Aquarium Smells Bad

[Z123Killer]

My aquarium has been set up for about a year now, the last addition of fish was about 4-5 months ago. These couple of weeks I've started to notice a fishy smell, it gets less smelly after a water change but then becomes stronger as the week goes by...

What should I do and what is causing it?

 

[75g Discus Tank]

It's ammonia.

You need to do daily 50% WCs for a week or more until that can be controlled.

 

[AWheeler]

Start checking the ammonia and nitrate levels in the middle of the week, you might have to do more frequent water changes. You might want to add a bit of activated carbon to the filter too while you are getting it under control.

 

[TexasDomer]

Can you list your water parameters (pH, temp, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates) and your water change schedule?

 

[Z123Killer]

It's ammonia.

You need to do daily 50% WCs for a week or more until that can be controlled.

I don't think it's ammonia, the aquarium is cycled and I have a Bolivian ram and neon tetras in there which I heard are pretty sensitive to ammonia.

 

[TexasDomer]

Can you list specific parameters?

 

[75g Discus Tank]

I don't think it's ammonia, the aquarium is cycled and I have a Bolivian ram and neon tetras in there which I heard are pretty sensitive to ammonia.

Can you send the parameters?

 

[Z123Killer]

Can you list your water parameters (pH, temp, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates) and your water change schedule?

My temp is 72-74F
pH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0-.25
Nitrites: 0
Nitrate: 5-20
The tank is 29 gallon and I change about 7.5 gallons every week

 

[Z123Killer]

Can you send the parameters?

: 7.6
: 0-.25
: 0
: 5-20

 

[TexasDomer]

I would look into doing larger water changes - that'll help lower ammonia and clean the tank.

 

[Z123Killer]

I would look into doing larger water changes - that'll help lower ammonia and clean the tank.

So like 10 gallons? I also have some activated carbon, should I add that as well?

 

[TexasDomer]

10-15 gallons would be fine. And activated carbon might help with the smell. Make sure you're gravel vac'ing, cleaning the rim and the lid, and cleaning the filter. The smell could come from any of these.