Weird rotten egg/beach smell from the tank

[POIUY678]

I'm filling up my new tank with saltwater and it's about 3/4 full right now and the tank emits a weird rotten egg/beach smell. What causes this and is it bad?

 

[Spare time]

Was the sand or rock previously used?

 

[POIUY678]

Was the sand or rock previously used?

Nope, all are brand new/first used

 

[KING KONG]

I'm filling up my new tank with saltwater and it's about 3/4 full right now and the tank emits a weird rotten egg/beach smell. What causes this and is it bad?

I also suffer same problem when I switch my flow off.

 

[Dan_P]

I'm filling up my new tank with saltwater and it's about 3/4 full right now and the tank emits a weird rotten egg/beach smell. What causes this and is it bad?

Does the solid salt have a smell? The freshwater used to make the salt water?

Are you the only one who can smell it?

 

[POIUY678]

Does the solid salt have a smell? The freshwater used to make the salt water?

Are you the only one who can smell it?

the salt itself has no smell, the rodi water also doesn't have a smell and no, other people can smell it too.

I've seen somewhere that moving the sand might be the cause, but the problem is that my sandbed is not old enough. I did see that there were "pockets" of air that is trapped underneath the sand and as I was spreading the sand to make it more even, a lot of bubbles came up, but I'm not sure if this is 100% the reason or not

 

[Dan_P]

the salt itself has no smell, the rodi water also doesn't have a smell and no, other people can smell it too.

I've seen somewhere that moving the sand might be the cause, but the problem is that my sandbed is not old enough. I did see that there were "pockets" of air that is trapped underneath the sand and as I was spreading the sand to make it more even, a lot of bubbles came up, but I'm not sure if this is 100% the reason or not

More likely air bubbles.

Where did the sand come from?

Is the aquarium new?

 

[IsaacHunt]

I'm filling up my new tank with saltwater and it's about 3/4 full right now and the tank emits a weird rotten egg/beach smell. What causes this and is it bad?

The smell is usually caused by Hydrogen Sulphide a by product of Denitrators not working properly or dead spots in your sand bed.

can you identify the source i.e travel or rock. is any of the equipment USED.

if no livestock in the tank let nature take it course and ventilate the room to avoid breathing in fumes

 

[POIUY678]

More likely air bubbles.

Where did the sand come from?

Is the aquarium new?

The sand is called "AQUANATURAL Oolitic Aragonite" and yes, the aquarium is new

 

[POIUY678]

The smell is usually caused by Hydrogen Sulphide a by product of Denitrators not working properly or dead spots in your sand bed.

can you identify the source i.e travel or rock. is any of the equipment USED.

if no livestock in the tank let nature take it course and ventilate the room to avoid breathing in fumes

It's still a new tank (just filled in the saltwater), so no equipments have been used yet. I did shift the sand a bit which allowed the air bubbles trapped underneath the sand to resurface which I think might be the cause

 

[KING KONG]

The smell is usually caused by Hydrogen Sulphide a by product of Denitrators not working properly or dead spots in your sand bed.

can you identify the source i.e travel or rock. is any of the equipment USED.

if no livestock in the tank let nature take it course and ventilate the room to avoid breathing in fumes

I have Dead spots (mulm) in my tank. I have arranged a wave maker to solve this. Might be the problem with me. Thanks for solving my problem

 

[IsaacHunt]

It's still a new tank (just filled in the saltwater), so no equipments have been used yet. I did shift the sand a bit which allowed the air bubbles trapped underneath the sand to resurface which I think might be the cause

Air bubbles are a definite indication of a dead spot colonised by anaerobic bacteria.
Sand sifting starfish and nassarius snails are excellent at maintaining a healthy sand bed.
As tank is new wait a while before adding above critters and use a rod to gently move the sand

 

[Synthgp]

Air bubbles are a definite indication of a dead spot colonised by anaerobic bacteria.
Sand sifting starfish and nassarius snails are excellent at maintaining a healthy sand bed.
As tank is new wait a while before adding above critters and use a rod to gently move the sand

@POIUY678 - I am just starting my tank and also have this rotten egg smell. Did stirring the sand/waiting resolve the issue for you? If so, how long did it take?

 

[BeanAnimal]

There are 4 conversations going at once and the OP is not being clear.

Everyone who is not the OP and not helping… take a breath for a moment until we sort this out.

OP -


1 - when was the sand put in.
2 - when was the water put in.
3 - was the sand wet before you put it in and for how long
4 - is there rock.
5 - when was the rock put in.
6 - what else was put in and when
7 - when was the salt mixed
8 - how was the tank cleaned prior to installing it.
9 - you said rodi. Is it city or well water.
10 - any other details you can give us?

help us help you and provide detailed information not one line statements. This is playing out like a board game….let’s Make it easier.

 

[FUNGI]

.

 

[Synthgp]

There are 4 conversations going at once and the OP is not being clear.

Everyone who is not the OP and not helping… take a breath for a moment until we sort this out.

OP -


1 - when was the sand put in.
2 - when was the water put in.
3 - was the sand wet before you put it in and for how long
4 - is there rock.
5 - when was the rock put in.
6 - what else was put in and when
7 - when was the salt mixed
8 - how was the tank cleaned prior to installing it.
9 - you said rodi. Is it city or well water.
10 - any other details you can give us?

help us help you and provide detailed information not one line statements. This is playing out like a board game….let’s Make it easier.

Just a heads up that OP’s initial post was from 12/2022

 

[BeanAnimal]

Just a heads up that OP’s initial post was from 12/2022

LoL - i didn't even notice that you dredged up a year old thread.

The same question apply to you thought. Hydrogen Sulfide doesn't just appear for no reason. Conditions have to be right (stagnant is the easiest analogy).

 

[Synthgp]

LoL - i didn't even notice that you dredged up a year old thread.

The same question apply to you thought. Hydrogen Sulfide doesn't just appear for no reason. Conditions have to be right (stagnant is the easiest analogy).

Thank for the offer. Here are my details. The smell is only prevalent within the rim of the tank (so you have to be pretty close to the surface. It does waft out when opening the cabinet door for the sump.

1 - when was the sand put in.
Sand was rinsed in tap water and then a final rinse in in RO/DI water (produced at home).
2 - when was the water put in.
The water was put in about 24 hours after the sand was put into the tank. I put straight RO/DI water in and mixed Nyos Pure salt in the tank once it was full.

3 - was the sand wet before you put it in and for how long
Mentioned above - sand (CaribSea special grade dry) was wet at the bottom of the tank for about 24 hrs before water was added.

4 - is there rock.
I did add Marco Rock that was glued together


5 - when was the rock put in.

The rock was dry as well and was put in dry just before the sand (rock was not rinsed…)

6 - what else was put in and when
I have a Red Sea Max 350 and hooked up the return pump, wave makers, heater, skimmer)

7 - when was the salt mixed
Salt was mixed in the tank once it was full of RO/DI - I used the wave makers to mix the salt

8 - how was the tank cleaned prior to installing it.
….and this might be the issue…I only did a cursory wipe down with tap water after setting up the stand/tank and then forgot to to do a proper wipe down with bleach…

9 - you said rodi. Is it city or well water.
We have city water

10 - any other details you can give us?
My first reef tank a so I am in the deep end on this one…

 

[jda]

What you are smelling in a new tank is not likely h2s. You have to bury organic matter and wait for it to decay to get this in a reef tank... or use a tubular denitrator.

If you are smelling chemicals, then they are likely from the manufacturing process and are no harm if you used all equipment made for aquarium use. Some of the rock/sand might be releasing some organic smell when getting wet again - this is also no issue.