kb,
do you have the water flowing thru the phosgard or just sitting in the trickle filter? It won't work well if the water is not flowing thru the bag of phosphate remover. Also, you must replace the phosphate remover after about 2 weeks or it starts to leech phosphate back into the tank. I would also try some black diamond carbon for about 2 weeks and then remove. Sounds like the lights are on 12.5hrs which is excessive for a fo tank. I would try changing out a couple of the bulbs. If you have 2 "blue ones", I would replace one with a 20,000k daylight. Hope this helps. Keep me posted.