Hydrogen Sulfide test kit?

[Sharkbait19]

Hello,
Every time there's a disturbance in the sandbed, all of my corals go into shock, and I usually wind up losing multiple colonies. My current theory is that there are H2S pockets being disturbed and released into the water, but would like to be certain of this before I begin any course of action. Would one of these hydrogen sulfide test kits be effective in a reef tank, or are there other, more precise ones that any of you have come across that you'd like to share?

 

[MnFish1]

Hello,
Every time there's a disturbance in the sandbed, all of my corals go into shock, and I usually wind up losing multiple colonies. My current theory is that there are H2S pockets being disturbed and released into the water, but would like to be certain of this before I begin any course of action. Would one of these hydrogen sulfide test kits be effective in a reef tank, or are there other, more precise ones that any of you have come across that you'd like to share?

You are probably correct. As to a test - I would try to stop keeping an anaerobic sand bed - which would cause this. As to testing - it is available - and expensive and not necessary

 

[MnFish1]

You are probably correct. As to a test - I would try to stop keeping an anaerobic sand bed - which would cause this. As to testing - it is available - and expensive and not necessary

PS - if you're losing colonies with each water change - I would reconsider your sandbed

 

[Sharkbait19]

PS - if you're losing colonies with each water change - I would reconsider your sandbed

Typically not with each water change, but I lose corals whenever a rock gets moved, or too much sand gets kicked up. Usually, its only the regions that are under or close to rocks that, when disturbed, cause problems.

 

[MnFish1]

Typically not with each water change, but I lose corals whenever a rock gets moved, or too much sand gets kicked up. Usually, its only the regions that are under or close to rocks that, when disturbed, cause problems.

In all likelihood it could (not sure) relate to H2S. I vacuumed my deep sand weekly - which avoided this issue

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you smell hydrogen sulfide?

I’m not certain if that kit would be useful.

 

[Sharkbait19]

The tank water definitely has a strange smell to it after the sand gets kicked up. Not sure if I’d describe it as a “rotten egg” smell that many describe it as, but the water goes from its usual smell to a pungent odor (almost like that which you’d smell at a beach)

 

[The_Paradox]

The tank water definitely has a strange smell to it after the sand gets kicked up. Not sure if I’d describe it as a “rotten egg” smell that many describe it as, but the water goes from its usual smell to a pungent odor (almost like that which you’d smell at a beach)

So keeping sandbed less than 3” deep is not an option? Sorry if you replied in your other thread and I missed it. If you really need a deep sand bed, courser mesh sand will help. Well that and not sure why you’re disturbing it so often.

 

[Sharkbait19]

So keeping sandbed less than 3” deep is not an option? Sorry if you replied in your other thread and I missed it. If you really need a deep sand bed, courser mesh sand will help. Well that and not sure why you’re disturbing it so often.

No, I don’t need a deep sand bed, though was unaware of the problems associated with them when I started the reef tank. Chances are that I will wind up redoing the sand bed to be more shallow. Also, disturbing it is never intended, though it sometimes happens during the water changes.