Smelly Tank!

[The Noob Fish Shepherd]

My tank is giving off an interesting aroma, If you want me to describe it I can try. Although its not overpowering, I'm a little concerned... Is this normal (The smell, not me being worried)? Is there anything I can or should do about it??

 

[nosoup4you]

Is it an earthy smell or something more sulphur-like?

 

[The Noob Fish Shepherd]

Is it an earthy smell or something more sulphur-like?

It smells like the water I used to catch tadpoles from. And if I was to describe it, I would say it smells like rotting wood thats been boiled with a hint of grandpa, if that helps...

Does your fish tank give off an odor too??

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Yea all tanks have some sort of odour.

I have 4 tanks, my goldfish one I wouldn't say smells very much; I have a shrimp one which doesn't smell that much; I have a betta tank and that STINKS of earth and I have a newt tank which stinks too - it's not earthy like the fish; it's "newt" smell.

 

[waterdrop]

The nitrogen cycle will give off an earthy smell, like soil. One of the reasons for this is that the beneficial autotrophic bacteria we try to encourage in the filter are the same or related to the soil bacteria that carry out the same process everywhere outdoors.

A layer or mesh bag of carbon (aka activated charcoal) in the filter can sometimes help remove organic odors on those tanks where it seems stonger than others. Its generally used up in about 3 days, so you might want to change it out for a few weekends and see it the situation has been helped.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[PDSimon]

Can you smell this smell when the lids closed? I don't want my tank to smell out my bedroom

 

[waterdrop]

I was doing the fishless cycle on my son's tank when I first read here about the "earthy smell" and so of course I opened the lid and did some sniffing! It took me quite a while to realize that yes, there was a very faint earthy smell faintly like fresh soil in the garden (not like fertilizer.) Without looking for it and sticking my nose right next to the water surface I would never have noticed.

Based on feedback here in the beginner forum I'd say that significant organic smells do happen but are quite rare.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

A normal healthy earthy odor is not only expected, it is a sign that all is well. If your tank has no odor at all, it probably does not have any organic processes happening in it. With that said, your tank should not have an odor that is in any way offensive, unless you hate the smell of good garden soil. All of my tanks have a minor odor that is reminiscent of a lakeside or maybe a creek with flowing water in it. There is nothing offensive about the odor, but it does smell somewhat like a place where I would expect to find fish if I went fishing.

 

[The Noob Fish Shepherd]

This sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing! Very reasuring, thanks guys!!

 

[raptorrex]

A normal healthy earthy odor is not only expected, it is a sign that all is well. If your tank has no odor at all, it probably does not have any organic processes happening in it. With that said, your tank should not have an odor that is in any way offensive, unless you hate the smell of good garden soil. All of my tanks have a minor odor that is reminiscent of a lakeside or maybe a creek with flowing water in it. There is nothing offensive about the odor, but it does smell somewhat like a place where I would expect to find fish if I went fishing.

that's, exactly, as i see it. to me, a good tank, smells just like your garden does, after a rain shower.

 

[DD2510]

cant beat that earthy smell...

 

[Dan-CR4]

I would say it smells like rotting wood thats been boiled with a hint of grandpa, if that helps...

A hint of grandpa

sorry for the no help reply, but this did make me laugh

 

[Inchworm]

Hi The Noob Fish Shepherd

I see that you have three BN plecos in the tank. If you are feeding them a lot of fresh vegetables, it's possible that the smell might be coming from them. The combination of pleco waste and rotting vegetables can result in a very strong smelling tank and poor water quality.

Take care to feed them only enough at one time to last a day or two and remove anything that is uneaten after that point or that is floating around the water. Gravel vac well at every water change. If this is the cause of the problem, a few big water changes should make a considerable difference in the way the tank smells.

 

[The Noob Fish Shepherd]

Hi The Noob Fish Shepherd

I see that you have three BN plecos in the tank. If you are feeding them a lot of fresh vegetables, it's possible that the smell might be coming from them. The combination of pleco waste and rotting vegetables can result in a very strong smelling tank and poor water quality.

Take care to feed them only enough at one time to last a day or two and remove anything that is uneaten after that point or that is floating around the water. Gravel vac well at every water change. If this is the cause of the problem, a few big water changes should make a considerable difference in the way the tank smells.

This would make sense, I've been feeding them quite alot... who would have thought it would be the cleaning fishes that stank out the tank!! "And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!"

I did a big water change and it helped substantially! Up until now I never disturbed the gravel, because I thought it would rough up the helpful bacteria that was amidst it, and I have alot of plants... how foolish of me!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi The Noob Fish Shepherd

I learned this lesson the hard way. Boy did my tank smell nasty!

Now I just feed them slices of zucchini, about this size, every other day. There is very little waste and the tank has no more smell. If you slice them up and freeze them, you will always have some ready to go and none will go to waste. