I responded to some topics in the above post (see above). now its time for a nice update with pics and more questions!
- First things first. I had been fostering around this tiny piece of chaeto from my old tank since April!! Yea, I refused to pay for another batch since I did so well with my last one. Well, I finally put it into my fuge last week and, i guess it was too small and close to the heater that it disintigrated! yea, nice job there. so i finally caved and purchased a nice sized clump of chaeto to help in the all important task of nutrient export:
See, even with the WCs ive been doing, i still have a little bit of hair algae on some rocks and....i get SO much buildup on the front of my glass. Its amazing, to keep it perfect I really have to scrape the glass clean EVERY day! I know part of it is b/c of my powerful lights, but i think its also a result of high nutrients. So, Im really gonna grow some nice chaeto here.
Right now its in my QT/Fuge, but Im going to install a dedicated rubbermaid just to hold and grow out this chaeto. I will use the LOA light fixture seen below, 24/7, along with a higher flow of water than in the current QT/Fuge. Here's a shot of the nice stuff:
Im hoping as this grows it will help cut back on the nutrients and, eventually, the algae growth on the glass.
- Next, I promised some details on my newest moonlight. I have a feeling, though, that this may not be an ideal solution in the end. I was browsing through one of those Christmas shops in the mall and bought a set of blue christmas lights on sale, for $1.75! Yea, I couldnt pass up the opportunity to try these out. Bottom line: they look AWESOME on the tank at night, however, Im afraid the way I have them it might be a hazard of some sort?
As you can see in the pic below, I basically have them resting on top of my T5 reflectors, so that the bulbs themselves "peek" through to the surface of the water!
Here's a shot, looking down onto my T5 reflectors:
Here's a shot from below, where they stick out towards the water:
So, they look awesome at night, but I feel like the heat from the T5s might be too much for these cheap Xmas lights? Thoughts?
- Next, I need help with an ID. I think this is a spong of some sort? Any clues?
- Now, for some picture updates of my corals. Here's one of my Frogspawn that has recently split into a new head!
Im a little concerned that my lights might be too powerful b/c sometimes the coral seems a little too brown, and not green enough when under the full power of the lights. Is this possible?
- Next, here's some pics of my green torch coral.
First, here's a pic when I first got it.
Now, I've been messing with the location of it for the right light/flow combination b/c recently it just hasnt been opening too much.
Here's a current pic of what I mean:
Im not sure, but is something wrong? why isnt it opening to its full lenght? One good thing to add is that it, too, just split one of its head into a new one!
Sorry for such a long update, but its been awhile. I'll have more shortly...
And I imagine it'd a lot quieter than my huge pcx-70 (though it's in the fish room, noise to adjoining basement rooms is always a future concern)..
So, you think they're ok, or is that little animation mocking me? 
