My Pics never come out good

[badasstang]

I have a Minolta Dimage s404 (4 MegaPixel) camera. But I can't seem to get good pics from my tanks. I have thought some look good, but then I see some from these posts, and am thrown back, they are beautiful just like there is no glass. I have been playing around with mine, and found when I have it in manual mode, I can darken it up, and they look good...but still not perfect.
What are your tricks????

 

[dr. phil]

I just push the button. I can't believe you haven't figured that out yet. Pretty simple concept if you ask me.

 

[badasstang]

Dr. Phil (that is something he would say too)
That button you are talking about, is that the round shiny one, a little bigger than the rest of them?
Macro mode...that sounds familiar, I guess I will get my booklet out again!