Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 This is my dirted 20 gallon long that I literally lost every fish in (ich outbreak). I am rebooting and need any and all advice on what to layer on top here before adding new fish. There was a sulphur/rotten egg smell in the tank that I noticed while emptying. Comments? I was planning on adding more sand (10 pound bag) on top before filling but am wondering if gravel first and then sand might be best. Advice? Can the phenomenal fish gurus here advise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 I have crushed coral as well. As well as German Rams, tetras and lots of plants going in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I had a 20 long with sand and dirt. If there was one thing I could change is that I would take out all the sand. It was not good for planting and it almost always let dirt out. The smell happened in my tank too. I would just hold in a breath take all the sand out and then add gravel. Take as much sand as you can out without disturbing the sand. I would add about 2 1/2 inches of gravel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT_ Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Legend has it that beneith the top half inch of sand there be anaerobes that make hydrogen sulfide gas. That's probably the smell. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @CT - yet not dangerous, correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I use 1.5 inches of soil, and just enough cap. My cap recipe is an ongoing project. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 That's exactly what it smelled like @CT_. I know what that smells like because I've been at a small hot spring before and let me tell that thing stunk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @Paul_Obermiller - underneath and is a dirted tank soil mix. Are you saying take that out as well, i.e., dump tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @Streetwise - same here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Yes, you can go too deep. I would say that it is a normal phase of the learning curve if you are trying organic soil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Hydrogen sulfide is poisonous (if you inhale a lot) and flammable so do let flame get near your tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT_ Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Melissa Ann said: @CT - yet not dangerous, correct? I think it is dangerous but probably okay if you're not huffing it all day. OSHA has a page about it. Some say it'll kill fish if you disturb the sand. Others say it'll just burp up and smell bad but not poison your fish. Probably both true depending on how much gas is in there and how much time it gets to disolve. Edit: To expand, It doesn't mix with your water when trapped in sand. But if the sand is disturbed it can mix with your water. I have no clue what a lethal fish dose is though. Edited February 5, 2021 by CT_ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @Streetwise - so you’re thinking too much cap here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I would poke around once a week just to make sure not too much builds up. I never had a fish die because of it. If you really want to be safe @Melissa Ann you can dump the tank. I did and let the dirt sand mix sit in a bucket for a few months to let some gas out before reusing it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @Paul_Obermiller- smell is gone now. But you are saying still dangerous? Ugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) I doubt it unless like @CT_ said you were breathing it in all day. If you do dump the tank (and if it's safe) take a lighter close to the soil sand mix and see what happens. That could prove if there is hydrogen sulfide. BUT ONLY IF IT'S SAFE. Edited February 5, 2021 by Paul_Obermiller 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 Problem here is I have fish on the way. 😩 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @Paul_Obermiller - excellent idea. 👍🏻 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I didn't want to waste water so I just let the rain do it for me. You can use a hose to wash it out, and I agree with @Streetwise that the sand is too much of a cap if you're going to add gravel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 @streetwise - trying to capture better pic of the layer here. So maybe I’ll thin the current sand layer quite a bit and lightly cover with some fresh sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 Thanks to all for the advice. Just can’t bear to lose this tank again. First time I’ve ever lost one. 😞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 @Melissa Ann, I think that if you give this tank tons of plants, your inhabitants will be very happy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) No problem, at least you're still in the hobby. It has happens to the best of us. I crashed my one of my tanks because of not taking care of it or not paying attention to obvious signs. I don't remember which but I was really sad, I lost some Zebra Danios that I had for 2 years, and I had named them ( I could the difference between their sizes, some where fatter than the others). Some of the fish made it like one of bronze corys (that is still alive today) she's almost like 4 years old now. It really sucks but you got to learn from your mistakes and push on. I think my problem was that I wasn't helping the gas out so a big bubble of it came out and killed most of my fish. I suggest getting some Malaysian trumpet snails to make sure it doesn't happen, if that is what caused my crash. Edited February 5, 2021 by Paul_Obermiller 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Ann Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 Thank you thank you thank you Paul. And agreed. I’ve learned more through fishkeeping than I could have ever dreamed. ❤️🙏🏻👍🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I got into fish keeping because I thought Zach Catch Em was cool but I soon found out that I was harming fish so I did it the right way. I love all the bio and chemistry behind fish keeping. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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