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Stinking Water New Tank

26K views 195 replies 12 participants last post by  Pasfur 
#1 ·
I am from India, kolkata, the temperature here is 31 Degree celcius, i have new 29 gallon tank filled with saltwater from last 2 weeks, i have added last week some live rocks from my petshop which he said were cured, after smelling i found very light smell almost nothing, but after adding them in my tank, i have found that my water is stinking whenever i put my hand in the water, my hand stinks badly, but the water is ok when u smell it by putting the nose above the tank. Yesterday my nitrate is 10mg/l, my ammonia test is also 0 , and ph is around 6.5 to 7. No fish is added yet, i have 1 internal filter and 1 powerhead. I have the lights but i am switching them on for 3-4 hrs. every evening. I have changed 20% water today and the bad smell has gone down a bit. . My salinity is 1.022 (earlier it was 1.028 in 32 degree celcius temperature and I am using bottled mineral water and my home Kent RO water purifier.

Plz help what is wrong why my water is stinking. Is my live rock dead. Should i replace more water.

Imtiaz Khan
 
#119 ·
What abt QT how do i start that ? I have an internal filter in the cupboard (should i wash it and start using it), the last one pasfur knows about it.:cry: Okay send me a link.

I use Kent RO/DI Water Purifier(for our drinking purpose) and for the tank too. But their is always a fight in my house regarding drinking water shortage. They shout on me and tell me to use tap water.

BTW I have removed the zeolite stones and ceramic rings from the top filter, leaving just the white sponge foam from last night.

Should i remove this also, as recommended by you guys.
Okay i will remove the top filter from tonight.


Lets search for phosphate test kit.

Mine would be :

Clown (Ocellaris), Chromis, Gobies, Psudochromis, 1 long tentacle anemone,
(and later i will just try to squeeze in a red star fish if u guys allow).
 
#121 ·
Don't waste your money on a phosphate test kit. You don't need it.

I would use the hang on filter with ceramic rings for the Q tank.

STOP ADDING pH BUFFER!!!!!!!!!! You are scaring me on this. pH is the quickest and easiest way to make an entire system crash. If it isn't moving, do water changes. NEVER add anything to increase pH. Your buffering is to increase alkalinity, and / or calcium. If alkalinity and calcium are correct, then water changes are needed to re balance the buffering ions to increase pH.
 
#125 ·
Don't waste your money on a phosphate test kit. You don't need it.
I usually test my source water every month with a TDS meter and Phosphate Kit. Since he mentioned algae I figured his best action was to look at his source water. What could this algae be attributed to? Just trying to nip it in the bud before it gets out of control.

I will start my my QT Tank from tmrw addin a shrimp which is lying on fridge freezer since a couple of weeks in the saltwater Q.tank - salinity 1.023. then after checking ammonia first 3 to 4 days then i will go for nitrate test.
Then after 10 days i will add fish in the QT. A couple of ocellaris (true percula in the tank). Those fishes are already in Quarantine Tank with my LFS from last week and he has promised me that he wont sell it to me until he finds the fishes are safe i.e. he will be selling me on the 14th November of this month as on 15th i will be leaving the city for some work and coming back on 24th November. But i have to buy those fishes on 14th otherwise they might get sold. Its so difficult to get saltwater fishes in Kolkata, India. In the meantime my younger sister will be taking care of both the tanks (QT and Display one).

Buying fishes on 14th i have to speed up my cycle for which i am using shrimp. but what else to increase the nitrogen cycle. Help reqd.
Zai, stop trying to rush this proccess. Fish come and go. Put a deposit on the fish at the LFS and leave them there. He has the saltwater experience to keep these guys alive for two weeks. There is an old saying in this hobby, "Only bad things happen fast." This two weeks you are gone will be a perfect time for the Q tank to cycle, and the display to start healing from the recent ich outbreak.

Your tank is a mini-enviroment. It takes time for it to mature. Our oceans took millions of years to mature. Give it time. I promise if you are patient that good things will come.
 
#122 ·
Okay.

I will start my my QT Tank from tmrw addin a shrimp which is lying on fridge freezer since a couple of weeks in the saltwater Q.tank - salinity 1.023. then after checking ammonia first 3 to 4 days then i will go for nitrate test.
Then after 10 days i will add fish in the QT. A couple of ocellaris (true percula in the tank). Those fishes are already in Quarantine Tank with my LFS from last week and he has promised me that he wont sell it to me until he finds the fishes are safe i.e. he will be selling me on the 14th November of this month as on 15th i will be leaving the city for some work and coming back on 24th November. But i have to buy those fishes on 14th otherwise they might get sold. Its so difficult to get saltwater fishes in Kolkata, India. In the meantime my younger sister will be taking care of both the tanks (QT and Display one).

