Sulpher Smelling Water...

[LCGoldman]

I've got some water that I prepared a few weeks ago for water changes. I took the lid off of the can (BRUTE garbage can)... It had a horrible smell of rotting eggs. Blech!

Silly question perhaps...

But, should I chuck the water or is it safe to use?

Thanks in advance!

 

[eboonaman]

get rid of it.. for a few cents ... Better safe then sorry!

 

[LCGoldman]

I'm sure you're probably right... I will just wait for another or two to chime in.

Shame to waste 40g of saltwater though.

 

[LFSmarineguy]

dump it. There's no point in risking it. Who knows what has accumulated in that container since you made it.

 

[Spracklcat]

You got yourself a biofilm dear. That lovely sulfur smell is the waste products of the bacteria sitting in the water festering. Not only dump it, but scrub (with a scrub brush) the whole can with 10% bleach and then rinse well with tap water and then tap water with some dechlorinator. The reason you have to scrub and not just dump it is that bacteria are very good at forming these films that are impenetrable to cleansers: bleach it, and the top layer of bacteria protect the layers underneath. The biofilms can actually be hard to the touch. In industrial systems, biofilm formation is a huge issue that has to be engineered against by preventing areas where there is stagnant water.

if you don't have a circulation pump in that holding tank I'd add one--make it good flow too. That will help prevent future biofilm formation.

 

[Reef Junkie]

Wow, that is fascinating, thanks for the info Christine.

I'd follow her instructions Lonster.

 

[pecan2phat]

Lonnie,
For the past few years, I keep a Brute full of RO water around all the time without any issues. I don't mix in salt until 24 hours before hand and rinse the T-can afterwards then refill with plain RO water.

PS. Happy 50th

 

[Reef Junkie]

Shoot! Happy Birthday Lonnie!

 

[LCGoldman]

Heyyyyyy I am SO NOT 50.....















(yet)

 

[LCGoldman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10189474#post10189474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spracklcat
You got yourself a biofilm dear. That lovely sulfur smell is the waste products of the bacteria sitting in the water festering. Not only dump it, but scrub (with a scrub brush) the whole can with 10% bleach and then rinse well with tap water and then tap water with some dechlorinator. The reason you have to scrub and not just dump it is that bacteria are very good at forming these films that are impenetrable to cleansers: bleach it, and the top layer of bacteria protect the layers underneath. The biofilms can actually be hard to the touch. In industrial systems, biofilm formation is a huge issue that has to be engineered against by preventing areas where there is stagnant water.

if you don't have a circulation pump in that holding tank I'd add one--make it good flow too. That will help prevent future biofilm formation.

Thanks Christine!

Down the tubes it goes...

I did have a circulation pump in there... was using a dolphin 1200. But, it was turned off for a few weeks.

Hence my stinky water.

Thanks again!!

 

[Pleco420]

I see Christine has experience with sample ports for purified water systems.

Happens all the time when water remains in a sample port of a purified water system. When the sample is taken the micro results far exceed the cfu index for water.

 

[MIKE NY]

Happy Birthday Lonnie......I try not to let my water sit more than 24 hrs for that very reason. If it is going to sit for a longer period use a strong pump to keep it moving.

 

[LCGoldman]

It is NOT my birthday!!!!

 

[fishome25]

hey why does my new saltwater get a brown slime on the pail, is that biofilm?

 

[DgenR8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10189474#post10189474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spracklcat
You got yourself a biofilm dear. That lovely sulfur smell is the waste products of the bacteria sitting in the water festering. Not only dump it, but scrub (with a scrub brush) the whole can with 10% bleach and then rinse well with tap water and then tap water with some dechlorinator. The reason you have to scrub and not just dump it is that bacteria are very good at forming these films that are impenetrable to cleansers: bleach it, and the top layer of bacteria protect the layers underneath. The biofilms can actually be hard to the touch. In industrial systems, biofilm formation is a huge issue that has to be engineered against by preventing areas where there is stagnant water.

if you don't have a circulation pump in that holding tank I'd add one--make it good flow too. That will help prevent future biofilm formation.

I knew it was bacteria, and that the water should be dumped, but I learned a lot from that post. Thank you, Christine.

 

[pecan2phat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196231#post10196231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LCGoldman
It is NOT my birthday!!!!

You sure about that? :rollface:

What's a week or two.

HAPPY B-DAY!!!!!!!!!:celeb1: :celeb2: :celeb3: :celeb1: :celeb2: :celeb3:

 

[jnfallon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196231#post10196231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LCGoldman
It is NOT my birthday!!!!

Hey, Happy 50th Lonnie!

 

[LCGoldman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10199953#post10199953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pecan2phat
You sure about that? :rollface:

What's a week or two.

HAPPY B-DAY!!!!!!!!!:images removed:

When you approach my age, every day matters

 

[LCGoldman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10200189#post10200189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnfallon
Hey, Happy 50th Lonnie!

D'oh!

 

[DgenR8]

Happy Birthday, Lonnie!