General Care Discussion :: Wierd smell

[Safdar]

I just cleaned my turtles tank and i decided to boil the river rocks
and when i put the rocks back into the water, the water smelled horrible, some funky smell

Will this harm my turtle?

and also i got these floating plants and before i changed the water it floated, but now after it sinks, do you think it has to do soemthing with the smell?

Thank you

[Safdar]

i dont want to keep him out of the water for too long, can i get some reasurrecne plz

[DavidY]

Did you let the rocks cool off or rinse them off at all before you put them back in the tank? Is the smell coming from the tank or is it from boiling the rocks?

[Safdar]

i just put them in, and its the rocks that smell i gues

[Safdar]

but i think the smell spread thorugh water in the tank

[DavidY]

Hmm, were the rocks already in the tank for a while before you boiled them or are they new? Most likely they were already colonized with bacteria or algae and you killed whatever it was by boiling them. I'd take them out of the tank and put them outside for a while until the smell goes away. Otherwise, whatever it was that died on them is going to pollute the tank water as it decomposes.

You should also run some fresh carbon in your filter to remove the smell or do another water change.

[Safdar]

The rocks were in the tank from the beggining

Is it safe to put the turtle in now?

[DavidY]

Yea then you probably just killed all the beneficial bacteria that had grown on the rocks. You should remove them and scrub them with a stiff brush, hose them off and leave them outside to air out and dry off for a few days.

You can probably put your turtles back in but make sure to run some fresh carbon and maybe do another water change. I'm sure the turtles aren't going to like the smell/taste in the water either.

[Safdar]

i have to leave real quick, i dont think i have enough time right now to take the rocks out and stuff, and i cant let my turtle roam in my roam till i get back, so can i put him back in till then
he isnt gunna get sick or someting right

[DavidY]

No, he should be okay.

[Safdar]

Will there be any harm if i dont take the rocks out and thoothbrush them