I know you say the pics don't do it justice, but I think they do! Even low rez, they look better than most all other LFS's I've seen! Makes me wish I lived in the Riverside CT area!
I have this same problem quite often, especially if the power goes out for a few seconds or longer and comes back on - it doesn't start back up nicely. I have to tip it out of the water so that it starts sucking air properly. I don't ever remember having this problem with my euroreef, which I...