H2S

[gdemos]

Hi Randy,
I'm suspect of a build up of Hydrogen Sulfide in my system.
In brief: 350g SPS system and high fish load, XL Skimmer, Biopellet Rx with AIO pellets, CaRx, Seachem Salinity, Kalk Topoff, socks, Carbon
8.0dkh
420Ca
.05 No3
.03 PO4

I've been growing SPS successfully for 5+ years. In the past 2 years i've seen increased sponge growth in low lit/low flow areas. I mention sponge because well, i'm not sure if its indicative of favorable or unfavorable conditions, i'd assume favorable and normal.

Husbandry: 15% WC every 2 weeks, dosing K, Sr, Lugols, Feeding Heavy, Sandbed stir and glass cleaning every 2-5 days, sanbed siphoned monthly at water change.

This past year i've noticed more Low Tide Smell in my sand siphoning, and quite a bit when i empty my skimmate.

I read your article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-12/rhf/index.php

Recent ICP showed all in check except High Redline Zn (34 nanogram) and Low Lithium (I think we chatted about that a few years ago).

Should i get back to Fe Dosing? Maybe consider a sandbed renewal (theres plenty of sand I wont be able to pull out and plenty of biological in the sump and tank live rock.

Thanks,
-Greg

 

[DLHDesign]

I often get those types of smells from my skimmer change out - one of the worst parts of the job. But up in the skimmer cup is where all the gunk is decaying in a static environment - practically a breeding ground for all the nasty stuff like H2S. Which is why I personally never (intentionally) dump my skimmate back into my tank... (see - I've learned a thing or two already! <grin>)

Curious to find out about the sand bed. My next tank will be bare in part because of the off smells I get when siphoning from the sand I have... Following along.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any blackness in the sand?

 

[gdemos]

nothing out of the ordinary with discolored sandbed, particularly Black. i do get darker algae, its certainly not a bright white! I turkey baste sandbed every few days, and again, siphon sandbed monthly.
I'td be good to see what blackness in the sand looks like - reflective of excessive H2S and the Fe precipitate you referred to