Funky tank smell.

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 10:37 AM

Ok. My tank has been up since December.
75g fowlr 30g DIY sump. With a crappy lil seaclone skimmer. I am housing 2 clowns and two damsels.
I do a 30g water change every two weeks
But my tank has a godawful smell right now.
It's got a lot of....ahem... Life to it. Reef mud in the fuge and not the greatest cleanup crew. But I do have some stuff.

Anybody got any tips as to how to reduce this grungy smell a bit?

Got a hot date coming over on Friday and I don't want my house to smell like a rotten beach pool.

Cymonous · 04/09/2013, 10:40 AM

Do some tests. Cut down on your feeding. Run some GFO. And start doing weekly water changes of about 10-15gallons. Check your temp too on your DT.

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 12:37 PM

Actually my tank temp has gone up a couple of degrees

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 12:37 PM

Gfo?

James77 · 04/09/2013, 12:57 PM

Granular Ferric Oxide...it reduces phosphate, though I'm not sure how that would reduce odor.

Are you using activated carbon? Might the smell be coming from the skimmer?

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 04:55 PM

No. I cleaned the skimmer completely.
Although I have a terribly slimy fuge. Greens and reds.
I think I'm gonna take all the lr out if the fuge and scrape the walls down. Then do a water change. See where it goes.

johnike · 04/09/2013, 05:02 PM

Patchouli.

Beandawg · 04/09/2013, 07:33 PM

Have you tested for ammonia?

Megatrev62 · 04/09/2013, 07:37 PM

Could febreeze do the job for you while you have this date on the go? Just spray it near the tank and it may mask the stench enough. Good luck

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Patchouli.

Eww. I'm totally not going for dirty hippie scent. I'm trying to keep her there. Not make her want to run away gagging

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megatrev62

Could febreeze do the job for you while you have this date on the go? Just spray it near the tank and it may mask the stench enough. Good luck

I doubt it. I think I've got this under control. I'm gonna do a 30g water change and strip down my sump tomorrow I took out all my rock to find a 1/8" layer of detrius in my fuge.

I've also pulled a half cup of pure slimy, sludgy mess out. It's done a lot to get rid of it. I'm thinking this water change should fix the issue.

hollister · 04/09/2013, 08:19 PM

30 gallon water changes every week is no good. Espiacially in a new setup. 10 to 20 % per month should be plenty at first.
I think this would be most of your problem.

Elrodg · 04/09/2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

30 gallon water changes every week is no good. Espiacially in a new setup. 10 to 20 % per month should be plenty at first.
I think this would be most of your problem.

Well I'm actually just draining my sump and refilling for my wc. So I'm actually only changing about 20 gallons total.

hollister · 04/09/2013, 08:33 PM

Still to much. 10% or 7.5 gallons a month should be plenty. To many water changes could be stressing out the tank causing mini cycles or die off. The amonia smell.

unkel j · 04/09/2013, 08:45 PM

run carbon

hollister · 04/09/2013, 08:49 PM

Your tank needs a bio load or high bacteria levels. These bacteria are being dragged down by high water change levels. Give these bacteria a chance to increase there population. Its a basic setup fact.

James77 · 04/09/2013, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elrodg

Eww. I'm totally not going for dirty hippie scent. I'm trying to keep her there. Not make her want to run away gagging

FWIW...every woman I have showed my tank to has been stunned by its beauty, even when the tank was in blah condition. Spray some glade and work on the more important parts of the date

. Deal with solving it later.....

Michigan Mike · 04/09/2013, 09:28 PM

I think someone else said carbon.

4 small fish in a 75g shouldn't need much food, cut down feeding the little devils. Run carbon, I wouldn't worry about doing large water changes if your just changing the water & not removing too much bacteria from the filtration, rocks, sand, etc.

Elrodg · 04/10/2013, 12:08 AM

Well. Lol. I'm not like super worried about the date my friends. Lol. I can def hold my own in that dept.

Thanks for the info on the water changes.
I've been used to freshwater for 10+ yrs.
with a planted fw tank you have to do a 50% wc weekly.
I honestly had no clue as to a depletion rate of the minerals and such of my tank. I am a SW noob. And I know I'm gonna hear it for saying this. But I have no test kits and I have no clue as to the levels of anything.

I have only had this tank up since early December. And only added fish in feb.

It's very much your budget built tank.

That may also explain my on again off again cyano outbreaks.

I only have two juvenile clowns and two tiny damsels. I feed them once a day. Forgetting some days even.

There is plenty of bacteria in both the dt and the sump. As I primed the tank with a good amount of reef mud and garf grunge. Also. If it makes a diff. I recently added about forty lbs of live sand from a friends well established tank.

I have gotten the problem under control to where it's not a noticeable smell now. A wax burner will take care of the rest.

Elrodg · 04/10/2013, 12:11 AM

But now that it's under control. The magic can begin

Lmao.

FoxDaddy · 04/10/2013, 08:29 AM

Im glad the smell is gone but keep in mind, something caused it and it WILL come back unless you determine what it was that caused it. Take a sample of water to your local LFS and see if they'll test it for you. I'd post your results here and we can help with what you NEED, instead of just guessing what it might be.

That being said...there were some great suggestions once you figured out what it is. If it's ammonia...use Carbon. If it's anything else...most likely you're still in a cycle and like several said...you need to let it build bacteria.

