This little guy has been up and running for several months now. Light is an 80W Orbit with dual actinics and dual daylights plus two lunars. The skimmer is a cheapo Skilter (seems to do the job), there's a heater and a couple powerheads. There is a plenum in the tank as well as a DSB. We scored some fantastic live rock that was slathered in color and critters for very cheap (most pieces were $5 or $6 per lb). For a few months we just had the live rock, started with a few pieces then increased as necessary. I still do want more!
About a month ago or so we finally got some frags, the yellow fluffy stuff and the bright green wavey stuff (I really need to find the names, I feel like a doofus not knowing). They seemed to do really well, and in fact the yellow guys have started moving from their frag and onto the existing rock. A couple weeks ago we added the mushroom polyps (I do hope I got that right, it's the blue/purple guys). One is happily parked out where I originally put it and the other insisted on walking away from view; it now sits at the bottom rear of the tank, but it seems to be content. I'm sure you've noticed our plentiful macroalgae. It was not added, it just happened. I trim the bush to 3/4 its height every couple weeks. I otherwise enjoy the bush on the rock as well as the one growing off the skimmer for the simple fact that they give extra filtration. Also, I think they look really neat!
Yellow mushroomy goodness.
Green strings and ham?
The mushroom that bailed to the ground. *Above was digitially enhanced to match actual life color- the flash washed everything out.*
The top floor mushroom. *Above again color corrected*
What's this awesome macroalgae that grows over an inch per week?
We have endless creatures growing on the reef. Lots of worms, tons of what I think are copepods, misc corals and anemonae that hitchhiked on the rock and are thriving, featherdusters that came with the rock, and small, shrimplike things that scurry around. We've also added three hermit crabs; they're still with us, enjoying the reef.
About a week or two weeks ago we added the clownfish. He's got a nifty little abberation with his middle stripe, thus earning the name "Brokenstripe." We're giving the reef a couple months to settle in to the new bio-load and then I think we're going to add a small wrasse or something small. I would like to explore adding an anemone, but I'm not sure if I have the necessary requirements.
Why he earned his name.
Incidentally, the clown eats frozen (Prime Reef) and New Life Spectrum Cichlid formula (the size is right). He seems to enjoy the NLS over the frozen!
Glowing under the flash.
Maintenance includes top offs as needed (aged tap water) and water changes once a week or once every week and a half. So far, it seems to be thriving with this, but I know I may need to ramp up water changes with the clown in there.
Any advice on anemonae, anything we're doing wrong, what we could be doing better, or just a proverbial pat on the back (this is our very first) is much appreciated.
I think we could use some more live rock as well... Any thoughts as to the names of the goodies in my tank, including the macroalgae? Judging by how much algae grows, do we have too many nutrients in there? If we pick up more live rock can it lean against the back wall of the tank provided they aren't huge pieces?
Thanks, hope you enjoy! All photos were taken with the Canon EOS 350D and the basic kit lens.

About a month ago or so we finally got some frags, the yellow fluffy stuff and the bright green wavey stuff (I really need to find the names, I feel like a doofus not knowing). They seemed to do really well, and in fact the yellow guys have started moving from their frag and onto the existing rock. A couple weeks ago we added the mushroom polyps (I do hope I got that right, it's the blue/purple guys). One is happily parked out where I originally put it and the other insisted on walking away from view; it now sits at the bottom rear of the tank, but it seems to be content. I'm sure you've noticed our plentiful macroalgae. It was not added, it just happened. I trim the bush to 3/4 its height every couple weeks. I otherwise enjoy the bush on the rock as well as the one growing off the skimmer for the simple fact that they give extra filtration. Also, I think they look really neat!

Yellow mushroomy goodness.

Green strings and ham?

The mushroom that bailed to the ground. *Above was digitially enhanced to match actual life color- the flash washed everything out.*

The top floor mushroom. *Above again color corrected*

What's this awesome macroalgae that grows over an inch per week?
We have endless creatures growing on the reef. Lots of worms, tons of what I think are copepods, misc corals and anemonae that hitchhiked on the rock and are thriving, featherdusters that came with the rock, and small, shrimplike things that scurry around. We've also added three hermit crabs; they're still with us, enjoying the reef.
About a week or two weeks ago we added the clownfish. He's got a nifty little abberation with his middle stripe, thus earning the name "Brokenstripe." We're giving the reef a couple months to settle in to the new bio-load and then I think we're going to add a small wrasse or something small. I would like to explore adding an anemone, but I'm not sure if I have the necessary requirements.

Why he earned his name.
Incidentally, the clown eats frozen (Prime Reef) and New Life Spectrum Cichlid formula (the size is right). He seems to enjoy the NLS over the frozen!

Glowing under the flash.
Maintenance includes top offs as needed (aged tap water) and water changes once a week or once every week and a half. So far, it seems to be thriving with this, but I know I may need to ramp up water changes with the clown in there.
Any advice on anemonae, anything we're doing wrong, what we could be doing better, or just a proverbial pat on the back (this is our very first) is much appreciated.

Thanks, hope you enjoy! All photos were taken with the Canon EOS 350D and the basic kit lens.