Bad smell from sulphure reactor

[dimidragos]

I have used this sulphur reactor in my previous smaller tank for around one month:


I use very low water flow, only one drop per second, following instruction manual.
I didn't notice a big change in nitrate level but for calcium was really positive. I was thinking to use in my new 129g tank and i open to clean it. Was clean inside but i notice a sulphure smell inside of this


It's normal to smell after one month use?
I want to be more carefully with this new tank and i wonder if its safe to use or no.
Better to use NoPoX to get low the nitrate level??
Nitrat level on the tank 40 before last 30%WC and 20 after.
Calcium 440 last test but i add buffer every day.
Thanks for your answers

 

[Sallstrom]

You get that smell when the nitrate is zero in the sulphur filter. So the easiest way to get rid of the smell is to raise the flow though the filter.
You could also test outcoming water, then you can see when your filter is closing in to zero and adjust the flow.

With a good skimmer I don't think theres a big risk with a little hydrogen sulfide out from the filter. We run a couple of filters like that and have not yet seen any bad effects.

Yes, I think thats normal. It takes a couple of days to start up the processes. When you don't get any readings of nitrite, the filter is working.

 

[dimidragos]

You get that smell when the nitrate is zero in the sulphur filter. So the easiest way to get rid of the smell is to raise the flow though the filter.
You could also test outcoming water, then you can see when your filter is closing in to zero and adjust the flow.

With a good skimmer I don't think theres a big risk with a little hydrogen sulfide out from the filter. We run a couple of filters like that and have not yet seen any bad effects.

Yes, I think thats normal. It takes a couple of days to start up the processes. When you don't get any readings of nitrite, the filter is working.

Thanks for your quick answer!! I have a huge skimmer for my tank, it’s a Deltec 2060 with upgraded air pump. 1700 liter/hour...I have checked the water from the reactor outlet but was trace of nitrate

 

[Sallstrom]

Okey! Great.
Just remember that you get some nitrite the first period in the outcoming water. And when there's nitrite in the water, you can not test the nitrate(or you can, but you can not trust the result).

We usually try to get low nitrate(0-1ppm) out from the reactor but when the smell starts, it's time to raise the flow a little bit.

 

[dimidragos]

Okey! Great.
Just remember that you get some nitrite the first period in the outcoming water. And when there's nitrite in the water, you can not test the nitrate(or you can, but you can not trust the
We usually try to get low nitrate(0-1ppm) out from the reactor but when the smell starts, it's time to raise the flow a little bit.

Thanks, I see you are from Sweden, I just come back from Stockholm with few nice corals. I really hope to have time this year for a trip in Gothenburg too!!

 

[Sallstrom]

Thanks, I see you are from Sweden, I just come back from Stockholm with few nice corals. I really hope to have time this year for a trip in Gothenburg too!!

Yes, I work at Sjöfartsmuseet Akvariet. A small public aquarium in Gothenburg. Let me know if you come to Gothenburg and I will show you our aquariums
I was in Ålesund three years ago visiting the Aquarium. Amazing city and a very nice aquarium!

 

[dimidragos]

Yes, I work at Sjöfartsmuseet Akvariet. A small public aquarium in Gothenburg. Let me know if you come to Gothenburg and I will show you our aquariums
I was in Ålesund three years ago visiting the Aquarium. Amazing city and a very nice aquarium!

Thank you a lot, Ålesund it's a nice city also. Unfortunately the aquarium don't have a salt water tank. If i did not manage this year next year i will visit you for sure. I watch your thread some time before and i was impressed by your amazing work. I can say much better that the aquarium i see in Stockholm.

 

[dimidragos]

This is my water parameter and why i think to use this sulphure reactor instead of NoPoX it's because i don't have a high phosphate value.


Phosphate it's 0 now, few days before when i start to add NoPoX was 0.04. But nitrate 30ppm. Now dosing NoPoX i come to 10 nitrate and 0 phosphate. I will like to have like 5 nitrate and 0,02 PO4...in my dreams!!
It's a right way or i think too much about this values??
I really assume that i can be wrong, i'm a bigginer....for that i ask advice

 

[Sallstrom]

Thank you a lot, Ålesund it's a nice city also. Unfortunately the aquarium don't have a salt water tank. If i did not manage this year next year i will visit you for sure. I watch your thread some time before and i was impressed by your amazing work. I can say much better that the aquarium i see in Stockholm.

Thank you very much! Next year our Aquarium/museum will be closed(closing 17th September 2018). Most of the corals and fish will be in temporary tanks. If you like to visit the temporary aquarium you will have to get in touch with me/us first. It won't be open to the public, but I'll gladely show aquarists around if they ask for a visit

Sound like a good plan. Just be careful not to lower the nitrate too much. Those sulphur filter can be really effective!

 

[Sallstrom]

Another way to do it is to add some more food(or just phosphate) and then add a little carbon source.

But there is no need to worry about 10ppm nitrate. So you might just need to wait a little bit to see where your nutrient levels goes when the tank matures. Maybe that sulphur filter could be used later on instead.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Did you let water sit in it stagnant before opening it?

Aquarium water, even with nothing else in it, can begin to smell of hydrogen sulfide when sitting unaerated.

 

[dimidragos]

Another way to do it is to add some more food(or just phosphate) and then add a little carbon source.

But there is no need to worry about 10ppm nitrate. So you might just need to wait a little bit to see where your nutrient levels goes when the tank matures. Maybe that sulphur filter could be used later on instead.

