Tank odor - how to reduce?

Coral Reefer TX · 03/20/2006, 06:24 PM

Any ideas on how to reduce tank odor? Fairly new system, about 3 months, but fully cured. Parameters are good. Soft corals and very low bioload.

46 gallon. No sump. Good Tunze skimmer. Also a canister filter.

Will adding activated charcoal to canister help much?
I've also considered making a charcoal screen filter of sorts to fit over the top of the skimmer so that air released out the lid would get filtered through the charcoal.

Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks.

ChickenCannoneer · 03/20/2006, 06:28 PM

I think that both of those ideas would help reduce the smell of the tank. HTT, Tim

Ti · 03/20/2006, 06:30 PM

Carbon.
Charcoal is for BBQ's.
=P

WaterKeeper · 03/20/2006, 06:59 PM

Febreze???

That doesn't sound so good Reefer. A tank in good shape should have a fresh, open ocean smell. If it smells like the beach or tide pool there is some die-off going on. Sure carbon will help but you really should see why the smell in the first place. I'd be searching for some dead critter somewhere. Maybe a snail or other member of a clean-up crew.

bertoni · 03/20/2006, 07:06 PM

Also, some water changes might help. A surface film can also smell unpleasantly, IME.

phoenix · 03/20/2006, 07:12 PM

I agree that you should not have an unpleasant odor - can you tell if the oder is coming from the skimmer? Definitely, carbon should help.

Cutiewitbooty · 03/20/2006, 08:15 PM

yeah my tank doesn't have any smell, carbon will help, but you really need to find out what is going on.

03/20/2006, 06:24 PM	#1
Coral Reefer TX Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 59	Tank odor - how to reduce? Any ideas on how to reduce tank odor? Fairly new system, about 3 months, but fully cured. Parameters are good. Soft corals and very low bioload. 46 gallon. No sump. Good Tunze skimmer. Also a canister filter. Will adding activated charcoal to canister help much? I've also considered making a charcoal screen filter of sorts to fit over the top of the skimmer so that air released out the lid would get filtered through the charcoal. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks.

03/20/2006, 06:30 PM	#3
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Carbon. Charcoal is for BBQ's. =P __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

03/20/2006, 06:59 PM	#4
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Febreze??? That doesn't sound so good Reefer. A tank in good shape should have a fresh, open ocean smell. If it smells like the beach or tide pool there is some die-off going on. Sure carbon will help but you really should see why the smell in the first place. I'd be searching for some dead critter somewhere. Maybe a snail or other member of a clean-up crew. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

03/20/2006, 07:06 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Also, some water changes might help. A surface film can also smell unpleasantly, IME. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/20/2006, 08:15 PM	#7
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	yeah my tank doesn't have any smell, carbon will help, but you really need to find out what is going on. __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

03/20/2006, 06:28 PM	#2
ChickenCannoneer Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hudson, OH Posts: 1,268	I think that both of those ideas would help reduce the smell of the tank. HTT, Tim

03/20/2006, 07:12 PM	#6
phoenix Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 429	I agree that you should not have an unpleasant odor - can you tell if the oder is coming from the skimmer? Definitely, carbon should help.