[Jakerupe]

Well the anemone didn't make it through the soap cleaning and the nitrate explosion.

So after some advice from everyone I have some answers, question and the start of a plan.

I reinstalled the skimmer and have that running and it seems to have started doing its job again but the nitrates are still rising and high. I did get a new nitrate kit, same brand and the first one consistently measure twice the amount of the new one. I also checked the tap water and R/O water and seem to have a problem with the RO unit. Tap water had about 2.5/ppm while the RO has about 5/ppm. Does this mean that the filters and membranes are done? Another strange thing is that I have done water changes of 5% 10% and 25% on consecutive days and the level has not dropped, guess it is rising and I have offset that some. Only about 6 months old.

Anyway I think I found some issues and addressed some and have more to address. Everyone mentioned the substrate collecting organics and I think that my live rock may be as big a culprit. 250 pounds and it is a wall! Think the flow is blocked too much. I also found a power head was not functioning behind the rocks. So I replaced the power head with a modded maxijet...WOW. Moves a lot of water. Next step is I plan to break up the wall to allow better water flow and place some of that rock in the Tidepool. I'll pst some pics to help explain that one. So that leads me to the next question about the wheel in the Tidepool. Tangster had mentioned that it had been known to be a nitrate factory over time, anyone else know anything about that? Sounds logical, no offense Tang, but I'd like to get a little more input. Worried that the biological being removed may cause a mini crash.

Last question is the Ehiem wet/dry in the tank. No one thought that it may cause any problems but the filter is filled with a glass substrate that is very porous. Wouldn't that cause the same problems as the crushed coral collection organic crap?

I also removed the sponges from the power head; anemone is safe from me in anemone heaven. Should I remove the sponge in the overflow box and allow the skimmer to pull more out?

So the plan is;
Break down the wall, and rebuild to allow better flow
Put the live rock in the sump to replace the wheel - still in debate.
Will mod the front side maxijets to get more water flow...less dead spots.
Figure out the Ehiem.
Keep changing the water till it STOPS!

And anything else you all may come up with, other then getting naked and getting in the tank.