I'm not sure I'm doing all THAT well yet but thanks
I've just gotten lucky on a few frag purchases.
The only thing I can really think of that can explain the difference is that this is really a complete tank reset. All new rock, plus it was dry to begin with so the starting point should be as reasonably close to clean as I can make it.
Of course, 5 months in I have managed to get valonia, bryopsis and aiptasia in there and they are starting to make their presence be felt. I need to go hunting. Tweezers for the valonia, boiling water for the bryopsis, and I want to get an aiptasia zapper for those little nuisances.