Sulfur smell in SUMP. Need some ideas

[myclang]

hey guys, I think I made a noob move when setting up my sump. I had to do NO baffles because of my tanks small footprint. So i used a 16 gallon tank it barely fits the downflows of my overflow, my Reef OCtopus skimmer, heater, ATO, and return pump. I recently noticed that detriutus is settling and I think its created hydrogen sulfate (large sulfur smell), and now my sump reeks!! I have a carbon sock in my overflows, and I think I should add a filter sock too but, HOW do I get that stuff out of there without poisoning the tank?


Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[AZDesertRat]

Use a shop vac and vacuum the detritus out of the sump. Hydrogen sulfide is evience of something going septic and you want to take care of it quickly as it will be a disaster quickly.

 

[myclang]

so there's about 10 gallons in this 16 gallon sump. Do i just siphon all the water, or just the bottom until, it's clean? that's a great idea with the shopvac too!

 

[AZDesertRat]

I usually end up vacuuming mine completely a couple times a year at the same time I plan on doing a waterchange anyway. Otherwise I use a MJ1200 or MJ900 powerhead with a couple inch long piece of clear tubing on the suction side and a length of 1/2" hose on the outlet into an empty bucket. That way I can selectively suck up detritus without completely draining the sump.

 

[ReefDreams]

Make sure you have enough water to replace the water that Is token out. How old is your tank? What your live stock list? I've personally never heard of this an I'm pretty curious to know may have caused it.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I have seen it when live rock that was not fully cured was used and it is still experiencing die off.

 

[myclang]

Tank is 6 months. I have cinnamon clown, royal gramma, red scooter, and a bengaii Cardinal. For corals mostly lps, and I think it might be just extra food from me over feeding in the bottom of the sump. Sump has a sulfur smell, and from what I've gathered, if you can smell it, you're in trouble.

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[islander84]

More movement in the sump will help with the smell. +1 to vacuuming detritus out of sump and try not to stir it too much. You either need a bigger return pump or put a PH in the sump

 

[islander84]

Filter sock should catch any detritus going to sump

 

[myclang]

See that's my dilema. I had to slow down my return pump to have my skimmer work better, since they're are no baffles. Should I just run the rp full open, or am I doing the right thing now and should just add a filter sock, and power head for movement?

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