Horrid smell after pruning coral

[dangros]

HELP!

Today, I decided to do a little overdue maint on my neglected tank. I reset the gurgling siphon and cut back on some coral that is way overgrown in my 90g tank. Some of it is now growing out of the water and algae was forming on the dying parts that were too high over the water line. Due to the maint on the siphon, the waterline dropped about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, making some of the coral stick out even more. I'm not sure which of these activities (which I did before) caused it but a few minutes later, the tank began to stink up the house. It smells like sewage and is pretty strong.
What is it?! Is it dangerous? It's quite cold out here in the DC/VA area but I opened to windows and we all went upstairs where it's not stinky. I am concerned for us and my children. I've had this tank for over 10 years and other ones for over 20, this has never happened.
Here's some video I took to identify whats in there.

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And here's a video of the coral that is stick up out of the water.

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I honestly no longer remember the name of the corals as the tank has been on auto pilot for a few years now and I haven't changed much of anything. I added some carbon to the filter socks and even dumped a sock with some in it into the overflow. I also moved back the siphon so the water level returns to the higher level (which I do not want long term). Not sure what to do.

 

[TokenReefer]

Low tide smell?

There's a reason for the water in the toilet and it isn't just for flushing

 

[dangros]

Low tide smell?

There's a reason for the water in the toilet and it isn't just for flushing

kinda but on steroids. Not your normal low tide that I get when I've done manual water changes. It smells like sulfur, maybe sewage. It made my wife have a headache

 

[ReefStable]

Any chance there was a dead snail you pulled out? Kinda sounds like the smell you're describing.

 

[dangros]

I did pull a shell that had a blue mushroom attached to it. Took it out and washed it to kill the mushroom - Note there's a ton of blue mushrooms that are growing out of control to the right of the frog spawn. I washed it in the kitchen sink which is in the next room. Then I emptied it, and dumped it back in the tank. The smell seems to be coming from the tank, surface of it.

As you may of seen in the 1st video, the white marks on the Stylos, I broke off a lot. I took it outside and put in on the deck to dry up so I can break it up and use it in my CalRx

 

[dangros]

status update: Smell seems to have cleared out according to the wife which has a much better sense of smell than I. But it was really bad for an hour so I have a great amount of concern. I breathed a lot in. My poor lungs have suffered greatly over the years - as if they needed more sulfur smell

 

[vetteguy53081]

HELP!

Today, I decided to do a little overdue maint on my neglected tank. I reset the gurgling siphon and cut back on some coral that is way overgrown in my 90g tank. Some of it is now growing out of the water and algae was forming on the dying parts that were too high over the water line. Due to the maint on the siphon, the waterline dropped about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, making some of the coral stick out even more. I'm not sure which of these activities (which I did before) caused it but a few minutes later, the tank began to stink up the house. It smells like sewage and is pretty strong.
What is it?! Is it dangerous? It's quite cold out here in the DC/VA area but I opened to windows and we all went upstairs where it's not stinky. I am concerned for us and my children. I've had this tank for over 10 years and other ones for over 20, this has never happened.
Here's some video I took to identify whats in there.

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

View, organize, and share photos and videos with iCloud Photos on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.

share.icloud.com

And here's a video of the coral that is stick up out of the water.

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

View, organize, and share photos and videos with iCloud Photos on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.

share.icloud.com

I honestly no longer remember the name of the corals as the tank has been on auto pilot for a few years now and I haven't changed much of anything. I added some carbon to the filter socks and even dumped a sock with some in it into the overflow. I also moved back the siphon so the water level returns to the higher level (which I do not want long term). Not sure what to do.

Very typical and try smelling your fingers after handling - Yuk

 

[dangros]

Very typical and try smelling your fingers after handling - Yuk

Haha, my hands smelled like they always did after the work. The tank was far more offensive today. I just went back and the surface of the tank water and it's still a bit there.
I do have a theory. Sometimes, gasses get caught in the sandbed, etc. I did pull on the coral structures trying to break some off and in doing so, moved the whole thing. One of them on a giant "dead" rock about 18" in diam. It could be possible that I rocked it and released a bunch of gasses that were trapped but this much??? And again, it was a stench that was seriously offensive! Far worse than a regular cleaning, etc. Like I've said, I've been doing this for a LONG time! Since... the 90s.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Haha, my hands smelled like they always did after the work. The tank was far more offensive today. I just went back and the surface of the tank water and it's still a bit there.
I do have a theory. Sometimes, gasses get caught in the sandbed, etc. I did pull on the coral structures trying to break some off and in doing so, moved the whole thing. One of them on a giant "dead" rock about 18" in diam. It could be possible that I rocked it and released a bunch of gasses that were trapped but this much??? And again, it was a stench that was seriously offensive! Far worse than a regular cleaning, etc. Like I've said, I've been doing this for a LONG time! Since... the 90s.

Your theory is correct and both lab grade carbon (i use chemipure blue) and a fan helps

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

HYDROGEN SULFIDE pocket under the rock would be my guess. It doesn't take much to stink up the house.

You did the right thing when you opened the window.


Probably happens !

“So let it be written, so let it be done”I

 

[dangros]

chemipure blue

I usually have a ton of BRS AC but ran out. I had to use some second rate carbon my son purchased at the petsmart for a school project.

Is the chemipure blue any better than BRS AC?
It seems really expensive off amazon

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

I usually have a ton of BRS AC but ran out. I had to use some second rate carbon my son purchased at the petsmart for a school project.

Is the chemipure blue any better than BRS AC?
It seems really expensive off amazon

MarineLand Diamond Media Premium Activated Carbon, Blacks & Grays, 40-Ounce (PA0373)​

Works well.

Probably happens !

“So let it be written, so let it be done”I

 

[vetteguy53081]

I usually have a ton of BRS AC but ran out. I had to use some second rate carbon my son purchased at the petsmart for a school project.

Is the chemipure blue any better than BRS AC?
It seems really expensive off amazon

A pouch lasts 4 months and also lowers and keeps phosphate in check. Ive been using it 20+ years

 

[dangros]

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[dangros]

Just a follow up in case others see this:
We opened all the windows throughout the night to air out the house. Fortunately, there were no issues and the smell dissipated about a day or 2 later. Alls good now. In fact, I stated feeding my fish and Ritteri a lot more and all the corals woke up, growing faster and looking brighter.
My main issue is now trying to cutback the corals and ensure old pumps don’t fail.