tlpollock-
Lots of different messages flying around here, so I am going to start with a step by step for you. I am just re-entering the hobby and this forum, so dont let my lack of posts put you off. I hope the rest here agree with my post to you and back me up. We all want you to be successful. This hobby is amazing, and I am glad you are addicted like the rest of us!
So, here is my list of items I hear you mention above, my personal experience, and my advice.
1. This hobby is getting expensive - Yep. It isnt cheap. However, you have made all of the major investments. It gets really expensive if you cant be patient and keep killing livestock, so let's work together and avoid that.
2. Your local fish store - It is a long way away, and sometimes good to stop in to buy livestock or stuff you need. Here is my advice to you based upon the advice you have received from him..... Stop listening. He doesnt know what the heck he is talking about, especially if he knows the age and setup you have. I am not saying dont go there. Just dont go there for advice. Come here. People are accountable to each other here, and ask the hard questions of each other to make each other more successful.
3. Vodka - It is good. To drink. Not for you to dose. Very few people dose Vodka, and none just to get their protein skimmer working. Your skimmer is actually a great bang for your buck. I would suggest you get out the instructions and read them very carefully. If the outflow on that particular skimmer has too much back pressure, it really effects the way it works. You should be able to carefully turn the red knob and get it tuned and skimming very well. If you are unsuccessful, hop on the "Lighting, filtration and other eqpt" forum. They will help you every step of the way.
Cycle, live rock, and additives - Dont. Stop. Quit. Everything. Stop dosing, stop adding, quit messing. You have plenty of live rock that sounds like it has been well cycled at the LFS, and in your tank. You will def have a mini cycle, just dont know when. This probably seems nutso to you, but let your tank cycle (leave it alone, dont mess with it except to clean the glass) for at least 9 more weeks. Do a weekly water change of 10 gallons each week. Thats it. Get your skimmer dialed in and generating nasty brown stuff. After about 6 weeks, things will be looking pretty rough in there. Spend the money and get a great clean up crew. Lots of little hermits and astrea snails, maybe a mexican turbo if you want one. Keep an eye on your levels. You dont need to dose anything right now. If you have a science background you will understand that you need a baseline set of levels to dose toward (eventually).
4. Your current livestock - I would leave it in there. If you are 45 minutes from the LFS, more stress and the risk of more bad advice going back there. Anyone that would sell you a Goniopora, or even an Alveopora is after one thing. Your $$. It is a good thing you took it back. Did he give your $60 back? Doubt it.
Dont bring it back to your tank, it will die. I am not an environmentalist freak, and although it is a bummer about the coral, it is very likely going to die no matter where it goes. You dont want it to die in your tank, that is for sure. Those things have a ton of tissue that can funk up the tank really quickly.
I dont know a ton about Nems, but I dont believe you have enough lighting to support an LTA. It might be a Condy. In that case, your lighting should be fine, but your clown almost certainly wont host in it. How much did you pay for it? That will tell us pretty quickly what kind it is. A condy should have been under $20 or so. An LTA would have been more. It may be doomed long term but you never know.
I think that is it for now. Keep reaching out here. The best thing you can do is test weekly, and get the exact information for your equipment, as well as your salt and all levels you have test for. If you come on here armed with that info, you will be a very successful reefkeeper. Welcome to the hobby.
Best,
Josh
