Bad smell coming from tank

andrek787 · 04/24/2015, 10:35 AM

Hey guys, I can't seem to figure this out. Last couple of days my 120g tank started to smell bad and I cannot figure out where the smell is coming from. The water itself doesn't seem to smell bad.

I added about a pound of claupera to my refugium about the same time that was shipped via 2-day mail. It didn't smell that good out of the bag but I rinsed with tank water before adding it to the sump and it hasn't started to melt as far as I can tell.

I also started to feed about a tea spoon of frozen food.

I had a snail croak that I left in to give something for hermits to eat.

gone fishin · 04/24/2015, 10:37 AM

can you describe the smell. Rotten eggs? FWIW I think a dead snail is one of the worst things I have ever smelled.

Sk8r · 04/24/2015, 10:52 AM

I'd get the caulerpa out. All of it, even tiny pieces. For many reasons, it's not a good weed to have in the first place, and it is notorious for tank problems, as when it decides to spore and cause water problems. It is also capable of getting through pumps, rooting in rockwork, and is toxic, inedible for most species. Any fragment of it can reproduce.

To get rid of the smell, run carbon. A lot of carbon. Do a water change.

jeperry3 · 04/24/2015, 11:02 AM

Amen on the Culerpa. Had to break down a tank because that evil stuff.

As to the smell: Skimmers can get smelly, especially after something dies. At least in my experience. I add a litte carbon to my drain bottle and it helps.

gone fishin · 04/24/2015, 11:19 AM

Just to follow up an alternative to the caulerpa is cheato.

andrek787 · 04/24/2015, 12:08 PM

Thanks for the quick reply guys. It is hard to describe the smell, but its defiantly a fishy one. All of the corals and fish are doing really well and my water parameters are in range.

Currently, I have cheato and 3 kinds of claupera, bubble, feather and leaf under 24 watts of red/blue leds 24/7. I really dont want to get rid of claupera as until the addition of bubble as its been doing really well. I will remove most of the bubble kind.

I am do for my first water change this weekend and will try to swap out 40 gallons. I will put in fresh carbon in the reactor as it has been running for over 4 weeks and clean out my skimmer. I am using a phosban 150 as the catch can for it so I should be able to add some carbon to it or even turn it into a second activated carbon reactor.

04/24/2015, 10:35 AM	#1
andrek787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 378	Bad smell coming from tank Hey guys, I can't seem to figure this out. Last couple of days my 120g tank started to smell bad and I cannot figure out where the smell is coming from. The water itself doesn't seem to smell bad. I added about a pound of claupera to my refugium about the same time that was shipped via 2-day mail. It didn't smell that good out of the bag but I rinsed with tank water before adding it to the sump and it hasn't started to melt as far as I can tell. I also started to feed about a tea spoon of frozen food. I had a snail croak that I left in to give something for hermits to eat.

04/24/2015, 10:37 AM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	can you describe the smell. Rotten eggs? FWIW I think a dead snail is one of the worst things I have ever smelled. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/24/2015, 10:52 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd get the caulerpa out. All of it, even tiny pieces. For many reasons, it's not a good weed to have in the first place, and it is notorious for tank problems, as when it decides to spore and cause water problems. It is also capable of getting through pumps, rooting in rockwork, and is toxic, inedible for most species. Any fragment of it can reproduce. To get rid of the smell, run carbon. A lot of carbon. Do a water change. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/24/2015, 11:19 AM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Just to follow up an alternative to the caulerpa is cheato. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/24/2015, 11:02 AM	#4
jeperry3 Old Fossil Join Date: May 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 148	Amen on the Culerpa. Had to break down a tank because that evil stuff. As to the smell: Skimmers can get smelly, especially after something dies. At least in my experience. I add a litte carbon to my drain bottle and it helps.

04/24/2015, 12:08 PM	#6
andrek787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 378	Thanks for the quick reply guys. It is hard to describe the smell, but its defiantly a fishy one. All of the corals and fish are doing really well and my water parameters are in range. Currently, I have cheato and 3 kinds of claupera, bubble, feather and leaf under 24 watts of red/blue leds 24/7. I really dont want to get rid of claupera as until the addition of bubble as its been doing really well. I will remove most of the bubble kind. I am do for my first water change this weekend and will try to swap out 40 gallons. I will put in fresh carbon in the reactor as it has been running for over 4 weeks and clean out my skimmer. I am using a phosban 150 as the catch can for it so I should be able to add some carbon to it or even turn it into a second activated carbon reactor.