Smell

[Miss Dib Dabs]

In the last few days I've noticed the smell of the water in the tank has a slight odour to it. Nothing alarming and nothing I can think to compare it to! The filter is currently heading towards the end of it's first cycle (tank is both live planted and has fish) having had an ammonia spike last week and nitrite this week.
What I really want to know is should I expect any smell? Is it a sign of the live bacteria doing it's job or some such? While I now fully understand how things work with new tanks etc (much thanks to the members of this board) I know nothing about any odour that I should expect!
I am still currently doing daily water changes between 15 and 20% as the nitrites are very slightly above normal 0.2, ph holds a steady 7.7 and ammonia is 0. I have not tested for nitrates as yet since my lfs talked me out of it. Having seen the many posts on here I am sorely tempted to go buy a test kit and do one anyway.
Anyhow, and ideas about the smell would be great, thank you.
Hugs,
P.

 

[cheekeyarab]

I have noticed that if I have been late doing water changes then the tank does smell slightly.

I have a nitrate testing kit and along with my ammonia test it is the one I use most regularly. Personally I would suggest you get one but i suppose it comes down to individual preference.

On a general basis I do not notice much of an odour from my tank but I do have a rather hefty water change schedule so I guess that could be why.

 

[ncjharris]

There was a post about this a few weeks ago.....

here

 

[pnyklr3]

If it smells "earthy" (kind of like soil or dirt), then you are ok. If the tank/water smells "fishy" (sounds strange, I know) then you'll need to worry.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Ah no, smells more earthy(And not even slightly fishy! ) and generally only notice it real close up with the lid off. And we have had some hot days recently (She says as an enormous storm erupts above her!).
Thanks for the link ncjharris, I must have missed that in my search. )
cheekeyarab I have tests for both those and ph and have been doing regular tests recently due to a nitrite spike earlier this week. They are up by a tiny amount, as I am sure I said in my original post. But certainly not at a level I'm going to freak about.
Hugs,
P.
P.S:What does it mean if it smells fishy, out of curiosity? I take it it could be a sign of fin rot or some intestinal disease?

 

[pnyklr3]

Well kept tanks don't smell. Large well kept tanks may have a slight "earthy" smell to them, something like a garden after a huge downpour. Even new cycling tanks don't smell bad. If your tank has a strong "fishy" smell to it, then something is amiss. Old uneaten food that has decayed will make the water smell. Algae under the hood will also smell. Check for dead fish, a clogged filter, anything unusual.

This was from Gadazobe in another thread from awhile back. Good info to have. I had mentioned in that same thread that I have had jars (with snails) smell like rotten eggs. Basically, in this case, it was rotting food and a water change was needed. HTH

EDIT: And "up close with the lid off" is exactly when my 55 gallon smells earthy.

 

[morgan]

My tank had a funny smell recently. I have put a Nitrate Removing Sponge in the Juwel Rekord 96. It contains bacteria so I assumed it was some kind of chemical reaction. The water also went cloudy but is now crystal clear again. With this sponge in you can leave water changes for 4 weeks I won't be doing that.