Advice on converting fowlr to semi reef?

[riverfishguy]

I've decided to convert my fowlr to semi-reef. The reason it has to be semi and not full is because I have a black edge moray, a honey comb grouper and a bennets sharpnose puffer. The puffer and grouper would masacre shrimp but both leave snails and hermit crabs alone. The moray only cares about his cod filet. : )

The tank is a 90g with 1 koralia 3, 1 koralia 4, maxijet 295gph powerhead, and 1 rena xp3. I have 3 more #4 hydors 2 media reactors, (one for phosphate remover one for carbon), I have already added 80 lbs or good fully cured LR to give me a total of of about 130 - 150 lbs total. Also replaced the two smaller coralife strips. (260 watta and 130 watt.) Replacement is a 520 current usa orbit exreme. Also added a aqua C remora skimmer.

It's a non drilled tank and I dont know of any HOB overflows that are quiet and trustable so sumping the tank is out of the question. The tank has been maintained at a level that keeps my eel, grouper, and puffer healthy. Which means most of the older rock has some algae on it and the back wall of the tank has a lot of green hair algae on it. I think its bryopsis.

Any advice on what I can keep with my current setup? Was thinking about getting a foxface to help with the algae. Not sure what that light will let me grow. Was the best I could get without going halides. (No sump and I didnt want heat issues.

Here's a picture of the algae factory after I covered most of it up with rock.

 

[sweeTang21]

One note with your setup- puffers are probably not gunna work with a reef. eels and groupers are a caution fish, meaning things may happen lol. I have talked to a few seasoned hobbiest about puffers before and was told puffers are a no no. didnt ask why lol. neways, the tank is great and the light is going to be good for most corals. i suggest doing your homework because im not gunna type out of the species you can keep with that light.

What type of water are you using?? if your using tap water this could be the cause for the hair algae. I would test for eleveated phosphate and silicate levels as well as nitrate levels. Cansiters are said to be a nitrate bomb if not tended to on a regular basis.

 

[Kdcarey]

PUFFERS ARE FATTYS THAT WILL NIBBLE ON ANYTHING INCLUDING MY HAND
THEY WONT MESS WITH FISH BUT THEY WILL BITE ANY CORALS, SHRIMP OR LITTLE GUPPIES

 

[ShadowBass]

How much damage do you expect our 4 inch puffer to do in a 90g tank? It's ok if he chews on some stuff, none of it is going to be expensive or delicate.

BTW, he doesn't seem to have any interest in inverts (right now) or especially corals. There's been green star polyps in there for a long time. I put some peppermint shrimp that were bothering the polyps in my reef tank in there and he kind of stared at them but got bored. I'm assuming the grouper ate them since the puffer showed minimal interest.