Plumbing stank when exposed to air

[Jonathan Troutt]

So i had to take apart a gate valve as mentioned in my last post and i realized i have never opened up the plumbing once a tank has been up and running at any point since ive been in this hobby

So i of course shut the return pump off and then unscrewed the top of the gate. The smell that came out of the pipes was god aweful. At no other time does my tank or my sump smell like this. I am assuming its just bacteria in the pipes but i wanted to make sure its nothing to worry about.

Its a smell that hangs around for a bit.

 

[erk]

I've had to disconnect my pipes a couple times since setting up and they have never smelled bad or really smelled at all. I've disconnected drains and return line. Not sure what would cause a bad stench other than maybe rotting material.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

I've had to disconnect my pipes a couple times since setting up and they have never smelled bad or really smelled at all. I've disconnected drains and return line. Not sure what would cause a bad stench other than maybe rotting material.

Hmm interesting. The pipes are only about 3-4 months old as well. Really slimy on the i side walls. This disconnect was right in the middle of my piping. Like ive disconnected at the beginning and end as well before and havnt ever really smelled anything. But this disconnect is in my manifold. The last outlet of it.

 

[erk]

Mine is about 2.5 years old now and I've had to completely disassemble the drain to fix a clog. Taken apart half the return plumbing as well. Maybe the young age of the tank means there is increased bacterial growth as the system finds its balance. Or maybe since it is the last outlet you are getting stagnant water?

 

[KrisReef]

I bet the slime is black, the atmosphere inside the pipe is anoxic, and the smell is Hydrogen sulfide.
In theory, if you get a high enough concentration of that stink in the pipe you could take one whiff and stop breathing forever.
Be careful what you whiff.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

I bet the slime is black, the atmosphere inside the pipe is anoxic, and the smell is Hydrogen sulfide.
In theory, if you get a high enough concentration of that stink in the pipe you could take one whiff and stop breathing forever.
Be careful what you whiff.

Doesnt really smell like rotten eggs though. And the slime is not black white or clear or maybe in between that.