Smelly Tank

[katielm]

I have a 10 gallon tank that I set up Friday night. Sunday we got a few fish, a dwarf frog, and a shrip. Everyone is still alive and healthy looking (I have had fish in the past, also). The problem is, my tank is smelling pretty badly. Everything I've found on the internet has stated to look for dead fish, excess food, or waste in the tank. Like I said, everyone is still alive and well, there seems to be no excess food anywhere...and after 3 days of fish there can't possibly be so much waste that it smells up an entire room (besides the fact that I don't see much waste anyway)?

Any suggestions or solutions?!

Thanks!

 

[Katana]

It might be helpful to describe the smell. (Reread this and noticed that it sounded kind of rude. Not intended to be so. Just a suggestion to help you get help faster. Sorry.)

 

[pieman]

Well to start your tank is cycling! Look up on cycling on the forums.

 

[wendywc]

Buy a test kit and keep daily track of your water stats. Your ammonia is probably high, if so I would use ammo-chips in your filter to keep it down... I did this for a friend of the family when they had setup a tank with fish too and we didn't lose a single one.

 

[jarmado]

Buy a test kit and keep daily track of your water stats. Your ammonia is probably high, if so I would use ammo-chips in your filter to keep it down... I did this for a friend of the family when they had setup a tank with fish too and we didn't lose a single one.

wendywc,

any good products you came across on reducing nitrite?

cheers!

 

[wendywc]

I never have used any... thankfully there was never a nitrite spike to force me to go to the store. If a nitrite or ammonia spike happens, you can always do a small water change; that would help reduce it -- maybe just by a little, but better than nothing.

 

[guppymonkey]

Any product that says it eliminates ammonia or nitrite is a complete lie. There is no such thing as magic, things do not simply disappear. These kinds of products are basically just trying to take your money. Things like ammo lock just change ammonia slightly on a temporary basis to something a little less toxic. They generally only work for 24 hours or so and make the situation worse when tehy change back to ammonia and the ammonia level is even higher than before. The idea is that you continue to buy their product because you have to use it constantly to get rid of ammonia or nitrites.

The only way to get rid of these for good is through the nitrogen cycle. There are pinned topics that you can read on the forum that can explain it. Basically the fish poop and it makes everything smell until its broken down. Fish can't flush the toilet after they go it has to get broken down into fertilizer. To reduce the stress on your fish (and the smell) do a partial water change. NEVER change all of your water. Its not good for your tank. You might reduce the smell but by getting rid of all the water you get rid of all the good bacteria that would break down waste. It would kind of be like shaving your head if you got split ends. It helps kind of but there are better ways.

 

[wendywc]

I agree ... but it's very common that people start tanks with fish right off the bat -- and there's no talking some people out of doing it.

I have seen for myself that ammo-chips lessen ammonia drastically. Definately don't use ammolock; ammochips are white/gray gravel-like chips to put in your filter. It does not dilute and evaporate off like ammolock does.

 

[jarmado]

I agree ... but it's very common that people start tanks with fish right off the bat -- and there's no talking some people out of doing it.

I have seen for myself that ammo-chips lessen ammonia drastically. Definately don't use ammolock; ammochips are white/gray gravel-like chips to put in your filter. It does not dilute and evaporate off like ammolock does.

i have zero reading on my ammonia but about 5ppm on my nitrite.
is this possible?
how do i resolve this?

 

[Katana]

That's the second stage of the cycle. The bacteria that eat nitrites need to develop now.

 

[phlawed]

phoebe sings on this subject, "Smelly tank, smelly tank what are they feeding you. Smelly tank smelly tank, its not your fault."

 

[jarmado]

That's the second stage of the cycle. The bacteria that eat nitrites need to develop now.

how long does this stage normally lasts?

 

[deliverance]

wont carbon help get rid of the smell?

 

[Squid]

phoebe sings on this subject, "Smelly tank, smelly tank what are they feeding you. Smelly tank smelly tank, its not your fault."

Now theres a sign of someone whos watched too much Friends.... Nice remix..

BTW.. looking at where you live, could you tell tony christie if hes going the right way, then i dont have to listen to that damn song ever again..

Squid

 

[jayjay]

deliverance i think carbon does help get rid of smells in tanks, well i've been told it does.

nice song there phlawed. . i love that program.