New (Used) Sand Smell

beedyb220 · 04/23/2007, 10:39 PM

I just received some sand from a 55 gallon tank that was being broken down. The sand was in it for 1/2 a year. It was placed in a bucket with a little salt water. I opened the bucket a little while ago to notice a strong rotten egg odor coming from the sand. Is there a way to et rid of this before putting it in my tank. I just filled my tank and added some liverock to cure in it. Now I want to add some substrate.

Thanks for the advice in advance....
Bryan N.

sir_dudeguy · 04/23/2007, 10:55 PM

Thats just how real live sand smells when its stirred up. Dont worry about it IMO. Are you just starting off your tank? If so, it wont matter if it causes amonia or anything because your tank has to cycle anyways (which produces amonia) and there shouldnt be any fish in there anyways (or corals or anything else).

LarryW · 04/23/2007, 10:59 PM

it should be fine. it should go away in a few days, and esp. with the LR cycling in the tank.

beedyb220 · 04/23/2007, 11:00 PM

Thanks ... I think that I'll add it and then do a water change.

beedyb220 · 04/23/2007, 11:05 PM

What is the best way to add the sand to the tank with water in it? I read about a technique where you fill a gallon zip lock with sand and sink it in the tank and open/dump it on the bottom of the tank. Anyone, try this?

LarryW · 04/23/2007, 11:11 PM

you could do that, or take a piece of PVC, preferably 2or 3" put it in the tank and pour the sand into the pipe. this will allow you to add it where you want and with just a little bit of a sand storm. usually I add sand first, then water. I place a garbage bag over the sand and pour the water in. the bag floats to the top, and the water is only slightly cloudy.

beedyb220 · 04/23/2007, 11:15 PM

Wow.. never thought of that!!! I will try both techniques.

lfduty · 04/24/2007, 11:54 PM

Put a protein skimmer the time you had it put up you killed all the bugs in the sand.

04/25/2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lfduty
Put a protein skimmer the time you had it put up you killed all the bugs in the sand.

I read this a couple times, I am not sure what it means. Are you suggesting using a protein skimmer to kill bugs or something? Or during the cycle? Or on the bucket?

magdelan · 04/25/2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lfduty
Put a protein skimmer the time you had it put up you killed all the bugs in the sand.

So, I've had a few tequilla's and other misc. beverages. I thought that I was not capable of reading this correctly. Azial, thanks for helping me to realize that I am still coherrent.

04/23/2007, 10:39 PM	#1
beedyb220 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 157	New (Used) Sand Smell I just received some sand from a 55 gallon tank that was being broken down. The sand was in it for 1/2 a year. It was placed in a bucket with a little salt water. I opened the bucket a little while ago to notice a strong rotten egg odor coming from the sand. Is there a way to et rid of this before putting it in my tank. I just filled my tank and added some liverock to cure in it. Now I want to add some substrate. Thanks for the advice in advance.... Bryan N. Last edited by beedyb220; 04/23/2007 at 10:54 PM.

04/23/2007, 10:55 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Thats just how real live sand smells when its stirred up. Dont worry about it IMO. Are you just starting off your tank? If so, it wont matter if it causes amonia or anything because your tank has to cycle anyways (which produces amonia) and there shouldnt be any fish in there anyways (or corals or anything else). __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

04/24/2007, 11:54 PM	#8
lfduty Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: McLeod Montana Posts: 1,408	Put a protein skimmer the time you had it put up you killed all the bugs in the sand. __________________ Thanks: Lfduty Research, each individual species you intend to own. This will ensure a lengthy life of your livestock. Current Tank Info: I have 150g mixreef 1-90 fishonley with a Oceanic trickle filter(M150) with a ehime6000 pump 40g breder zoa tank with 30g sump/fuge with mag7 pump 1-75g pipefish tank with 30g sump/fuge and 1-80g SH 1-40hex softy all run on a 250gal sump/50gfuge

04/23/2007, 10:59 PM	#3
LarryW Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,778	it should be fine. it should go away in a few days, and esp. with the LR cycling in the tank.

04/23/2007, 11:00 PM	#4
beedyb220 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 157	Thanks ... I think that I'll add it and then do a water change.

04/23/2007, 11:05 PM	#5
beedyb220 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 157	What is the best way to add the sand to the tank with water in it? I read about a technique where you fill a gallon zip lock with sand and sink it in the tank and open/dump it on the bottom of the tank. Anyone, try this?

04/23/2007, 11:11 PM	#6
LarryW Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,778	you could do that, or take a piece of PVC, preferably 2or 3" put it in the tank and pour the sand into the pipe. this will allow you to add it where you want and with just a little bit of a sand storm. usually I add sand first, then water. I place a garbage bag over the sand and pour the water in. the bag floats to the top, and the water is only slightly cloudy.

04/23/2007, 11:15 PM	#7
beedyb220 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 157	Wow.. never thought of that!!! I will try both techniques.