Lace Rock Issues

When I bought my 150 Gallon tank for my office it came with about 80 lbs of Lace Rock.  At the time I knew absolutely nothing about Marine Tanks, Fish, and Reefs.  The tank had been in a Dr.'s office and was Fish Only.  The lace rock that came with it had been in the tank for around 8 to 10 years.  Since that was what was with the tank that is what went in it.  Later I added about 80 lbs of Live Rock.  The Lace Rock was used as Base Rock and the Live Rock is on top of that.

Since this tank was set up I've heard many different viewpoints concerning Lace Rock. "Take it out immediately or before."  "No problem, leave it in.", etc.

I've not had time to do anything with this stuff, but over the last weekend I lost several fish and almost all 240 turbo snails that went in as cleanup crew have died over just a couple months.  I've been told this may be due to phosphates and that Lace Rock may leach phosphates, but should not after 10 years in the tank.  I've not purchased a phosphate test kit yet, but am looking for one.

At my wits end yesterday I decided to rip out all of the Lace Rock.  Just as I was getting started I noticed to my surprise that It has Purple Coraline Algae growing all over it. (Why didn't I see it before???)  Isn't this a good sign.

Now I don't know what to do.  Any suggestions?  Am I just paranoid about this rock because of what I've heard from others?

Thanks for all of your reply's.

When I started having problems with the snails, I started doing the basic tests every few days.  They always show about the same.  Ammonia=0, Nitrite=0, Nitrate=10-15, PH=8.2, and Alkalinity=11.  I don't have a Copper or Phosphate test kit yet, but I am looking.  I haven't gotten to Fish-4-U yet to get one and can't find it at the nearest stores.  When I do get to Fish-4-U I'll take a water sample with me.  Great Idea!!!

I jumped at phosphates when I talked to Chris at Fish-4-U about my snails dying.  He said high phosphates could do that.  Yesterday Mark Peterson came out to look at the tank and cleared up a few issues for me.  #1 I don't have Turbo Snails even though they were sold as Turbo Snails.  I have Astrea Snails.  #2 If I were having copper issues my corals would not be doing as well as they are.  They are all growing like crazy.  #3 As some of you have said the Lace Rock is probably not leaching phosphates and are in fact starting to grow life.  Thanks for stopping by Mark.

I think my first mistake was getting the Powder Blue before I really researched it.  I did enough research to know it was compatible in my tank, but that's all.  I did not know that it was such a difficult fish to keep and that I really should have waited to get it until the tank was at least a year old.  (It has only been set up for about 6 months now.)  Of course, knowing me I would have gotten it anyway.  They are my favorite reef safe fish.  Lesson learned the hard way.

Marcus as for the dead snails taking out the tank, my hermits eat them almost before they are dead I think.  At first I wondered if they were the cause.  They are really small Hermits though.

Is the lace rock the green alagae covered rock?

yes the green algae covered rock is the lace rock.

I would say there is something in the rock that the algae likes.