Hey, so I managed to reduce the nitrates using a 4 water changes day after day. Now I am planning on getting a skimmer before the problem gets bad again. As for my substrate, I have about 2-2.5' of crushed coral in there. I also cut a little bit on the food. I was also thinking to take the bird wrasse away from my system but then decided to leave it in there as all my tank mates live there in harmony....
As for the q about the shrimps and the puffer - before I introduced the shrimps, I fed my fish and coevered the tank with some dark cloth for 1 hour to put the fish to sleep. Then I put the shrimp behind one of the rocks so it can hide right away. When the puffer decided to wake up and enjoy its dinner, I chased him with my hand (twice) and he wouldn't try to attack the shrimp since. However, watch out for the coral banded shrimps!!! thhey can catch you with their claws, and this is painful!!!!!!!!!!
As for the q about the shrimps and the puffer - before I introduced the shrimps, I fed my fish and coevered the tank with some dark cloth for 1 hour to put the fish to sleep. Then I put the shrimp behind one of the rocks so it can hide right away. When the puffer decided to wake up and enjoy its dinner, I chased him with my hand (twice) and he wouldn't try to attack the shrimp since. However, watch out for the coral banded shrimps!!! thhey can catch you with their claws, and this is painful!!!!!!!!!!
