Ammonia issues

Question
QUESTION: I have a 50 gallon tank which has had no fish in it for one year.  After adding bacteria among other products the levels did not decrease.  After removing all rocks and decorations from the tank the levels reduced, but did not return to normal.  At 2 ppm I added fish.  They lived for three days.  On the third day the water was clouded over and stunk terrible of sulfur.  Please help.  An empty tank is an eyesore.
ANSWER: Hi Justin
Have a few questions just to clarify a few things.

What levels did not decrease-the ammonia?  And was it the ammonia levels that decreased when your removed the rocks/decorations?
What did you use for an ammonia source?
What bacteria did you use and what other products did you add?

Sorry, just want to make sure we're on the page :)

Christy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, the ammonia levels did not begin to decrease until all of the ornaments and rocks were out.  However, it was still present.  I used a generic biobooster from petsmart, ammolock, and liquid nitrogen regulator to control the ph.  I thought that the tank was ready for fish as the ammonia was within range as not to kill the fish.  Within 3 days, with no decorations or rocks, the tank turned completely white and had a terrible sulfur smell.  ALl the fish died.  Also strange is the fact that there was black algae even though the tank is not near a light source and I did not use the tank lights at all.  

Justin  

Answer
Hey Justin
Ok...sulfur smell like rotten eggs, is anaerobic bacteria, most likely in the substrate, releasing hydrogen sulfide.  Your tank sat for a year wihtout fish, I don't know if it had water in it or not during that time, but there was most likely food or waste in the gravel/substrate rotting, or something that would cause the bacteria to grow in there.  That's what's most likely causing the sulfur smell-my guess.  I say that, because if it was your water source, you would know by now if it smelled like sulfur...There also is a product, a water dechlorinator called Prime that smells kinda sulfury.  I use it, but I only notice the smell when I first use it, it's not continually smelling like that.

So, don't add any fish at this point, in fact I'd recommend doing a fishless cycle.  But first, do a partial water change, about 50% & vacuum out the gravel really good.  I would remove the substrate/gravel, and thoroughly clean it.  Add it back to the tank, only about 1 inch of gravel or less, and also add some carbon to your filter to try to remove some of that sulfur.  Refill the tank, give it a few days, remove the carbon, then start a fishless cycle.  

Most of those bacteria in a bottle products that claim to kick start the beneficial bacteria or instantly cycle your tank won't work.  The only one I've heard of that does is called Bio Spira, and you need to add that the same time you add the fish.  Usually you'll have to go to a mom and pop pet store to find it, needs to be kept refrigerated.

To start a fishless cycle, get a few  cocktail shrimp.  Get a pair of new pantyhose/nylons and cut off the leg/foot section.  Put the shrimp in that, and just toss it in the tank and let it rot.  That will eventually produce ammonia, which will start the cycle process.  Don't do any water changes during this time.  When you're ammonia and nitrites read 0 ppm, and you show nitrates, your tank is cycled.  Plug your nose and remove the shrimp.  Then do a water change, and get your nitrates to read under 20 ppm.  Those are the only safe levels that fish should be in.  Some test kits or pet stores will say a small amount of ammonia is safe for the fish, but that's not the case at all.  It stresses them, leading to diseases and causes ammonia burns, gill damage, and internal damage to the fish.  

The whole process will take about 4-8 weeks to complete, and yes it sucks to have to go another month or two without fish...but it'll be much better in the longer run.  You won't waste money on fish that'll end up sick or die and spending money on products trying to control the ammonia and nitrites to keep the fish alive.  One thing though, as soon as you remove the shrimp and do the water change, you'll want to add fish soon after.  The bacteria that's developed needs an ammonia source to survive so the tank won't cycle again.  Add new fish slowly, like two or three at a time too.  Adding too many fish at once will cause a mini cycle to occur.

And also, you said you removed the rocks and decorations but the ammonia stayed the same, those shouldn't have any affect on the ammonia levels.  In fact, eventually the beneficial bacteria will grow on those as well as the gravel/substrate, filter media, etc.  

Also, almost forgot about the algae you mentioned.  Here's a link for you to look over, see if that sounds like what you have.  If so, it's not an algae, but a cyanobacteria, usually present when there's a lot of decaying waste in the tank.  That would also explain why it grew with no lighting present.  I'm not sure if this would put out a sulfur type smell, but it may all be related....need to copy and paste to your browser:

http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/algae/p/algaesmear.htm

Hope that helps and good luck!  Let me know if you have more questions!

Christy