Tank/Room smells

sweeper7 · 09/26/2012, 08:45 PM

My entire room smells like a fish store...I have a 40B in my bedroom but I dont remember my 20L ever having this much of a smell.

I did have the aquaclear in the 20L but on this tank i have a sump/fuge with a skimmer in there.

I dont have any carbon foam sponge or anything else.

does anyone else have this problem?

hollister · 09/26/2012, 08:51 PM

That smell is dieoff and unwanted. DO you have any powerheads for water flow? What type of fish? Any LR?

Mavrk · 09/26/2012, 08:55 PM

Make sure to empty your skimmer often. That can be a source of odor.

sweeper7 · 09/26/2012, 09:02 PM

I have LR and 2 1050 PH with a return line on a herbie.

it smells as if yomeone walked into a fish store no joke loll

sweeper7 · 09/26/2012, 09:26 PM

also, my room has gotten very humid of late because of the tank, is taht normal for you guys as well?

GratefulReef · 09/26/2012, 09:29 PM

My tank smells a little fishy, but it doesnt stray from the tank itself. No issues with humidity either.

cephalotus · 09/26/2012, 09:37 PM

Humidity can be a real problem but my tanks only smell right after a water change or when dumping the skimmer. Is your tank cycled?

sweeper7 · 09/26/2012, 09:41 PM

oh so you have humidity issues as well?

yes it is.

I did dump the skimmer out today and turned everything off to disconnect the plumbing as I had a snail stuck in there, maybe it had to do wiht the pumps being off and all the water sitting still for an hour.

cephalotus · 09/26/2012, 09:59 PM

I have a 550cfm exhaust fan in my fish room, if I didn't it would be a huge issue

cephalotus · 09/26/2012, 10:00 PM

I would try running some carbon

dinthbrgh · 09/27/2012, 06:36 AM

the only thing that comes to mind is the smell that comes from lr curing. have you put new rock in? even a small amount of uncured rock can cause a fishy stink. good luck.

SaltyWenStirred · 09/27/2012, 06:45 AM

I'm not a fish pro. But when I put a small tank in my kid's room, my neighbor (massage therapist and certified feng-shui guru) nearly slapped me. Said a bedroom should not have background noise.

Just FYI, I wouldn't want a large tank in my bedroom. When I want to sleep, I need silencio.

cephalotus · 09/27/2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyWenStirred

I'm not a fish pro. But when I put a small tank in my kid's room, my neighbor (massage therapist and certified feng-shui guru) nearly slapped me. Said a bedroom should not have background noise.

Just FYI, I wouldn't want a large tank in my bedroom. When I want to sleep, I need silencio.

Growing up I always had several tanks in my room, I turned out alright

sponger0 · 09/27/2012, 07:38 AM

Tell your fish to stop farting lol

sammy77 · 09/27/2012, 08:09 AM

I know what you're going thru, I currently have the same issue in my basement fish room. I think it may be worse because I'm using a stock tank for a sump. My skimmers cleaned up and no humidity issues down there. Wife's about to throw me and my science project outta the house...lol

FlyFishGuy · 09/27/2012, 08:28 AM

Couple thoughts:

1 - If you do not have a canopy over the 40B - humidity will certainly rise in the room. You can add an exhaust fan, dehumidifier or attempt another method to increase circulation in the room.
2. - Is your sump covered in any way? Use a piece of thin plexi to cover as much of the sump as you can. This will slow evaporation and reduce any odor which may be coming form the water column itself. Should help with both humidity and odor.
3. - Run carbon for a bit (I run it all the time). This should remove substantially all odor from the water column. If you still have an odor, something is amiss with your setup.

knap_123 · 09/27/2012, 08:31 AM

I had this same Problem. It caused a few pleasat conversations between my wife and myself. But it seemed to finally clear up.

b0bab0ey · 09/27/2012, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cephalotus

I would try running some carbon

+1 to this... Running carbon has always kept the "fishy smell" at bay to my wife's satisfaction.

sammy77 · 09/27/2012, 08:44 AM

What/how are you guys running carbon? I have FO tank, and don't have any reactors.

usmc121581 · 09/27/2012, 08:51 AM

I only get a beach smell when I do water changes, I dont smell it my wife constantly tells me "It smeels in here". But humidity is a big one.

haftafish · 09/27/2012, 08:58 AM

+2 on the carbon...

Huntor0 · 09/27/2012, 11:34 AM

I run carbon, and only get a little smell from the tank on water change nite for about 30 minutes when circulation pumps are off.

sponger0 · 09/27/2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntor0

I run carbon, and only get a little smell from the tank on water change nite for about 30 minutes when circulation pumps are off.

I dont run any carbon and have no smells from my tank.

b0bab0ey · 09/27/2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammy77

What/how are you guys running carbon? I have FO tank, and don't have any reactors.

If you've got a place in your sump where the flow has to pass through, then you can put some in a filter media bag (I just use thick pantyhose) and run it that way. Or a HOB or Canister filter works too. But IMO, nothing works as efficiently as a dedicated media reactor such as any of these:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reacto...or-single.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reacto...n-reactor.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reacto...n-reactor.html

sammy77 · 09/28/2012, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

If you've got a place in your sump where the flow has to pass through, then you can put some in a filter media bag (I just use thick pantyhose) and run it that way. Or a HOB or Canister filter works too. But IMO, nothing works as efficiently as a dedicated media reactor such as any of these:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reacto...or-single.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reacto...n-reactor.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reacto...n-reactor.html

Thank you very much. I will give the carbon in the panty hose a try first. How often do you recommend changing it?

