What's the best way to get of the "fish smell" of the fish tank room?

reefsafe · 09/20/2009, 06:55 PM

I have a 280 gallon and in the basement and at times the basement is smells like a fish tank. I have an air exchanger that I will be installing that will hopefully fix it but running the ducts is going to be difficult. What does everyone else do? Thanks.

IwannaClarion · 09/20/2009, 06:57 PM

Do you have lids on the tank? I've been told that you need proper gas exchange, otherwise you may get the fish smell.

reefsafe · 09/20/2009, 06:58 PM

I have a canopy and the stand is enclosed on three sides with the back open. there is an 80 gallon sump in stand.

tufacody · 09/20/2009, 07:16 PM

I run into this problem sometimes too. I find that 90% of the smell is from the skimmer. A bag of carbon over the lid does help a little.

Runfrumu · 09/20/2009, 07:38 PM

If a turbo snail ever croaks in the tank it will stink up the whole room even on a large tank.

ludnix · 09/20/2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Runfrumu
If a turbo snail ever croaks in the tank it will stink up the whole room even on a large tank.

Yes, those guys are horrible. If I see one die I put it in a ziplock while underwater and throw it outside. Just carrying out of in the open air will make a room smell for quite a while. I think your air exchanger is probably going to be the biggest help.

t kish · 09/21/2009, 03:53 AM

I started to have a smell in the basement were the sump is but it wasnt coming from the sump.

I was dumping the waste from the skimmer down the drain of the laundry tub and not running the water long enough to wash the drain out.

No smell now

Tim K

InsaneClownFish · 09/21/2009, 04:01 AM

Open top, zero smell, priceless...

Seriously though, you do have quite a bit of water volume in enclosed spaces. Try letting everything breath a little.

dcroucher · 09/21/2009, 06:56 AM

Have coffee grounds laying out and smells will be soaked up in the coffee. Try it, it works.

SaltieG · 09/21/2009, 07:04 AM

I had some horrible smells coming from the room where my 55g is and come to find out it was the carpet. I guess the occasional splash of dirty water from a water change began to stink it up. I had to steam clean the carpet which actually made the smell worse. I then resorted to sprinkling baking soda all over the floor and let it sit a day then vacummed up. No more smell from the carpet.

CUfishfan · 09/21/2009, 11:14 AM

Those fridge packs of baking soda seem to work very well (especially in the stand). That and changing filter socks regularly.

Good luck!

fufu · 09/21/2009, 11:19 AM

Febreeze, or automatic scent plug in.

reefsafe · 09/21/2009, 11:31 AM

thanks! Will grab some folgers and baking soda. Will update. Thanks!

jmoney · 09/21/2009, 11:31 AM

try an air filter with carbon over the intake the smell will be gone in moments

Aqua Keepers · 09/21/2009, 09:44 PM

Sorry but I have to....
CLOSE YOUR MOUTH

Sisterlimonpot · 09/21/2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dcroucher
Have coffee grounds laying out and smells will be soaked up in the coffee. Try it, it works.

how does it taste when you brew the coffee?? I wonder if there's a market for that??

Aqua Keepers · 09/21/2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sisterlimonpot
how does it taste when you brew the coffee?? I wonder if there's a market for that??

heck yea there is!!!! Fishpooalocha

99sf · 09/21/2009, 10:25 PM

I am definitely going to try the baking soda on the carpet--thanks for the idea!

Tadashi · 09/22/2009, 12:08 AM

I had several Ionic Breezes near my tank. It was good at getting rid of all scents. I tried to avoid using those oily scents around the fish tank. I did not want it to interefere with the skimmer. I also cleaned my skimmer weekly to reduce the smell. The skimmer drain had a carbon container over the air valve to filter any smell coming out of it also.

