All the photos of Simone’s wonderful aquarium, aka Gigi Reef Project
Let’s dive into the beating heart of Simone’s aquarium: its inhabitants. After the technical overview—and a few photos in the text—it’s time to focus on what truly makes this tank unique: fish and corals.
The first impression is spectacular: a lively, diverse community moving through the rockwork, with vivid colors and contrasts that shift with the lighting. Surgeonfish rule the scene with elegance, accompanied by small schooling species that add motion and a natural feel. Corals—mostly SPS—create vistas that closely recall a natural reef.
Every specimen reflects careful choices and years of passion. Coral health and growth attest to meticulous management, while the fishes’ vitality speaks to a stable, well-kept environment.
The spectacular Acanthurus leucosternon in Simone’s aquarium – Gigi Reef Project
In the gallery below we’ll showcase the stars of this aquarium up close: colors, shapes, and details worth appreciating one by one. First the fish, then the corals.
The fish in Simone’s aquarium
The tank comes alive thanks to its most dynamic inhabitants: the fish. A colorful, bustling community of surgeonfish, schooling species, and more solitary fish recreates the vitality of a true coral reef. Each specimen brings color and personality, offering endless moments of observation.
Portrait of Acanthurus olivaceus in full livery.Up front, the Pomacanthus imperator—star power.Elegant Acanthurus leucosternon cruising center lane.Profile of Acanthurus leucosternon among the flows.A quick pass between the rocks.Under blue light, the Acanthurus leucosternon shows its contrasts.Among the rocks, the group brings the scene to life.Fluid movement of Acanthurus olivaceus along the front.A calm moment for the Chromis viridis in midwater.Intense colors in the school of Chromis viridis.At the front glass, the fish trace continuous paths.Detail of Centropyge colini among the branches.Centropyge colini portrait—small but bold.Centropyge colini in the foreground—livery on display.Profile of Centropyge colini near the SPS.A quick pass under alternating flow.Under blue light, the colors pop.Among the rocks, Centropyge colini patrols its turf.Snapshot of Acanthurus leucosternon in a turn.Graceful swimming by the Naso elegans.Close-up of Naso elegans with metallic highlights.Naso elegans heading toward the surface.Profile of Naso elegans against the reef backdrop.Zebrasoma flavescens—solid yellow and classic grazer behavior.Pygoplites diacanthus: Simone’s “fish of the heart.”At the front glass, Naso elegans leads the group.A quiet moment for the Naso elegans.
The corals in Simone’s aquarium
Corals are the aesthetic and biological heart of the tank. Their shapes, colors, and growth tell the story of careful husbandry and a stable environment. Up close, you can appreciate the details that make this aquarium unique, bringing it closer to the natural beauty of a miniature reef.
Top-down view: mature colonies and compact growth.Acropora close-up: extended polyps and healthy tissue.Among the branches: well-formed tabular growth.Foreground architecture of a branched SPS Acropora.Under blue light, the polyps show their fluorescence.Growth detail: active tips and compact tissue.Acropora nobilis profile: dense, even branching.Stylophora pistillata: compact texture with clearly visible polyps.In the foreground, the apical tips of Acropora nobilis.Top view: aquascape density and shadowing.Top view: colony placement and growth spaces.Overall scene: SPS-dominant and a balanced layout.
We can only thank Simone for letting us photograph this little slice of paradise.
