Can Acrylic Tanks Develop A Funky Smell?

[GuppyGoddess]

All of my tanks are glass except one. The acrylic one, I've noticed has a funny smell to it. I was adding indian almond leaves to the tank (because there is a betta in it) and after then, the water turned brown and I decided to remove the leaves only after the smell showed up.

Since then, I've been going about doing 1/3 water changes to remove the brownish water. Yet the smell persists.

The tank is acrylic. Is there any way that the acrylic absorbed the odor?

It's only noticable when I open the top of the tank. When sitting next to it with the top shut, I cannot smell it.

 

[KoiKris]

If you cant smell it with the lid shut Id say its more likely to be the water, but seen as Ive never had acryllic I wouldnt like to say for sure. But Id think if it was the tank youd smell it when the lid is shut too. Have you tried taking a jug of water out and taking it to a room away from the taking and seeing if the water smells?

 

[snowflake311]

I would say that it's the water and due to the leaf. Could be the filter too. I would clean the filter out.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Yep, when I change the water, the smell is in the water I've taken out. I've cleaned the filter sponges, but used water from the tank to avoid killing the good baterial, but haven't cleaned out the entire filter. I'll try doing that.

My betta seems fine. She's a girly girl and is totally frisky and cute. Doesn't seem to phase her.

 

[ellena]

Is it the IAL smell, like melafix? Or something else?

 

[snowflake311]

It might take more then a few WC to rid the smell. Do you use carbon in your filter? You might want to add some fresh carbon to help.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Is it the IAL smell, like melafix? Or something else?

I'm not even sure what the IAL should smell like since none of my other tanks have that. It does earthy. . .I don't use melafix in my tanks. The only product I add is stress coat, but ran out about a month ago so her tank is just conditioned water and some silk plants. No carbon in the filter.

Since she appears healthy, with the regular water changes, she should be okay, right? Since this is my only eclipse, I don't want to spend money on carbon since I probably won't use the rest of the packets for a long time.

 

[loraxchick]

a mature tank should have a nice earthy smell to it-almost like dirt. if the smell is foul or sulfury (like eggs or a match that has blown out) then id recommend better substrate maintainence. it is likely just a "healthy", established tank smell.
cheers

 

[fishnovice]

I had an acrylic tank -no smell, no difference from glass tanks. Must be the water, substrate or filter
HINT: Buy a big piece of pond carbon sponge filter from Ebay and you can use it like a normal sponge for your filters after the carbon ceases to work.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

a mature tank should have a nice earthy smell to it-almost like dirt. if the smell is foul or sulfury (like eggs or a match that has blown out) then id recommend better substrate maintainence. it is likely just a "healthy", established tank smell.
cheers

It's more sulfury. I'm not a fan of taking my fish out of the tank but I'll take her out and remove and rinse off the sustrate. lol Poor fishy. Hopefully she doesn't become made at me while she sits in a cup for 1/2 hour.

I wonder why this happened to her particular tank. All my fish have the same maintainance schedule.

 

[jennybugs]

Using IAL in the water does make the water smell earthy. The brown tint is the tanins in the water and that's what is good for the betta, but not in too high a concentrate
I sue the leaves in my tetra tank as well as betta tanks and the fish are very well from it

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Using IAL in the water does make the water smell earthy.

After posting last night, I did check again and would define the smell as earthy. Even without the leaves in there, the water still has the color/odor. I don't mind it too much. . Once I put a few live plants in there, I'm hoping to improve the overall appearance. It's a small tank and the betta is such a sleek little thing so she'll enjoy gliding between plants as an activity.

 

[loraxchick]

earthy=good. means the tank is nice and mature. i wouldnt go about over cleaning things (like the gravel or the filter). the plants should do nicely in there!
cheers

 

[GuppyGoddess]

earthy=good. means the tank is nice and mature. i wouldnt go about over cleaning things (like the gravel or the filter). the plants should do nicely in there!
cheers

Yah, today when I purchase a few plants, I'll have them test the nitrate levels. I've had a difficult time getting my tanks to cycle. Hopefully this one is since it's a smaller tank. With only 3 gallons and in a room with heavy activity, I think the betta needs some more cover. She's very social, though. . .loves to watch us!

So, I've decided now to buy a plants for a couple of my tanks. Have a small budget and will buy more plants next month.

 

[loraxchick]

look for some fast growing stem plants-elodea camboba wisteria hornwort...super easy to look after (and pretty cheap to boot)...best thing is, when they get tall simply pinch off the tops and plant them in the substrate=more, free plants
so long as your tank is cycled be careful of waterchanges in with plants. too many and their nitrogen source will be eliminated. have them write down the nitrate levels. good to have excess nitrate with plants (meaning more than say, 10ppm, so the plants have food too).
just something to keep in mind, especially if this is your first time with plants (which i have no idea).
cheers