Hey Silence!
Great stuff there. I have a soft spot for FOWLR tanks. I was in the reef hobby for most of my highschool and college years, but made the switch to FOWLR in grad school as they are much, much easier to move.
A few things to consider:
Why live rock? This the thing that distinguishes FOWLR tanks from the typical marine aquarium. Large formations of live rock do multiple things: live rock has a ridiculous amount of surface area due to its porous nature: nitrifying bacteria grow on every surface of a tank and are responsible for converting fish waste into less toxic compounds. The rock itself supports incredibly high populations of bacteria, making the rock a giant living filter. The rock also serves as a network of visual barriers, creating territories for aggressive fish and lowering fighting.Lastly, the rock serves as a nursery of sorts for food organisms, seeding the tank with tiny isopods and amphipods.
Tips:
Stock light, stock small fish. Even with the addition of live rock, saltwater fish are sensitive to nitrogenous waste. Large fish produce more waste for their body size than small fish. Large fish also tend to make a tank seem crowded and less of an ecosystem.
Use the reef mentality - all fish have a purpose. Lots of fish help keep the tank looking clean. Choose fish that serve functions: lawnmower blennies (eat hair algae), sailfin tangs(eat macro algaes), sand sifting gobies (keep substrate clean), cooperband butterflies (eat nuisance organisms like aptasia), neon gobies (eat parasite off other fish), etc.
Lastly, from a teacher standpoint, consider having a message or theme. For instance, look up the Berlin Method. Low stocking, light feeding, no filter... say what? Live rock handles all the biological work. Because you won't be growing corals, protein skimming isn't that big a deal. Without a filter, you save on electricity... you have a "green" tank
combine this with farmed or tank bred fish and sustainably harvested fish food stuffs... I smell an A
Lol keep us posted and chime in with questions. I know a few of us were fish kids and still are at heart.