The smell is often unmistakable. A characteristic odor of rotten eggs, sour mud, or methane wafts from the water. These odors are rarely constant: they become more pronounced in hot weather, during thunderstorms, or whenever the sediment is disturbed. Visually, you can see bubbles rising regularly to the surface and bursting, particularly at the end of the day. If you take a sample from the bottom, the mud is black, oily, and very soft.
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Unpleasant odors & bubbles coming from the bottom
Identify the source of odors
and restore a healthy foundation
What you see
What this means
These odors are not "natural"; they are the warning signal of a completely anoxic environment. Oxygen has completely disappeared from the deep layers. Immediate consequence: aerobic bacteria die and give way to anaerobic bacteria. This is where the problem begins.
This change in microbial flora triggers a putrid fermentation that produces toxic gases:
- H₂S (Hydrogen Sulfide): Responsible for the rotten egg smell.
- NH₃ (Ammonia): An invisible gas but extremely harmful to fish.
- CH₄ (Methane): Greenhouse gas resulting from decomposition.
This is a typical sign of a body of water saturated with organic matter, where water circulation is insufficient.
Why act now?
Beyond the unpleasant odor for neighbors and passersby, this fermentation is an ecological time bomb:
- The Vicious Cycle of Algae: Anaerobic bacteria have a major flaw: they make phosphorus and nitrogen soluble. These nutrients rise to the surface and act as massive fertilizer for invasive algae and plants. The more decomposition there is at depth, the more algal blooms intensify at the surface.
- Lethal Toxicity: Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are violent poisons. Even at low concentrations, they irritate the gills and can cause sudden fish kills.
- Sediment Degradation: The bottom is acidifying and becoming unstable. Without intervention, the silt becomes "biologically dead" and very costly to restore.
The TASO Solution
deep oxygenation & bioremediation
Masking the odor has no lasting effect: one must act on the underlying metabolism.
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Each protocol is tailored to the initial assessment, the characteristics of the body of water, and its intended uses.