09/26/2012, 08:45 PM	#1
sweeper7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 822	Tank/Room smells My entire room smells like a fish store...I have a 40B in my bedroom but I dont remember my 20L ever having this much of a smell. I did have the aquaclear in the 20L but on this tank i have a sump/fuge with a skimmer in there. I dont have any carbon foam sponge or anything else. does anyone else have this problem?

09/27/2012, 06:45 AM	#12
SaltyWenStirred Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 245	I'm not a fish pro. But when I put a small tank in my kid's room, my neighbor (massage therapist and certified feng-shui guru) nearly slapped me. Said a bedroom should not have background noise. Just FYI, I wouldn't want a large tank in my bedroom. When I want to sleep, I need silencio. __________________ Innovative Marine 38g Nuvo Tank; Skkye 92W LED light Innovative Marine AuqaGadget - Skimmate Protein Skimmer, midsize Innovative Marine MiniMax All-In-One Media Reactor (PhosGuard) Nikon D90 35mm

09/27/2012, 08:09 AM	#15
sammy77 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: IL Posts: 373	I know what you're going thru, I currently have the same issue in my basement fish room. I think it may be worse because I'm using a stock tank for a sump. My skimmers cleaned up and no humidity issues down there. Wife's about to throw me and my science project outta the house...lol __________________ 220gal FOWLR When you're down....look up....get up....and don't ever give up! Current Tank Info: 220gal FOWLR

09/27/2012, 08:44 AM	#19
sammy77 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: IL Posts: 373	What/how are you guys running carbon? I have FO tank, and don't have any reactors. __________________ 220gal FOWLR When you're down....look up....get up....and don't ever give up! Current Tank Info: 220gal FOWLR

09/27/2012, 08:51 AM	#20
usmc121581 Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abingdon, maryland Posts: 1,671 Blog Entries: 1	I only get a beach smell when I do water changes, I dont smell it my wife constantly tells me "It smeels in here". But humidity is a big one. __________________ I prefer not to think before I speak, I like to be just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth. Current Tank Info: I have a 180 gal mostly LPS corals, it contains 1 Val. Tang, 1 yellow striped clown fish, 3 percula clownfish, a blood shrimp, cleaner shrimp and a sand shifting goby, 5 pajama cardinals, 1 green chromis. Also a 75 gal. sump/fug.

09/26/2012, 08:51 PM	#2
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	That smell is dieoff and unwanted. DO you have any powerheads for water flow? What type of fish? Any LR?

09/26/2012, 08:55 PM	#3
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Make sure to empty your skimmer often. That can be a source of odor.

09/26/2012, 09:02 PM	#4
sweeper7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 822	I have LR and 2 1050 PH with a return line on a herbie. it smells as if yomeone walked into a fish store no joke loll

09/26/2012, 09:26 PM	#5
sweeper7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 822	also, my room has gotten very humid of late because of the tank, is taht normal for you guys as well?

09/26/2012, 09:29 PM	#6
GratefulReef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: syracuse,ny Posts: 288	My tank smells a little fishy, but it doesnt stray from the tank itself. No issues with humidity either.

09/26/2012, 09:37 PM	#7
cephalotus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 123	Humidity can be a real problem but my tanks only smell right after a water change or when dumping the skimmer. Is your tank cycled?

09/26/2012, 09:41 PM	#8
sweeper7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 822	oh so you have humidity issues as well? yes it is. I did dump the skimmer out today and turned everything off to disconnect the plumbing as I had a snail stuck in there, maybe it had to do wiht the pumps being off and all the water sitting still for an hour.

09/26/2012, 09:59 PM	#9
cephalotus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 123	I have a 550cfm exhaust fan in my fish room, if I didn't it would be a huge issue

09/26/2012, 10:00 PM	#10
cephalotus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 123	I would try running some carbon

09/27/2012, 06:36 AM	#11
dinthbrgh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 163	the only thing that comes to mind is the smell that comes from lr curing. have you put new rock in? even a small amount of uncured rock can cause a fishy stink. good luck.

09/27/2012, 07:38 AM	#14
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Tell your fish to stop farting lol

09/27/2012, 08:28 AM	#16
FlyFishGuy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Solon, OH Posts: 70	Couple thoughts: 1 - If you do not have a canopy over the 40B - humidity will certainly rise in the room. You can add an exhaust fan, dehumidifier or attempt another method to increase circulation in the room. 2. - Is your sump covered in any way? Use a piece of thin plexi to cover as much of the sump as you can. This will slow evaporation and reduce any odor which may be coming form the water column itself. Should help with both humidity and odor. 3. - Run carbon for a bit (I run it all the time). This should remove substantially all odor from the water column. If you still have an odor, something is amiss with your setup.

09/27/2012, 08:31 AM	#17
knap_123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: alex city, alabama Posts: 756	I had this same Problem. It caused a few pleasat conversations between my wife and myself. But it seemed to finally clear up.

09/27/2012, 08:58 AM	#21
haftafish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hardwick NJ Posts: 191	+2 on the carbon...

09/27/2012, 11:34 AM	#22
Huntor0 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 164	I run carbon, and only get a little smell from the tank on water change nite for about 30 minutes when circulation pumps are off.