Phosphate RX (lanthanlum chloride)

[svejil]

Hey guys,

My son (12 years old) has a 24 gal biocube. He has fought, as most of us have high PO4 levels. I had some Phosphate RX left over that I had used in the past, during high feeding stints. Worked well in my large 300g FOWLR, and I would dose according to instructions (6 drops / 10 gal to remove .5 phosphate). I would dose in my sump compartment where my skimmer is, and typically I would use about half the recommended dosage, then test in 24 hours.

We did a 50% water change yesterday, and scrubbed some of his rock, and glass from some cyano. I had the brilliant (now dumb) idea of dosing some Phosphate RX in his 24 gal. biocube. I dosed 6 drops in the DT section, and of course it clouded up, and we left all else alone.

Now just a few minutes ago, I received a frantic call from him at home, that all fish / corals are dead!!!!! I feel terrible, and wonder what happened???? The phosphate likely precipitated out, but did that rapid precipitation kill everything, and if so what chemically happened???

We run the small combination felt pad / carbon granules cartridge for biocubes, plus the live rock, live sand, bio balls, and ceramic rings that come standard with the set-up, no other filtration / sump and NO skimmer.

Can someone provide a detailed description of what happened? I am now afraid as heck to use this in my set up ever again!!!!

Your comments are greatly appreciated. Also, should we tear down completely -- live rock & live sand, and bleach everything and start over, or what is recommended here?

SV

[svejil]

Sorry, I meant to post this in the Reef Chemistry section. Will copy and paste over there. Maybe someone can erase this thread in this section.

Sorry.