HELP!!!!!!! Rotten Eggs!!

[CaptainK]

Hi Everyone,
I could really use some help here.
This morning when I was checking out my 29G tank I got this horrible sent of rotten eggs coming from the water of the 3 week old tank.
Yesterday I started adding C-Balance to the tank and it did not smell bad yesterday.
I took readings about 3 days ago and ammonia=0 nitrates=about 30 phosphates=5 alk = 3meq/l Ca = about 450.
So:
1)Why is this happening?
2)What can I do to get rid of it?
If you guys need more info to help me with this just ask, I want to get this solved.

Thanks,
CaptK

[scubadude]

Originally posted by CaptainK:
Hi Everyone,
I could really use some help here.
This morning when I was checking out my 29G tank I got this horrible sent of rotten eggs coming from the water of the 3 week old tank.
Yesterday I started adding C-Balance to the tank and it did not smell bad yesterday.
I took readings about 3 days ago and ammonia=0 nitrates=about 30 phosphates=5 alk = 3meq/l Ca = about 450.
So:
1)Why is this happening?
2)What can I do to get rid of it?
If you guys need more info to help me with this just ask, I want to get this solved.

Thanks,
CaptK

Hi Capt [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Did you recently add some LR ?
How much LR do you have in there and when was it all added ?
is there any fish or corals in the tank?
Look for something dead, if you dont find any thing then do about a 40% water change

[CaptainK]

I recently added some LR from my 10G that has been runnning for almost a year now, just 2 pounds.
All of the rock in the 29G was from Jeffs and all was uncured. Its been in there for about 3 weeks. And I am pretty sure that the tank has gone through its cycle from the readings I have beeen taking.
Oh man, I just added some red & green macroalgaes to the tank about 5 days ago. The green isn't doing so well. Maybe thats it??
Don't have any fish, or corals in there yet. But I do have a few snails that seem to be doing OK.
And the bad thing now is that I am expecting a shipment of stuff from IPSF, got the 9 for 99, a lot of snails. I never forsaw this problem. What should I do? Should I go ahead and put everything in the 29 or just put everything I get into the 10G.
One day everything seems to be going fine, then..BAM the next morning you wake up to rotten eggs!!!! What a way to start the morning.
-CaptK

[scubadude]

Originally posted by CaptainK:
All of the rock in the 29G was from Jeffs and all was uncured. Its been in there for about 3 weeks. And I am pretty sure that the tank has gone through its cycle from the readings I have beeen taking.
Oh man, I just added some red & green macroalgaes to the tank about 5 days ago. The green isn't doing so well. Maybe thats it??

The smell is from the uncured rock....its still curing probably and its probably in its last phase, you are probably ok to add your Detrivore kit. If you have macro thats not doing good then you might want to take it out.

[scubadude]

I forgot to ask....what are your Nitrite readings? you didnt post them. Try and get those Nitrates down b4 you add corals/fish [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Sker]

Captain K, the first thing I would do is check your water paramaters immediately. If you think the green caulerpa is creating the problem remove it and light it in a seperate tank or bucket. Although I have never had caulerpa smell like rotten eggs, I think it is your live rock or dead livestock in your tank. I would do a large water change about 40-50% depending on your new water tests.

Sker

[CaptainK]

THanks for the input guys.
I know I did not post my nitrite readings, due to the fact that I cannot find my nitrite test kit and I have not picked up a new one. But I am working on it
Is it normal during the end of the cycling process to have this horrid smell? I don't remember it happening on my 10G tank?
Sker, I did not mean to knock your algaes [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] , just wanted to give as much info as too what has recently happened in the tank.
Thanks Again All,
CaptK

[Biomanjcs72]

The rotten egg smell is not only the LR, it's H2S (hydrogen sulfide) it is produced by Anaerobic bacteria that emit H2S as a metabolite. This is what will eventually become your DSB and "evolve" so to speak, into emitting N2 gas as a metabolite, and that is what you want. Assuming your DSB is good and deep, it should pass. HTH

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JCS
Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

[This message has been edited by Biomanjcs72 (edited 05-16-2001).]

[Sker]

No problem CaptainK, I wish you luck in figuring out what's going on!

Sker

[CaptainK]

Originally posted by Biomanjcs72:
it should pass.

Yah it sure smells like something passed....pew [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
This morning when my Mom woke up and walked by the tank and then into the bathroom, which is kind of near the tank, my Mom yells out "Do you have diarrhea"
And then began to get out the candles


[This message has been edited by CaptainK (edited 05-16-2001).]

[ravenmore]

yep - my bet would be hydrogen sulfide also

------------------
I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything.

Website

[CaptainK]

It smells like this problems is from one of three sources:
hydrogen sulfide, the LR, or from something dead.
Should I keep the lights going on the tank? Or will that worsen the problem?
What about increaseing the circulation?
Can I continue to add C-Balance or wait until this passes?

I will check my water parameters when I get home and if something is way off I will do a water change.
But if the readings taken are all OK should I skip the water change and tough it out?
Thanks for the help again.
I hope I don't get home today and find my family members passed out on the floor or in chemical warefare fatigue.
-CaptK

PS - Just ordered that nitrite kit.

[CaptainK]

I tested my ammonia and nitrate levels last night and both were at 0. The nitrates finally came all the way down.
I was also able to get right to the water surface and take a big wiff and not get knocked out. There was no smell any more. From the time I left to the time I got home the smell went away, weird???
CaptK