Where to start??

[saltwaterm]

Hello
I have had had a 55gl tank for over 15 years. I have moved up to a 100gl and have had it up and running for about 10 to 12 mounts now. I had some trouble keeping the tank clean at first. I had two bio-wheels & 350 Magnum and a small wet-dry filter. I thought that would be more then enough filtration. I found out I was WRONG.
I have tank off the 350 magnum and the bio-wheels.
Added bio-wheels w/filter and an FX5.
Tank is running good. I start adding some more fish, plants and driftwood to the tank. All is running good. I buy some new plants.(up untill now I have only had one type of plant in the tank added 4 more kinds in one day.)
Im not saying the new plants caused this just shortly after I start getting green HAIR algae.
I did a black out on the tank for 4 days to see if that would kill it.NOPE!! I test the water again and the Nitrates are high. I do a water change to get the Nitrates down. Hair algae keeps growing. I order a Phosphates test kit. 9 days later I get it. Phosphates are WAY HIGH.
I do a 50% water change. By now my fish are starting to die. about one aday. I wait two days and test the water again Nitrates are alittle high but Phosphates are still way to high. I do another 50% water change.(fish are still dying.) The next day I do another 50% water change. Phosphates are still way to high. I test the tap water to see how much phosphates are in the new water.
Tap water is all good. The phosphates are in the tank some where. (with the 50% water changes I am vacuuming the gravel with the 1st two.) About 2 weeks ago I changed the filters that are with the bio wheels and about a week ago I cleaned the FX5.
Fish are still dieing.
Last night I took off the wet-dry filter and cleaning it now. I guess I can do another 50% water change to see if it was the wet-dry. I have also taken out all of my driftwood except one peace. (It took a long time to sink this peace. LOL)
Lost one more fish today.

Any help would be grateful

Thanks

 

[mfdrookie516]

Are the ammonia and nitrite readings both 0? You didn't mention that. How often are you cleaning the wet/dry and the fx5? When I first got my canister filters, I didn't know I was supposed to clean them and after a month, my nitrate was 160ppm!!! Now I clean one of the two on my 150g once a week, alternating between the two so that they're cleaned every two weeks each. Are you injecting co2? How much are you feeding and how often?

 

[saltwaterm]

Yes, both ammonia and nitrite readings are at 0.
I am not injecting CO2. I clean my FX5 about once a month. I have not cleaned my wet-dry I dont know when.
I only clean the filter pads that are on top of the wet-dry about one time ever 4 months or when needed.
I have been running the wet-dry like this for over 10 years.

I am doing a 50% water change right now and will test the water when Im done. With no wet-dry on tank.

 

[saltwaterm]

I only feed one time a day and it is all eaten with in about 2 or 3 mins.
After a 50% water change I am still over 10ppm. I have also put some phosphate absorption media in one of the filters about 3 days ago. I have trimmed my plants back and got most of the dieing leaves out of the take with alot of the hair algae.

I dont want to kill all the bacteria in my tank. But at the same time I need to get the tank under control be for I loss all my fish.

 

[saltwaterm]

YouTube - Fish Tank Aquarium Plants & Driftwood
Here is the tank with only alittle hair algae befor it is all over the plants

 

[mattrox]

In the short term a phosphate removal pad may help and I think it is good to have in there for now, but you still need to get to the souce of the phosphate.

Is the phosphate from a mineral source.... rocks for instance?

 

[saltwaterm]

In the short term a phosphate removal pad may help and I think it is good to have in there for now, but you still need to get to the souce of the phosphate.

Is the phosphate from a mineral source.... rocks for instance?

So if it is in my gravel how do I get the phosphates to come down?
I have about 2 bags of Eco-Complete mixed with medium size gravel.