How Bad did I screw up and how to fix it

mwlude · 03-01-2007, 02:20 PM

After installing a new pump on my return I realized that my canister had become unplugged. I thought it was weird so I plugged it in(I had been planning on removing it once my refugium became more established). Right after I plugged it in I decided to unplug it thinking that maybe it was a bad idea if it had been off for a while it could have bad water in it. I am sure it was too late because my tank smells like eggs now. I waited a few minutes for the water to mix and tested 0 Nitrates and 0 Nitrites. I lost my ammonia card so I couldnt check that. I just added a new bad of carbon. I am mixing water now for a water change tonight. I know to wait for he water to mix but I have a feeling this is really bad. About half of my corals closed up but my xenia, polyps, some softies and my clam are still open.
Why does it smell like eggs and what should I do? How soon will problems show up?

jtReef · 03-01-2007, 02:25 PM

How long was the water stagnant?
If not long then you are ok.
The smelling like eggs is not good.
You are doing good by preparing for a big water change.

mwlude · 03-01-2007, 02:28 PM

I am not sure about the lenght of time? What is the egg smell?

inwall75 · 03-01-2007, 02:34 PM

Many organics can create this smell and your carbon will take care of it for you with a little time.

Normally an egg smell is a VERY bad thing (Hydrogen Sulphide) as it can nuke a tank. However, if your fish didn't keel over, then if there was any of this, it dissipated too quick to harm them.

mwlude · 03-01-2007, 02:40 PM

Everything is moving but it has only been an hour. How long untill problems show up. I am leaving for work in 30min.

inwall75 · 03-01-2007, 02:45 PM

If there was a lot of Hydrogen Sulphide, they would already be dead.

inwall75 · 03-01-2007, 02:49 PM

To give you an example, I'm a legal guardian for a troubled teen. I've told him umpteen times, "Keep your hands away from my tank". A couple months back, I awoke to the most God-awful smell in one of my nano's.

He decided that the sandbed looked a little dirty so he stirred the DSB. He hit a H2S zone and nuked every living thing in the tank. Bristleworms were dead lying on the rock. Chitons, amphipods, mysid shrimp, cleaner shrimp, fish corals, keyhole limpets, yada, yada, yada litterally were so thick on the sandbed that you could barely see the sand anymore.

Bruce · 03-01-2007, 06:46 PM

Any update? Just got home from class and saw the thread. I hope all your critters are ok.

mwlude · 03-01-2007, 07:23 PM

5 hours and the tank is perking up all corals except one softy is open but that one is very touchy. All inverts and fish are ok and the egg smell is gone. I feel very luck so far my entire house smelled like eggs. I added quite a bit of fresh carbon. I wanted to remove the canister anyway but I was going to do that slowly. I guess it is done now. On the RC Chemestry forum they say that the effects would be seen immediatly and that the danger quickly diminishes.

mwlude · 03-01-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inwall75

To give you an example, I'm a legal guardian for a troubled teen. I've told him umpteen times, "Keep your hands away from my tank". A couple months back, I awoke to the most God-awful smell in one of my nano's.

He decided that the sandbed looked a little dirty so he stirred the DSB. He hit a H2S zone and nuked every living thing in the tank. Bristleworms were dead lying on the rock. Chitons, amphipods, mysid shrimp, cleaner shrimp, fish corals, keyhole limpets, yada, yada, yada litterally were so thick on the sandbed that you could barely see the sand anymore.

How long before the tank was nuked a few hours or over night?