To be fair, the tank has so much new water in it, it hasn't had much of a chance to get dirty yet. That will come with some new fish.

Speaking of which, my first addition to this tank.
These guys get quite large in the wild, but I think it's a welcome change to the usual foxface or one spot. I didn't have very much bubble algae, but a frag came in with a bit some time ago, and this guy has already decimated whatever was in the tank. Pretty awesome.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2rgi1yq.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/2hn8kg8.jpg

Here's a full shot of the tank from the living room side.

http://i45.tinypic.com/20rmwhs.jpg

Now I need to deliberate over my lighting solution.
I have one Vega as it is, but if instead of adding a second unit, I could get by with a single GHL unit instead, then I would consider selling this one to keep it to a single fixture. Although even with a GHL, I was considering adding some lighting on the back side of the tank to keep corals behind the rockwork towards the outsides.
Or I could build my own fixture, but that would require a good amount of work and planning to get it to look sufficient for our main living area.

Opinions anyone?

And anyone who has a GHL want to swing it by and hold it over my tank to compare it? Might help twist these rubber arms of mine.

I love that rabbit fish! Tank looks nice from this view too!

That rabbit fish is wicked!

I cannot recommend the Mitras enough nothing compares to it period.

Thanks guys, the rabbit fish really fits in so far.
Now to further my stocking list, I have to find some fish that do well with an open top and also don't require a lot of rockwork to hide in since the tank is so open. I am starting to feel a little limited in my choices, but I am sure I will find the appropriate selections eventually.

As far as the lighting situation goes, the Vega is gone and I will be moving on to a different fixture now. More to come!

So I shopped around for some lighting options and checked out the GHL Mitras. Holy crap! There is no way I'm buying that thing, my girlfriend would kill me if she knew I spent that much...



... so here's my tank with the new Mitras on it. Taken fairly late, mostly royal blues on the lighting.

http://i50.tinypic.com/2rd9kau.jpg

So far, loving this light! I have it at 40% to re-acclimate the corals to a different light and bumping it up a touch each day. Programming is much better than Vega, and I only ran into one frustrating hiccup with it so far, but that's all sorted out and running great.

Rest of the tank is doing well, still need another MP40 to replace the old K2, and eventually upgrade the skimmer, but this little SWC-120 is working quite well for the load. I will get around to the skimmer when I find something that strikes out to me.

And here's the family, minus the PJ Cardinal who hides in the back until it's night or feeding time.

http://i48.tinypic.com/20ht3dl.jpg

The mitras looks great on your tank.

How are you supporting the light?

fantastic job with the rock work that looks amazing. that extra rock at the end of your island swirl is icing on the cake =)

The Mitras really does have has quite a bit of extra spread over the the AI Vega.

I love your scaping.

Good looking setup you got there :thumb:

Hard to tell it's current position but have you considered moving the mitra a bit towards the back wall? You mentioned adding more light towards the back but with the way the rock is done you could just position the light further back. Even lower it a little possibly making a slight shadow effect at the front of tank which I think might look nice given the layout. Although I'm not sure you can make any shadows with that light ;)

Oh and did you buy the light then? Or what's the deal as you mentioned something about "no way" but then.... there it is.