New setup, odor question (1 Viewer)

[freeswimmingfish]

I set up a brand new JBJ 28g LED intermediate Nanocube. I used RODI, Fritz pro salt and a 20 lbs bag of "live sand". I think it was Caribsea?

It took forever for the "live sand" to settle and clear. In fact, moving the sand around and the tank still gets very cloudy.
The problem is, the tank has a moderate smell of sulfur. If I have my hands in the water, they come out smelling like sulfur till I wash them.
There is no "life" in the tank, I haven't ghost fed. There is no live rock. I was planning to add some Turbo Start to get the cycle going before I move my seahorses over.
Is the sand "bad"? Should I rinse it in saltwater? Should drain and start over with new sand and saltwater?
Or is this ok to continue?
Thanks
Joe


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[freeswimmingfish]

I just got off the phone with Caribsea to get an opinion about this. Without asking, they are sending a new bag to me ASAP!!

They said the bacteria must of turned.
Customer service is still a thing!


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[Clownfish Chris]

That is awesome that they are taking care of you! I have not experienced the sulfur smell and therefor had no advice. I would have ran carbon and gone with it but that may not be the best option.

 

[freeswimmingfish]

That's exactly what I was doing. The sulfur smell was dissipating but still present. I talked to the guys at lfs where I got it, they said same but to also call Caribsea.
Since this is the new home for my beloved seahorses, I didn't want to take a chance.
Caribsea has very good customer service! They were friendly, knowledgable and helpful.


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[Reefahholic]

Sulphur huh? Weird. I think it would be fine though. Just run carbon and do a water change. You could add the new bag on top.


FYI, fine sandbeds take 2-3+ days to clear, but are well worth the time and effort if setup properly. Don't put a skimmer or anything in the tank for 2-3 weeks. It will only get full of silt.

 

[Clownfish Chris]

I would run the skimmer. Especially if you did not do a 100% water change. It will help clear up the silt that will eventually end up there anyway and it will keep O2 levels up.

 

[freeswimmingfish]

The water has completely cleared and the smell is mostly gone. The carbon must have absorbed it.
There is still a very faint smell but only if you really try to find it.
This is a JBJ Nanocube, I don't have a skimmer for it. Not sure if I'll need one since the bio load will be so light. Will only have a high fin goby and 2 seahorses.
As of now, it only has the sand, no live rock or anything alive. I'm hoping to add 10-20 lbs of live rock this weekend if I can find some for cheap or free.


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[malira]

The water has completely cleared and the smell is mostly gone. The carbon must have absorbed it.
There is still a very faint smell but only if you really try to find it.
This is a JBJ Nanocube, I don't have a skimmer for it. Not sure if I'll need one since the bio load will be so light. Will only have a high fin goby and 2 seahorses.
As of now, it only has the sand, no live rock or anything alive. I'm hoping to add 10-20 lbs of live rock this weekend if I can find some for cheap or free.


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For rock if you can't find the live rock you want you can use dry " virgin" rock and help it along with Dr. Tim's or something like it.

To get the exact look you want and rock at a great price look up Crystal Sea Texas. They cure there own rock also. They are a sponsor.

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[freeswimmingfish]

For rock if you can't find the live rock you want you can use dry " virgin" rock and help it along with Dr. Tim's or something like it.

To get the exact look you want and rock at a great price look up Crystal Sea Texas. They cure there own rock also. They are a sponsor.

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I've got a bottle of turbo start to use.
I don't need much rock, less than 20 lbs. Since it's a seahorse tank I doubt if it will have coral, maybe some mushroom, zoas, a leather, Colt ect....
I'll need some thin branching Tonga type rock for the ponies to hold on to.

 

[malira]

They usually have tonga. And the size you want doesn't matter to them. When I bought, I got 13 lbs and they treated me like I was their biggest customer.
They have bins and bins of all kinds of rocks. If you want to get what you want and not what other might have call or pm them.

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[freeswimmingfish]

Water is clear, odor is gone, live rock went in today.


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