04/09/2013, 10:37 AM	#1
Elrodg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Western KY GO MURRAY STATE Posts: 175	Funky tank smell. Ok. My tank has been up since December. 75g fowlr 30g DIY sump. With a crappy lil seaclone skimmer. I am housing 2 clowns and two damsels. I do a 30g water change every two weeks But my tank has a godawful smell right now. It's got a lot of....ahem... Life to it. Reef mud in the fuge and not the greatest cleanup crew. But I do have some stuff. Anybody got any tips as to how to reduce this grungy smell a bit? Got a hot date coming over on Friday and I don't want my house to smell like a rotten beach pool. __________________ Opportunity is often missed because it's dressed in coveralls and looks a lot like work Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. MP40, 2 radion gen1

04/09/2013, 10:40 AM	#2
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	Do some tests. Cut down on your feeding. Run some GFO. And start doing weekly water changes of about 10-15gallons. Check your temp too on your DT. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

04/09/2013, 12:37 PM	#3
Elrodg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Western KY GO MURRAY STATE Posts: 175	Actually my tank temp has gone up a couple of degrees __________________ Opportunity is often missed because it's dressed in coveralls and looks a lot like work Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. MP40, 2 radion gen1

04/09/2013, 12:37 PM	#4
Elrodg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Western KY GO MURRAY STATE Posts: 175	Gfo? __________________ Opportunity is often missed because it's dressed in coveralls and looks a lot like work Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. MP40, 2 radion gen1

04/09/2013, 12:57 PM	#5
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Granular Ferric Oxide...it reduces phosphate, though I'm not sure how that would reduce odor. Are you using activated carbon? Might the smell be coming from the skimmer? __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

04/09/2013, 04:55 PM	#6
Elrodg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Western KY GO MURRAY STATE Posts: 175	No. I cleaned the skimmer completely. Although I have a terribly slimy fuge. Greens and reds. I think I'm gonna take all the lr out if the fuge and scrape the walls down. Then do a water change. See where it goes. __________________ Opportunity is often missed because it's dressed in coveralls and looks a lot like work Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. MP40, 2 radion gen1

04/09/2013, 05:02 PM	#7
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Patchouli.

04/09/2013, 07:33 PM	#8
Beandawg I see whatchu did there. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 666	Have you tested for ammonia?

04/09/2013, 07:37 PM	#9
Megatrev62 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ST.John's Newfoundland Canada Posts: 1,712	Could febreeze do the job for you while you have this date on the go? Just spray it near the tank and it may mask the stench enough. Good luck __________________ Please understand honey,it's not just me!!! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, mixed reef,fuge.

04/09/2013, 08:19 PM	#12
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	30 gallon water changes every week is no good. Espiacially in a new setup. 10 to 20 % per month should be plenty at first. I think this would be most of your problem.

04/09/2013, 08:33 PM	#14
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Still to much. 10% or 7.5 gallons a month should be plenty. To many water changes could be stressing out the tank causing mini cycles or die off. The amonia smell.

04/09/2013, 08:45 PM	#15
unkel j Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: prescott,az Posts: 325	run carbon __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: 29g acrylic mixed reef w/LED

04/09/2013, 08:49 PM	#16
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Your tank needs a bio load or high bacteria levels. These bacteria are being dragged down by high water change levels. Give these bacteria a chance to increase there population. Its a basic setup fact.

04/09/2013, 09:28 PM	#18
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	I think someone else said carbon. 4 small fish in a 75g shouldn't need much food, cut down feeding the little devils. Run carbon, I wouldn't worry about doing large water changes if your just changing the water & not removing too much bacteria from the filtration, rocks, sand, etc.

04/10/2013, 12:08 AM	#19
Elrodg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Western KY GO MURRAY STATE Posts: 175	Well. Lol. I'm not like super worried about the date my friends. Lol. I can def hold my own in that dept. Thanks for the info on the water changes. I've been used to freshwater for 10+ yrs. with a planted fw tank you have to do a 50% wc weekly. I honestly had no clue as to a depletion rate of the minerals and such of my tank. I am a SW noob. And I know I'm gonna hear it for saying this. But I have no test kits and I have no clue as to the levels of anything. I have only had this tank up since early December. And only added fish in feb. It's very much your budget built tank. That may also explain my on again off again cyano outbreaks. I only have two juvenile clowns and two tiny damsels. I feed them once a day. Forgetting some days even. There is plenty of bacteria in both the dt and the sump. As I primed the tank with a good amount of reef mud and garf grunge. Also. If it makes a diff. I recently added about forty lbs of live sand from a friends well established tank. I have gotten the problem under control to where it's not a noticeable smell now. A wax burner will take care of the rest. __________________ Opportunity is often missed because it's dressed in coveralls and looks a lot like work Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. MP40, 2 radion gen1

04/10/2013, 12:11 AM	#20
Elrodg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Western KY GO MURRAY STATE Posts: 175	But now that it's under control. The magic can begin Lmao. __________________ Opportunity is often missed because it's dressed in coveralls and looks a lot like work Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. MP40, 2 radion gen1

04/10/2013, 08:29 AM	#21
FoxDaddy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 124	Im glad the smell is gone but keep in mind, something caused it and it WILL come back unless you determine what it was that caused it. Take a sample of water to your local LFS and see if they'll test it for you. I'd post your results here and we can help with what you NEED, instead of just guessing what it might be. That being said...there were some great suggestions once you figured out what it is. If it's ammonia...use Carbon. If it's anything else...most likely you're still in a cycle and like several said...you need to let it build bacteria. __________________ "I do what I want because she said I can!" Current Tank Info: 200g display, 5 radion gen2s, 2 mp60s, reeflo dart, Vertex Alpha 250