after hours of hell and worry and screaming I have found the problem. I went through my journal that list everything that I do to my tank. from feeding, water changrs, filter crap, water readings. the big problem I couldn't understand was that I had all this nitrate yet never had an amonia or nitrite spike. nothing was dead and my tank was going crazy. the problem was this thick filter pad I purchased last week. well it had became so clogged with crap that it was back flushing it into my tank. I did my last h20 change an hour ago. the mitrate is down to 10. I know it's not perfect but hell it's better then 180. also I got my calcium up to 400. I know it should be more but I not going to try to kill myself tonight. I just finished my final and all I want to do is take some downers and have a drink. my nerves are shattered. still have one problem my friend sent me a piece of galexia goral and it has been sitting in a ups box. I have no where to put it for the night besides my tank(which it will die) or it can die in the box.