Help Needed at the 6 Month Mark

[DegaBird]

I'm not new to reefs, just haven't done it in about a decade. 6 months to the day I re-set up my IM 25gallon. It had been doing REALLY well until it feels like a switch has been flipped. I had the first few rounds of uglies as anticipated (Dinos, general brown, etc) and I thought about a month or so ago it had all balanced out. Suddenly, cyano out of nowhere and now into the hair algae phase. Fine, I can expect that. Then overnight the few pieces of SPS I had (montis, a poci and stylo) just about all blew up. I've lost every acan I've put in (they just sort of wither away) and now my zoas/palys won't open. My duncan doesn't have the extension it once had, although it did grow a second head. I do have half a dozen rock anemones that seem fine and a chalice that's growing like crazy. Just looking for a little insight on the next steps to take.

Equipment:
Hydra 26 upgraded to Luxdium Cyan puck (this was done in March)
Aqua Gadget reactor with phosgaurd/carbon
Upgraded Filter Caddys with batting and carbon
Hygger powerhead and MP10
IM Helio heater set to 77 degrees (F)
ATO

Inhabitants:
Mocha Clownfish
Tailspot Blenny
Yellow watchman goby
Yello clown goby
Myriad of snails/hermits/crabs/stars

Corals are a mix of LPS and Softies. Six rock anemones and one bubble tip anemone.

Water test:
pH: 8.2, Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrates: 0, Phospahte: .11 - .14, Salinity: 1.024, Alk: 8.3, Magnesium: 1440, Calcium: 420
I test water every week.
Phosphates are my most unstable variable. I've had them as high as .46 from the early days to as low as .01 and a quick average gives me .15.

I dose baking soda in the top off bucket and that has tamed my fluctuating alk. Magnesium/Calcium are incredibly stable from week to week. All tests are done with Salifert except for phosphate, which is a Hanna checker.

This tank has never read anything other than 0 for nitrates since the day I set it up. I do have an API test as well and that also shows zero. I DO have a bag of ammonium bicarbonate on my desk but am too chicken to dose it. Water changes are done every week and I change 6 gallons at a time. I do dose 2x weekly trace elements but that started after the meltdown thinking I'm missing something. Salt is regular Instant Ocean.

I do have this wild RED algae going on along with the hair algae. It does not look like cyano and is kind of fluffy, not slimy. Meanwhile coraline is starting to grow for the first time ever (I've NEVER had luck with coraline in any of my tanks!)

Any thoughts on how to make everything happy again, as well as get rid of this obnoxious hair algae would be greatly appreciated! Happy to answer any/all questions. Thank you.

 

[BryanM]

Those corals need nitrates.

I would take a look at this thread and start dosing something to increase nitrates so your corals do not starve.

DIY Nitrate Dosing Recipe

Here’s a quick guide of the DIY nitrate recipes we commonly use for reef tanks. Sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate are the most common materials used. It’s crucial to ensure that these compounds are food-grade or have a purity rating. Sourcing pure chemicals is more economical than purchasing...

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