Stinky NSW reservoir

BrettDS · 04/18/2016, 08:48 AM

A bit more than a month ago I set up my new 220 and moved everything from my old 75 to it. As part of that I also got a new 44G brute trash can to hold new salt water. For the first couple of weeks I hadn't bothered to put the lid on, so it was sitting open in the garage. I was going to be doing some woodwork in the garage to finish my stand and I didn't want to get sawdust in the water, so I put the lid on. After the lid had been on for about a week I took it off to check the water level and discovered that there was a pretty strong bad old gym sock type smell and I don't know where it's coming from.

I don't think it's the water as I took a pitcher of water out of the reservoir and brought it to another area and it smelled fine. I've been using this water for nearly a month and haven't seen any negative effects on the tank. Any thoughts on what it might be? I'm thinking I'll empty the reservoir and maybe wash it out with some vinegar and/or bleach before I refill it again.

I'm using instant ocean salt and the brute trash can was new (and rinsed out before I first started using it) but I did reuse a circulation pump and some float switches from my old reservoir. I cleaned those before reuse, but it's possible they brought something in.

GQuinn · 04/18/2016, 02:33 PM

I have a grey brute can in my basement (with lid) that I use to store top off water and it has a similar odor. I originally thought it was because I was using kalk, but have since stepped using the kalk and just keep top off water in there, but it still has a smell to it.

BrettDS · 04/18/2016, 03:44 PM

Mine is grey as well. Maybe it’s just a brute thing

04/18/2016, 08:48 AM	#1
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	Stinky NSW reservoir A bit more than a month ago I set up my new 220 and moved everything from my old 75 to it. As part of that I also got a new 44G brute trash can to hold new salt water. For the first couple of weeks I hadn't bothered to put the lid on, so it was sitting open in the garage. I was going to be doing some woodwork in the garage to finish my stand and I didn't want to get sawdust in the water, so I put the lid on. After the lid had been on for about a week I took it off to check the water level and discovered that there was a pretty strong bad old gym sock type smell and I don't know where it's coming from. I don't think it's the water as I took a pitcher of water out of the reservoir and brought it to another area and it smelled fine. I've been using this water for nearly a month and haven't seen any negative effects on the tank. Any thoughts on what it might be? I'm thinking I'll empty the reservoir and maybe wash it out with some vinegar and/or bleach before I refill it again. I'm using instant ocean salt and the brute trash can was new (and rinsed out before I first started using it) but I did reuse a circulation pump and some float switches from my old reservoir. I cleaned those before reuse, but it's possible they brought something in.

04/18/2016, 02:33 PM	#2
GQuinn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 982	I have a grey brute can in my basement (with lid) that I use to store top off water and it has a similar odor. I originally thought it was because I was using kalk, but have since stepped using the kalk and just keep top off water in there, but it still has a smell to it.

04/18/2016, 03:44 PM	#3
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	Mine is grey as well. Maybe it’s just a brute thing