My Living Room Smells Like A Harbor

[sacramonel]

Ok . . I have been keeping a 75 gallon marine tank in my living room for over a year now. Great hobby, loving every bit of it. As a single man it certainly helps with the ladies when they come over "Oh my Gawd! Is that a Nemo!?!" . . . but it does have its drawbacks. . mainly . . .my apartment smells like the pier.

What can I do to fix this? Any help would be great. I've tried fans, plug ins, scented candles . . .nothing!!!

 

[SkiFletch]

Do you run a skimmer?

 

[bunjiweb]

carbon will often help with fish tank smells. Can't say I have a problem with tanks smelling myself.

Ben

 

[SkiFletch]

carbon will often help with fish tank smells. Can't say I have a problem with tanks smelling myself.

Ben

Agreed. If you're running a skimmer I suggest adding carbon to the air exhaust on the skimmer, really helps keep the smell down.

 

[sacramonel]

Yep, I'm running a skimmer. I have an open top, so I think its the evaporated water that is causing the funk.

 

[SkiFletch]

Does your water build up a little flim atop it?

 

[Ter]

I had that problem once.. it was the skimmer lid... check 2 see if the smell comes from the skimmer...
Ter
hey btw.. i love your "my lviging room smells like a harbor" made me chuckle at work
Ter

 

[sacramonel]

Does your water build up a little flim atop it?

No it does not. I have never had a problem with a film or anything of the sort. Honestly it just smells like the sea. Maybe thats a good thing?

I had that problem once.. it was the skimmer lid... check 2 see if the smell comes from the skimmer...
Ter
hey btw.. i love your "my lviging room smells like a harbor" made me chuckle at work
Ter

Ha. No problem. A little levity at work never hurt anyone.

 

[SkiFletch]

I just slappped a bag full of carbon down on top of my skimmer as there are little vent holes on top of the cup that let the air out. Seems to keep it smelling nice and fresh

 

[bunjiweb]

I suppose it could be if you have types of denitrifying anaerobic bacteria built up in the tank that are breaking down nitrate into nitrogen gas that could possibly be a factor, but I thought Nitrogen was odourless as it makes up over 2/3rds of the atmosphere as far as I remember from Chemistry..

Ben

 

[SkiFletch]

I suppose it could be if you have types of denitrifying anaerobic bacteria built up in the tank that are breaking down nitrate into nitrogen gas that could possibly be a factor, but I thought Nitrogen was odourless as it makes up over 2/3rds of the atmosphere as far as I remember from Chemistry..

Ben

Yup, you're right Ben, nitrogen is completely odor-less. The "harbor" smell generally comes from airborne dissolved organics, hence the skimmer is usually the culprit.