New Tank Cycle - Ammonia smell

nhlives · 02/01/2007, 07:03 PM

I am just finishing the first week of a new tank cycle.

120 gal (two overflows) with 100# of base rock which has observable organic material on it: seaweed, etc.

I have been running the sump at maximum let's say 1200 gph and a Vortech Pump. Topoff has been about 2-3 gal. per day. ASM G3 skimmer is producting skimate.

PH: 8.3
NH4: 0
NO2: upper end of test kit scale
NO3: upper end of test kit scale

The wife is complaining that the house smells like a kitty litter. I must admit she is right.

My explaination is that the tank is still producing considerable NH4 even though it is undetectable by a test kit. And the large flow and resulting evaporation is cooking off ammonia.

Does that make sense? My immediate solution is to greatly reduce the flow and resulting evaporation.

scrmbld33 · 02/01/2007, 07:07 PM

for the smell running carbon sometimes helps or you could do a water change to help, i would keep the flow the same, also too did you pick off the dead stuff before putting the rock in? this sometimes helps with the smell

nhlives · 02/01/2007, 07:09 PM

Is this a common problem during cycling? I had the "stink" problem during the first few bacteria blooms. That is gone now. This is a "kitty litter" smell. Even burns the eyes a bit.

bertoni · 02/01/2007, 07:50 PM

Curing live rock can be quite smelly. I'd do some water changes and run a lot of carbon. Removing any obvious decaying organic debris might help as well.

nhlives · 02/01/2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
Curing live rock can be quite smelly. I'd do some water changes and run a lot of carbon. Removing any obvious decaying organic debris might help as well.

To "run carbon" are we talking a canister filter?

bertoni · 02/01/2007, 08:26 PM

A canister filter is fine. I use a PhosBan reactor.

zma21 · 02/01/2007, 09:08 PM

I bought a tetra hang on back filter and took everything out. Put some aragonite sand on the bottom, bag of activated carbon, bag of chaeto, and a compact flourescent over it. I strongly suggest this.

02/01/2007, 07:03 PM	#1
nhlives Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 247	New Tank Cycle - Ammonia smell I am just finishing the first week of a new tank cycle. 120 gal (two overflows) with 100# of base rock which has observable organic material on it: seaweed, etc. I have been running the sump at maximum let's say 1200 gph and a Vortech Pump. Topoff has been about 2-3 gal. per day. ASM G3 skimmer is producting skimate. PH: 8.3 NH4: 0 NO2: upper end of test kit scale NO3: upper end of test kit scale The wife is complaining that the house smells like a kitty litter. I must admit she is right. My explaination is that the tank is still producing considerable NH4 even though it is undetectable by a test kit. And the large flow and resulting evaporation is cooking off ammonia. Does that make sense? My immediate solution is to greatly reduce the flow and resulting evaporation.

02/01/2007, 07:07 PM	#2
scrmbld33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: south jersey 08050 Posts: 2,394	for the smell running carbon sometimes helps or you could do a water change to help, i would keep the flow the same, also too did you pick off the dead stuff before putting the rock in? this sometimes helps with the smell __________________ a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes" fish are friends, not food Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3

02/01/2007, 07:50 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Curing live rock can be quite smelly. I'd do some water changes and run a lot of carbon. Removing any obvious decaying organic debris might help as well. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/01/2007, 08:26 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A canister filter is fine. I use a PhosBan reactor. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/01/2007, 09:08 PM	#7
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	I bought a tetra hang on back filter and took everything out. Put some aragonite sand on the bottom, bag of activated carbon, bag of chaeto, and a compact flourescent over it. I strongly suggest this. __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube

02/01/2007, 07:09 PM	#3
nhlives Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 247	Is this a common problem during cycling? I had the "stink" problem during the first few bacteria blooms. That is gone now. This is a "kitty litter" smell. Even burns the eyes a bit.