Tropic Marin Dosing

[Ed Kaz]

Hope someone can help...Tank is 250gal (180 + 100 refugium - rock running for over 18 years)...I am using All for Reef (dosing 50ml daily) and dosing NP Bacto Balance @5ml daily. My parameters are...PH 8.24, Alk 9.0,Phos 2.48, Nitrate 0.0,Mag 1300. I am trying to lower phos by dosing elimi np( 7ml daily for a week) but it has no effect. I am only feeding frozen food and running ro/di filter. I don't know why my phosphates are so high and have this mat stuff (algae?) growing on the rocks (see picture). Mainly only soft corals. Had 3 beautiful torch corals for over a year and a half, which died in a few days(one hanging on barely), and NOTHING was added or changed to the tank in that time? Can I use something like Phosphate rx to lower phos. While still dosing Bacto-Balance? Also, is it normal for filter socks to be colored a bright pink? It also seems like the fish are having trouble breathing. Could it be a phosphate thing? I always had high phosphates ... (over .6 for years) and trying to slowly bring them down to try some hard corals.I did a 50% water change (over 3days). And also added an airstone and running carbon in the sump. Had the local fish store check parameters and said all was good? Store sold me a Poly-Bio-Marine Inc POLY-FILTER, which has been running for a few days. Is there anything else I can try?​

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I can’t see a reason to use a polyfilter, and I would not assume lowering phosphate will help the algae, but if accurate, it is very high and I’d use something like lanthanum or GFO to lower it.

I’d also bring up nitrate.

 

[Ed Kaz]

I can’t see a reason to use a polyfilter, and I would not assume lowering phosphate will help the algae, but if accurate, it is very high and I’d use something like lanthanum or GFO to lower it.

I’d also bring up nitrate.

Thanks for the reply, Randy. My nitrates were always 95+. For almost a year I have been using a sulfur reactor and it just started working.I thought phosphate = algae. I have been trying for over 20 years and never had any luck with hard corals. Phosphates were always high (.5) and I guess that is why my clean-up crew doesn't make it.
Cheato never grows, and I always had a problem with very high calcium (600+) . I was always using reef crystals until the local fish store said nothing in my tank needed calcium, and I switched to basic Instant Ocean. Never had coralline algae until now (I see a little bit with lower phosphates). Fish were never a problem until I started this carbon dosing. A large Vlamingii Tang died I had for over 10 years died, and the foxface and blonde naso tangs look like they are having trouble breathing. And of course I don't know why after a year and a half my 3 torch corals decided to go away when nothing was added or changed (same routine<20% water change a month>), yet the hammer on the other side of the tank looks great? I am just worried about the fish. Would low nitrates cause problems?