Just as I had thought. Talk to your classmates, like Apostle said he needs to buy some books or get online, you really need to tell anyone that if they want to touch that tank or put anything in they need to get on this site PRONTO. My advice to you is to find someone that has a Good Water filter at home, fill up some 5 gallon jugs and keep them in hand. NO MORE TAP WATER. If no one has an RO system, at least go use a public water machine, usually only .25 per gallon.(you might want to do a water check on that water too, like phospates,etc..), I'm glad to hear you chagned the filters pads too, that was contributing to your high amonia and nitrates. And its probably a good idea to change it because I'm guessing they have carbon in them. Keep it fresh with the pads.
About the shrimp, those guys are really good at hidding. I would not worry about looking for him. He should come out as soon as his shell is hard.
I'm sure you guys at school are really excited about the tank, but if it does not get the right treatment it will end up looking bad then you guys will really feel like you failed and might even stop treating it correct. I'm sure you guys don't want that. What you need to do Jellygirl is absorb as much information as you can, and implement it to your class. TEach them what you learn here.
My final advice to you is take all the fish back to the fish store and take credit for Live Rock, it might help if your teacher gets involved he might be able to get a special by telling the store that its educational. And let it sit for 2-3 weeks. Then add only 1 fish, start over again, and things should go a lot smother.