Buying fishes on 14th i have to speed up my cycle for which i am using shrimp. but what else to increase the nitrogen cycle. Help reqd.

I have 2 filters (1 internal and 1 top filter) for ceramic rings i can use top filter but what about the internal sponge filter(which is lying in the cupboard dry for weeks) shall i use it for bacteria growth inside my tank. or i should only use only one filter.

Plz help.

Removed the top filter from the tank.

Damsel is doing fine.
 
#124 ·
This isn't going to work. There are huge problems with this. First, the Q tank is not going to be ready in 8 days. Second, you can't buy fish and then leave town!!! You need to be home to observe the fish and react to the needs of the fish. The entire purpose of Q is to have an observation period, which means you need to be present to observe! Unless your sister is an experienced marine aquarist, then trust me, you do NOT want to go down this road.
 
#126 · (Edited)
Clowns Delayed

I have 2 filters (1 internal and 1 top filter) for ceramic rings can i use top filter, but what about the internal sponge filter(which is lying in the cupboard dry for weeks) shall i use it for bacteria growth inside my tank. or i should only use only one filter. Shrimp will be added tmrw.

Plz help.


Okaaaay. guys thanks for slowing down the process:evil:. just kidding:lol:

Everything gets delayed.:thankyou:

Things will come UP after 24th Nov 2009.:greenyay:

But i will be in touch with everybody.

Is thr a chat tmrw afternoon with Pasfur.

Observing Fish is very very important.
Paying LFS in Advance is a good idea.
 
#128 ·
is everything fine. Whom r u replying Pasfur.:roll:

i didnt understood anything.:roll::roll::roll:

I have 2 filters (1 internal and 1 top filter) for ceramic rings can i use top filter, but what about the internal sponge filter(which is lying in the cupboard dry for weeks) shall i use it for bacteria growth inside my tank. or i should only use only one filter. Shrimp will be added tmrw.

Plz help.
 
#130 ·
Okay. That means i will be using both my filters, internal filter(with Sponge) inside & top filter outside with ceramic rings media.

BTW i have liquid pouch pack which was provided with ceramic rings and it says happy bacteria swimming can i add that in the QT for fast bacteria growth.

Okay next saturday we all might have a chat enjoy the zoo and upload some pics from the zoo aquarium.
 
#131 ·
The STINK in Back just after removing the Top filter within a couple of days. The top filter was running with zeolite stones and ceramic rings. Should i put back the Top filter. Will the damsel suffocate and die due to stink? Urgent help reqd.

Dead shrimp added in QT with internal filter running. What abt Top filter, whr to put it(i.e. In Display or QT), i have only one, i cant buy anymore friends.
 
#132 ·
This goes back to the original question on this thread. You should not have used the Top filter to begin with. Doing so, and adding the ceramic rings, disrupted the natural process of the live rock seeding in the aquarium. Are you getting an ammonia reading? If you are, then put the Top filter back on the display and slowly remove the ceramic rings and zeolite stones, a little each day.

Another possible issue is activated carbon use. Activated carbon removes odor causing organic compounds. Perhaps you simply need to add some activated carbon.

Honestly, these sort of issues are what happen when you do not set things up correctly to being with. This is what becomes frustrating to the new marine hobbyist, and certainly to those of us posting here attempting to help people.
 
#133 · (Edited)
Okay. Will check the ammonia today. if result 0 then i will install top filter with activated carbon for 3 days.:roll:

Sorry for the above but i am in touch with u guys every single day and almost doing everything what u (all) are recomending. If i did not followed up i would have left this forum much earlier.:-(

Thanks for the help.:lol:
 
#136 · (Edited)
TDS Results :

RO Water : 75 ppm
Tap Water : 295 ppm

Is my RO water very high in TDS?

Now regarding the smell which is thr sometime and vanishes sometimes but even if it is thr its a bit lighter smell unlike earlier. So i did not install the top filter.
Or should i run it for a couple of days for no smell at all? plz reply this one?
Powerhead was a bit lower earlier now i have tilted it towards the surface which is swirling a lot of water(Yes the left one as u can see in the picture is now tilted towards the surface). May be that is the reason that the smell has gone down.


Display Tank : Ammonia : 0.5 ppm but while swirling the chemical in test tube it stayed(very light yellow colour) for a minute then vanished and became milky white which is normal result.

Same thing happend with QT, Does ammonia vanishes off after showing the colour in few seconds. I have taken out the prawn after 30 hours from the QT. The water is smelly in QT and light brown in colour due to prawn.

Now what. Plz reply all the answers one by one as i am eagerly waiting. I need help?

