Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

No worries. I didn't interpret it that way at all. I'm just eager to see how well it will do.

Figured I'd post an update with some pics. I think y'all will get a kick out of the makeshift "turf scrubber" that's growing on this tank.

Here it is, with long turf algae growing on all four panes:

Unsurprisingly, there isn't a single strand of this stuff growing anywhere else in the tank--it is 100% confined to the glass. I'm thinking of leaving it, except on the front pane. Even that will stay until I get the scrubber running in the sump.

Older clown plus the new one:


Old cucumber and new Penicillus that is already showing growth:


Awesome seagrass growth from behind the scrubber panes:

Looks good, the pinecone algae is amazing. They look like pinecone ginger cones.

Quick pic after a rough cleaning of the glass (I want to leave some algae on there to start over):

Well, I have some good news. The manatee grass that I thought had completely died off has suddenly begun sprouting up amidst the oargrass in a few places. I'm excited to see what it does and how it does in the long term. It may eventually outcompete the oargrass, but we'll see.

Well, I came across an incredible deal on one of the new Vortech MP40w ES pumps, so I went ahead and got it. Granted, I won't be able to use it at its maximum, but it'll still make a big difference. I'm hoping it will make the seagrass sway like I've seen in turtle grass beds.

Big photo update with clean front glass. The water is still a bit cloudy from the work I did.

Mostly FTS:


Clowns in seagrass and anemone. They will lay on the grass sometimes:


Grand appearance:


Closeup of grass on front left, which is starting to really fill in:


My oldest coral:

Some great growth since your original pics... Your H. malu (crispa maybe?) looks great too.

Thanks. I did initially think that my anemone was H. malu, but after having it under my lighting, feeding it well, and observing its characteristics a bit better, it is most definitely H. crispa. I was actually hoping for the latter in the beginning, but after having one get to gigantic proportions before, I didn't want to risk one again. Seems that I didn't get that lucky. I'll just have to control its growth through feeding.

New pics:

Looks like a miniature Halophila seagrass bed...

That's what I was shooting for. I'm going to have to change my sig, since I really don't have any macroalgae left (and I've since removed the remnants of dying Ulva). The grasses successfully choked it out, surprisingly enough. I'm trimming it back what seems like constantly. I also broke down and bought a small colony of Pocillopora, which is turning pink and doing quite well.

Did you buy these grasses or collect them.

I bought them from John at reefcleaners.org

Thanks.... that is a real nice tank.