Thanks for the kudos!!!
I was totally hooked the second I came across the mega-thread on Reef Sanctuary. It took me a week to read through it, I wanted to absorb everything I could. I also found it quite interesting that there were many people down-playing the system as a 'fad' or something along those line, saying that it just can't work, etc. The guy that started the thread (Santa Monica) started dozens of identical threads all over the internet and has been accused of trying to sell something, etc. I'm still not sure what his motives are, because he runs a site where he sells his design (and it looks like he's trying to nail down an international patent) as well as gives advice/comments on people's DIY builds. He's been banned, crucified, and run off from many sites, likely because he's pretty brash. I've been a little frustrated with his one-line responses to my involved questions, I have to ask over and over and over to get a question answered, but I think that's because like most people he has a REAL job too, and gets asked a lot of questions over and over and over. Or maybe he's hoping they'll give up on DIY and buy his design. Either way, it doesn't really matter, the concept behind the idea is solid and completely makes sense, as you said, it mimics the natural eco-system.
Think about this - why do you not test for Iron in SW? It's because algae sucks it up right away. Even in a marine aquarium (versus ocean), various forms of algae perform the vast majority of filtration. So why not use that to your advantage?
So with that said, here's what 1/2 of the screen looked like yesterday morning before I cleaned it:
Here's what I cleaned off both sides (just came off with my fingers, no nails)
Mmmmmmm...
And the slot tube, that I need to re-do (to even the slot and get rid of the cross-cuts)
I was in a rush so no time to take pics of the full screen after cleaning. I took off the seed screens and tossed them. It's established enough (I didn't need them at all, apparently)
Also, I bought a jar of Reef Nutrition Tigger Pods and had them add 1/2 to the tank and 1/2 to the overflow chamber. I swished the screen in the DT before cleaning and didn't see any pods (although there might have been some, who knows) but I figured it can't hurt since there's a scooter blenny in the tank. Also got them some Rod's Food, Oyster Feast, and Arcti-Pods to supplement their pellets & cubes.