Rotten egg smell in my tank!

batgirl

Hello. I did a 25% water change in my 30 gallon tank and now there's a disgusting rotten egg smell coming from the water. I lost all my fish a month ago when the heater went and fried them all. I'm starting over and can't get the ammonia down so I've been changing water every 2-3 weeks. This is the first time this ever happened to me. What is causing this smell and how do I get rid of it?? Thanx

1077

You may wish to try 50 percent water change and vaccum the bottom of tank .If ammonia level is still high after twenty four hours, do another water change ,maybe twenty percent. Be sure and use dechlorinator for new water. Water changes should be once a week after you get rid of ammonia and smell. They should be twenty percent each week along with vaccuming the bottom of tank to remove uneaten food or other waste. Hope this helps. :)

batgirl

Hi thanx. I vaccumed all the gravel yesterday, there's no guck in the bottom. the bttm of the tank is clear glass. The rocks are clean as I've been vaccuming every 2 weeks. There hasnt been any fish in the tank in over a month. I get a dechlorinator tonight. I added some ammo-lock to break down the ammonia. Do you think that caused the stench? I've used it before with no problems. What else can I do to get rid of all this ammonia. When I test for ammonia the results are bright christmas green!

herefishy

The rotten egg smell is sulfur dioxide, a huge gravel stir is needed. The gas is building up in pockets in your substrate. The gas is explosive and, obviously, not good for your tank.

batgirl

Stir up the gravel? I even took some out. I read somewhere else that gravel should never be more then an inch high. Mine was like almost 2 inches high.

1077

product ammolock has been known to provide false positive ammonia readings. Were it me I would use nothing but dechlorinator that removes ammonia ,chlorine, and chloramines. It is in my view all that you need . :)

herefishy

Mine is almost 3" deep, in some places.

batgirl

I have AMMQUEL too and I have put that in but it never released a stench before. I won't buy ammo-lock ever again. I'm upstairs right now and I can smell the darn tank from up here! This is horrible. I appreciate all the advice! I really need help here.

okiemavis

I'd recommend doing 25% water changes every 1-3 days until the ammonia is down to zero, then you can do water changes once a week, but 3 weeks is really pushing it.

Ammo-lock 'neutralizes' ammonia so that it is not as toxic to fish, but it doesn't remove ammonia. It just converts it into a different form. That's why you're still getting the ammonia readings on your ammonia test. The ammonia is still there, it is just not as caustic to your fish. Also, the ammonia will still be converted into nitrites the same way the 'toxic ammonia' is- and the nitrites are also dangerous for fish.

Anyway, when it comes down to it water changes are the best cure!

jeaninel

I agree with Herefishy that the rotten egg smell is gas pockets built up in the gravel. Did you move the decorations and do a good deep gravel vac under them? Also, check around the lip at the top of the tank for any bits of old food that may be rotting there.