Most of the times bro, i find some of my questions are answered and some are not.Why Bro ?
 
#137 · (Edited)
TDS Results :

RO Water : 75 ppm
Tap Water : 295 ppm

Is my RO water very high in TDS?:-?

Now regarding the smell which is thr sometime and vanishes sometimes but even if it is thr its a bit lighter smell unlike earlier. So i did not install the top filter.
Or should i run it for a couple of days for no smell at all? plz reply this one?:oops:
Powerhead was a bit lower earlier now i have tilted it towards the surface which is swirling a lot of water(Yes the left one as u can see in the picture is now tilted towards the surface). May be that is the reason that the smell has gone down.


Display Tank : Ammonia : 0.5 ppm but while swirling the chemical in test tube it stayed(very light yellow colour) for a minute then vanished and became milky white which is normal result. :roll:

Same thing happend with QT, Does ammonia vanishes off after showing the colour in few seconds. I have taken out the prawn after 30 hours from the QT. The water is smelly in QT and light brown in colour due to prawn.:cry: After test i threw some flakes (food) in QT.

Now what. Plz reply all the answers one by one as i am eagerly waiting. I need help?:shock:

Most of the times bro, i find some of my questions are answered and some are not.Why Bro ?:cry:
 
#138 ·
You also may want to check your water temp as if it gets to hot will start to stink. anything over 87 degrees fern.
 
#139 ·
I just sat here and read this whole Thread over the last Houre. And is all i have seen is, I want want want, Hury lets get it done. Ok from experince. Slow down a bit. Your shrimp Died because you rushed him into an uncycled tank. Your sailfin tang, and angel same thing. Now your damsel is paying the price. IN MY HONIST OPINION IS TO START OVER, LISTEN TO PASFUR. If i were you i would Unplug every thing, drain the tank. put your live rock in buckets with the tank water. Mix your water put it back in the tank. Listen to pasfur from there. Put your live rock back in with all of the test kits at hand. Absultly no fish yet. Plug everything in And keep your temp at 76 to 80 Degrees no higher or lower. Then you would wait at least 2 months before adding a fish. If you do all of this you will appreciat every thing you have worked for and stop wasting money. Pasfur is great at what he is talken bout. So are the others that have try to help you out............ 3 steps forward 12 back.......... Im not trying to be a A** but Some one needs to say it plane an simple to you befor you end up wasting alot of time and money. As you know everything is expensive. Sorry That is MHO. I hope the best of luck to you and your tank. But please indeed slow down and listen befor you make a fast unthoughtfull decion.
BRAD/ mollies
 
#140 ·
Your RO water TDS reading is high. You want that number somewhere around zero. My RO/DI water is 0 ppm.

As far as the ammonia test goes, what brand are you using? I use API and my tests are usually a very pale yellow when they read zero, and move towards green as I get ammonia readings (which I haven't seen in a very long time BTW).

As far as the top filter: run it with activated carbon, like Pas said. This should help with the smell and pull out any extra organic waste the skimmer didn't get.
 
#141 ·
I am going slow.

Okay I will try to change the membrane of my Kent Water purifier.

Ammonia Test Kit : Prodac International from Italy. Google it if u like.

Will run the top filter for 3 days from tonight.

Thanks everyone who is in this thread.
 
#142 ·
Last night Installed with top filter with only activated carbon. Will run it for 3 days.

What is this in my rocks? it is not hair algae. It is light brown in colour, covering the rocks like cotton thread or cotton hair ? cant explain it? whr can i get more info regarding bad types of algae.It is only in rocks not anywhere else.
 
#145 · (Edited)
Photos uploaded just have a look at them in aquariums. QT is also thr.

While watching rocks u guys can see it brown specially in photo no : 5. though not clear. its like dirty brown.

I just removed some(a couple of small rocks) of them lightly with a brush and they started falling like dirty dust.

Activated Carbon running. the smell is gone and the water is crystal clear. Shall i remove it tonight or wait for
1 more day that will make it 3 days.

Thanks Pasfur. so that means everytime the smell comes back i need to run a carbon form a couple of days.
 
#146 ·
This algae is spoiling the looks of my beautiful rock. Plz help. As u can see in the tank the rocks are looking brown instead of real colours which purple and light green. R the algae temporay? did u guys make out anything?
 
#147 · (Edited)
Nobody replied so i removed the activated carbon filter last night which ran for 2 days. the water is fresh,
clean and odourless.

Nobody replied regarding algae instead of posting the photos. i waited for 24 hours.

Let it be, let it run like that but it is covering my beautiful rocks like dirty mud type of algae which can be removed from a brush.

Shall i remove it. ?
 
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