Sulfur in water...detrimental to reef?

[Anonymous]

Just a "yea" or "nay" with how to correct the problem will really help me out...thanks much.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Not quite understanding your problem, I can't tell you one way or the other. Are you getting readings, or a distinct odor?

If you're smelling it, then my guess is that you've got an anaerobic area.

Bump.

 

[Anonymous]

Just a "yea" or "nay" with how to correct the problem will really help me out...thanks much.

Peace,

Chip

Yeh!....and Yep!....and You Betcha!...and the almighty YES!

 

[Anonymous]

Not quite understanding your problem, I can't tell you one way or the other. Are you getting readings, or a distinct odor?

When two of our workeds got back from installing a saltwater setup yesterday, they told me that the woman they set it up for informed them there was sulfur in her water. That's all I know. She's supposed to get live rock in the tank tomorrow, so I was wondering how to proceed.

Thanks.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Telochupoto]

My first question would be, is it a test kit reading of somekind or is it just a smell of sulfur. If it is just the smell of it, then I would ask if by any chance did you guys or her, use tap water treated with KENT MARINE AMMONIA DETOX, I ask because the contents of the bottle and the area [at least two feet radius] around that bottle will smell like sulfur. When I filled up my tank with the treted water it smelled like it for a bit, but it went away. Point to the matter is that some commercial treatments and additives may bring in some smells and even some minerals and metals that the common consumer has no idea of.

 

[Anonymous]

This is water right from the tap, and not treated with anything prior to the mixing with salt.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Telochupoto]

If she is not adding anything to treat for phosphate, ammonia and such, then she is just asking for problems.

 

[danmhippo]

It's not uncommon for people living near hot springs using well water to have "smellable" sulfur content in the water. I don't know about NY though. Sulfur is not an uncommon element in saltwater, but the concentration are usually low enough not to cause any concern. BUT, if the sulfur is so strong that you can smell it turning the water on, I would suggest her not to use it straight, but run it through a RODI.

 

[Telochupoto]

BUT, if the sulfur is so strong that you can smell it turning the water on, I would suggest her not to use it straight, but run it through a RODI.

NY water [that I know of] doesn't have sulfur; but I can tell you that if it does, you can't smell it. She most have done something to that tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, there are plenty of places with sulfur in NY water. I know, because my house and everybody on my street has it. It stinks.

I treat it with chlorine bleach injection directly into the pressure tank and then run the water through a giant carbon filter that is changed every 2 years. The water then tastes and smells fine, but I sill use RO.

Not sure if its harmful, but I would have her RO the water.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm talking well water here of course, not municipal water.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll get the low-down from her as to exactly what's going on before I let her take the rock home. All I was told is that she stated she had sulfur in the water...not if it could be smelled, or if it was being treated before it came out of the tap, or whatever.

I'll just give her a buzz when I get into the shop this afternoon.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Telochupoto]

By the way chip, if she is planning on just using tap water, then I wouldn't sell her fish or anything that is alive, besides rock or sand; it would be a crime since they will definetly die in her tank. Ammonia and metal levels [in city water at least] from the water cannot be brought down by just letting it sit in the tank and just chill, it won't happen.

 

[Anonymous]

No person that sets up a saltwater tank from me is able to buy fish until I say so.

I would not sell her anything until she has waited the full six-week-to-two-month period so her tank would culture up from the live rock. I also test the water thoroughly before anyone gets livestock.

I can't prevent idiocy...I can only educate to the best of my ability.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

By the way chip, if she is planning on just using tap water, then I wouldn't sell her fish or anything that is alive, besides rock or sand; it would be a crime since they will definetly die in her tank. Ammonia and metal levels [in city water at least] from the water cannot be brought down by just letting it sit in the tank and just chill, it won't happen.

Telo why would your municipality allow pure ammonia to remain in the water? To the best of my own knowledge, this may be a violation of federal standards, I know it certainly is in my own (green) state.

If she's getting a smell of sulphur from water running straight from the tap, it's not your problem, it's the problem of her local water district. You should have no problem if you can provide the saltwater for her (I bought many 5gal water jugs--with their tops--for just this purpose).

Skanky stink. PEE-YOO! :x

 

[Telochupoto]

Its a form of ammonia, I forgot what they call it, but its not full blown ammonia. You can get a small reading with a test kit.

 

[Anonymous]

Then what you're talking about is chloramine, a more stable form of chlorine (bonded with ammonia--will not dissipate by evaporation like chlorine), usually used by municipalities whose water is sourced from surface waters. This can easily be taken care of with the addition of Sodium Thiosulfate, no dead fishies.

What heavy metals are in the water that you're talking about? After Love Canal, I would think the state of New York would be EXCEEDINGLY careful and diligent in setting and maintaining the highest quality standards, yeah?

 

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify, I'm pretty sure the sulfur water referred to here is well water, not municipal.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, Dan, that's correct, it's well water.

You'll have to take a trip out here sometime to see what a crappy job I'm doing.

Peace,

Chip