If i add more food, i don't rise NO3 also?? Now is 10 because i use NoPoX witch kill phosphates also. I'm really afraid to add phosphates to don't make a mistake.What carbon source do you mean? Vodka?

Did you let water sit in it stagnant before opening it?

Aquarium water, even with nothing else in it, can begin to smell of hydrogen sulfide when sitting unaerated.

Yes i do that. with tank water on it.....mistake!
I want to mention that too...what to do? Change the media?

 

[dimidragos]

Did you let water sit in it stagnant before opening it?

Aquarium water, even with nothing else in it, can begin to smell of hydrogen sulfide when sitting unaerated.

I live more that one week because right i stop my smaller tank i live in holiday...its still wet , i didnt wash because i didn't know if it's a right decision to wash with RO water or with tap water....i just drain good all water.
I try to answer quick and i forget to thanks for your answer!!

 

[coralbeauties]

I ran mine for several months without any problems then I started to get quite a bit of white bacteria growing inside mine. I cleaned it real good and started it back up and within several weeks it was back. Any ideas?
Jeff

 

[dimidragos]

I ran mine for several months without any problems then I started to get quite a bit of white bacteria growing inside mine. I cleaned it real good and started it back up and within several weeks it was back. Any ideas?
Jeff

hi Jjoos, you believe that this bacteria was growing because of the sulphure reactor??? Did you install a calcium reactor in line, after the sulphure reactor? If you open a thread please send me the link or if you get more information let me know. Thanks

 

[Sallstrom]

If i add more food, i don't rise NO3 also?? Now is 10 because i use NoPoX witch kill phosphates also. I'm really afraid to add phosphates to don't make a mistake.What carbon source do you mean? Vodka?



Yes i do that. with tank water on it.....mistake!
I want to mention that too...what to do? Change the media?

Yes, if you leave the filter turned off, with aquarium water and sulphur pellets, the filter will smell really bad in a day or two
We usually rinse the sulphur pellets in tap water and then restart the filter after the filter has been standing for a while.

Every time you restart the filter it takes some time for the bacteria to grow and consume nitrate. First nothing happenens, then you can see nitrite and also nitrate raising(but thats because there is nitrite in the water, it messes up the result of the nitrate test), and finally you see zero nitrite and low nitrate coming out of the filter. Now it's "mature" and working the way you want. This period might take some time, depending on temperature etc.

 

[dimidragos]

Yes, if you leave the filter turned off, with aquarium water and sulphur pellets, the filter will smell really bad in a day or two
We usually rinse the sulphur pellets in tap water and then restart the filter after the filter has been standing for a while.

Every time you restart the filter it takes some time for the bacteria to grow and consume nitrate. First nothing happenens, then you can see nitrite and also nitrate raising(but thats because there is nitrite in the water, it messes up the result of the nitrate test), and finally you see zero nitrite and low nitrate coming out of the filter. Now it's "mature" and working the way you want. This period might take some time, depending on temperature etc.

Thanks a lot, that i was afraid, to don't kill the benefiial bacteria if i wash it...but if it's better to wash i will do it. In this moment i just test more the water parameter, it looks like the algae reactor start to be more efficient because i increase the light running time from 8 to 12 hours. I really don't want to add things if are not necessary but i want to be prepared.
One question if i start to speak about the algae reactor, i run the algae reactor with timers for light and for water pump also. When light turn on the pump turn on also. When light turn off i set the pump to run one more hour then stop. Like that there is not any flow for 11 hours in the algae reactor. Is that right or is better to live the pump on all day?

 

[Sallstrom]

Thanks a lot, that i was afraid, to don't kill the benefiial bacteria if i wash it...but if it's better to wash i will do it. In this moment i just test more the water parameter, it looks like the algae reactor start to be more efficient because i increase the light running time from 8 to 12 hours. I really don't want to add things if are not necessary but i want to be prepared.
One question if i start to speak about the algae reactor, i run the algae reactor with timers for light and for water pump also. When light turn on the pump turn on also. When light turn off i set the pump to run one more hour then stop. Like that there is not any flow for 11 hours in the algae reactor. Is that right or is better to live the pump on all day?

I think you need to restart/wash/kill the bacteria if you stop the filter for a say a day or more.
Or you could let the filter run but connect it to a bucket with saltwater and feed it with NO3. If you want to keep the right bacteria alive.

But every time you flush the filter with oxygenrich water the anoxic bacteria might die off and you will have to wait for them to grow back again.

I think it's better to let the pump to the algae reactor go 24/7. Otherwise the water in the filter might go bad during the dark hours due to the respiration from the algae.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks a lot, that i was afraid, to don't kill the benefiial bacteria if i wash it...but if it's better to wash i will do it. In this moment i just test more the water parameter, it looks like the algae reactor start to be more efficient because i increase the light running time from 8 to 12 hours. I really don't want to add things if are not necessary but i want to be prepared.
One question if i start to speak about the algae reactor, i run the algae reactor with timers for light and for water pump also. When light turn on the pump turn on also. When light turn off i set the pump to run one more hour then stop. Like that there is not any flow for 11 hours in the algae reactor. Is that right or is better to live the pump on all day?

If killing the bacteria is a concern, rinse it with new salt water. That won't kill them and won't leave organics that can degrade.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But every time you flush the filter with oxygenrich water the anoxic bacteria might die off and you will have to wait for them to grow back again.

You think O2 kills them? Why?