulbs. The image on the right shows a well balanced image in tungsten light.
Since all or most aquarium lights are fluorescent, mixing flash and tank light will result in a colored image. Possibly a green or blue, depending on the color of the tank light
*ALWAYS USE A HIGH SPEED CAMERA!
* IF USING A DSLR, SET THE SHUTTER TO ANYTHING ABOVE 1/25 OF A SECOND, COMPENSATING WITH AN IS0 OF 400 +
FOR NON-DSLR USERS ......
* ALWAYS TAKE PICTURES IN COMPLETE DARKNESS WITH JUST THE TANK LIGHT ON.
There will be no need for flash , as your camera light meter will 'sense' the degree of light only coming from the tank.
I hope this helped.
Please feel free to ask questions.
Ps: No need for Macro/Telephoto/Ultra zoom cameras. Use what you have.
Focus up close and snap a few on auto mode in the dark. If you use manual mode then read your user guide to set up for white balance to fluorecent. You may want to add some magenta if your camera has a digital color filter.
Even if you have a mobile phone camera, snap a few in abundant light. It doesn't matter to mix light with mobile phone cameras. Just don't use flash for anything reflective like glass.
Regards
The TankMAster