coffeebean

ok, i have 5 tanks. they all smell...well kind of good to me. well they all used to. like a pond-ish, earthy, nice smell. wet but not foul. i have one tank that just REEKS right now. i did a 40% water change this morning, the water coming out smelled horrible. still smells. what the heck is going on? same deal as all my other tanks, fully planted etc. water is clear.

Shawnie

usually a smell indicates a rise in nitrates or a fish has passed that we cant find..at least around here...some products we use smell also...could it be that?

aquarist48

hmmm Do you have any carbon in the tanks coffeebean? If not, it would be a good idea. Once the smell is gone you can remove it if you wanted. I'm a firm believer in using it around the clock. Changing it every 3 weeks.

Shawnie

I am also since I had overstocked tanks...it did wonders for me..its an added expense, but one worth it to my fish

coffeebean

i only use carbon to remove meds. im concerned that the smell wasnt there before. it used to smell good, all the fish seem to be accounted for. hmmm...better double check the loaches

Angela_96

I found one way to get around it being so expenisive. I found someone who sells a generic filter replacement and get them for all my tanks for the price of a pack of three.
I try to keep mine changed also, never touch my biowheels though.

Shawnie

its actually not as bad as it use to be..I bought the bags and buy the carbon in the containers and fill it myself...ive never heard of generic filter placement tho learn something new everyday!

Angela_96

Yea its a way to cut back on money for me. THe guy I buy fish food from, shipping supplies is who I get the filter things from. I didn't think they made them until I was searching around on the site.

coffeebean

well, i threw in some carbon into the fluval. i still wish i knew what was making it smell. it used to smell nice

aquarist48

The smell should be gone in a day or two since you added the carbon. I order my carbon in the 3.65L size. Saves me a good bit of $ compared to what the LFS charges for it in smaller containers.

haedra

Carbon may get rid of the smell, but in all honesty I think it's worth investigating to figure out the cause of the change in smell. Very bad smells are rarely harmless smells; and if this is a recent change, it might be a cause for concern.

But that's just my two cents.

coffeebean

this is my feelings exactly. it didnt smell before. i dont know what it is. all fish are accounted for. water and filter are maintained. i did have a banana plant with some rotting parts in it in this tank, took that out. maybe that was contributing to the smell?

Butterfly

If it smells like sulphur or spoiled eggs it could be trapped gas in your substrate. If so it needs a good vacuuming and a couple of good water changes.
Carol

Beth1965

I really don't think it's possible that the plant contributed to the smell. Interesting that trapped gas in the substrate could cause the smell.
Beth

coffeebean

hmm...not sulfur. not quite a rotten egg either. i will do another water change and vac regardless