09/20/2009, 06:55 PM	#1
reefsafe Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 2,332	What's the best way to get of the "fish smell" of the fish tank room? I have a 280 gallon and in the basement and at times the basement is smells like a fish tank. I have an air exchanger that I will be installing that will hopefully fix it but running the ducts is going to be difficult. What does everyone else do? Thanks. __________________ Is there such thing as a big enough tank? Tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1969509 Current Tank Info: 360 Gallon AGE tank, Radion lighting, mp60 pumps and lots of equipment

09/20/2009, 06:58 PM	#3
reefsafe Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 2,332	I have a canopy and the stand is enclosed on three sides with the back open. there is an 80 gallon sump in stand. __________________ Is there such thing as a big enough tank? Tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1969509 Current Tank Info: 360 Gallon AGE tank, Radion lighting, mp60 pumps and lots of equipment

09/20/2009, 07:38 PM	#5
Runfrumu Hi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,014	If a turbo snail ever croaks in the tank it will stink up the whole room even on a large tank. __________________ Red Sea Max 130d and 125 gallon mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon oceanic tank, Lighthouse Pro XLS, 72" outer orbit fixture, H&S 150-F2000/1 skimmer, H&S 110 Calcium Reactor, Tunze 7096, 2 Tunze 6105's , Tunze Osmolator, Prime 1/4hp drop-in chiller. 5 years running. Red Sea Max, 3 years.

09/21/2009, 03:53 AM	#7
t kish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Stoney Creek Ontario Canada Posts: 185	I started to have a smell in the basement were the sump is but it wasnt coming from the sump. I was dumping the waste from the skimmer down the drain of the laundry tub and not running the water long enough to wash the drain out. No smell now Tim K __________________ Learning stage Current Tank Info: 46g with 35g basement sump .

09/21/2009, 04:01 AM	#8
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	Open top, zero smell, priceless... Seriously though, you do have quite a bit of water volume in enclosed spaces. Try letting everything breath a little. __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

09/20/2009, 06:57 PM	#2
IwannaClarion Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 77	Do you have lids on the tank? I've been told that you need proper gas exchange, otherwise you may get the fish smell.

09/20/2009, 07:16 PM	#4
tufacody Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,890	I run into this problem sometimes too. I find that 90% of the smell is from the skimmer. A bag of carbon over the lid does help a little.

09/21/2009, 06:56 AM	#9
dcroucher Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 55	Have coffee grounds laying out and smells will be soaked up in the coffee. Try it, it works.

09/21/2009, 07:04 AM	#10
SaltieG Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Mentor on the Lake, Ohio Posts: 745	I had some horrible smells coming from the room where my 55g is and come to find out it was the carpet. I guess the occasional splash of dirty water from a water change began to stink it up. I had to steam clean the carpet which actually made the smell worse. I then resorted to sprinkling baking soda all over the floor and let it sit a day then vacummed up. No more smell from the carpet.

09/21/2009, 11:14 AM	#11
CUfishfan Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: N. VA Posts: 77	Those fridge packs of baking soda seem to work very well (especially in the stand). That and changing filter socks regularly. Good luck! __________________ ~Liz "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first."

09/21/2009, 11:19 AM	#12
fufu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 432	Febreeze, or automatic scent plug in.

09/21/2009, 11:31 AM	#13
reefsafe Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 2,332	thanks! Will grab some folgers and baking soda. Will update. Thanks! __________________ Is there such thing as a big enough tank? Tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1969509 Current Tank Info: 360 Gallon AGE tank, Radion lighting, mp60 pumps and lots of equipment

09/21/2009, 11:31 AM	#14
jmoney Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 970	try an air filter with carbon over the intake the smell will be gone in moments

09/21/2009, 09:44 PM	#15
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	Sorry but I have to.... CLOSE YOUR MOUTH

09/21/2009, 10:25 PM	#18
99sf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S.F. bay area Posts: 158	I am definitely going to try the baking soda on the carpet--thanks for the idea!

09/22/2009, 12:08 AM	#19
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	I had several Ionic Breezes near my tank. It was good at getting rid of all scents. I tried to avoid using those oily scents around the fish tank. I did not want it to interefere with the skimmer. I also cleaned my skimmer weekly to reduce the smell. The skimmer drain had a carbon container over the air valve to filter any smell coming out of it also. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)