Phosphates

Not me, I haven't checked phosphate in my tanks for 10 years. I just grow and harvest algae.

But I think that every new hobbyist should check the phosphate level at least once so they know what their tank looks like at that phosphate level. Then, if the hobbyist is not growing much algae, they should start
Why am I so big on Algae?
If you look around, in nature there is more plant life than animal life. It's funny how we totally depend on plants for oxygen and food, but we only seem to notice the animals.

If you don't go the Macro Algae route, make sure that you are checking for phosphates, and I would pick up a phosban reactor.  A lot of the tanks that I have heard about and seen that run phosban, are doing amazing.  If your phosphates are too high, you get retarded coral growth, basically the same thing that Shane was saying about SPS growth.  They are cheap like $40 bucks, and I believe you'll see a difference.  Either way, that is my opinion.  Both algae and the reactor would be preferred in my mind though.

Brandon