All I can do is wish you the best of luck. Each tank is unique and you certainly prove that theory. I hope everything works out in your favor.Lavey - The system had been running since 239 reading (around 24 hours ago). Refuge and others (including Zeolite) must have consumed some nitrates.
Reading have been checked and I understand skepticism of reading being wrong (just because its so out of order) but I wish they were - morning LFS confirmed 200+. I have checked the same tank with 3 different kits and hanna with a new reagent - all readings were 200+. Since then:
Added Geo bricks (not sure how effective they were).
Refugium with full blasting light running 24x7
Dosed Carbon
And few more steps which are highlighted if you follow the thread
Last was water change followed by coral snow.
Same kit gave all satisfactory results to other systems (Mixing station, my second tank, and CA reagent and few more which I tested just for the heck of it) , I can see progression from 230+ --> around 190 this morning to 125 now.
And I guess now we can confirm that 200+ nitrate is not dangerous for saltwater fish (given 0 nitrites , 0 ammonia) and bunch of bacteria population with effective cycle.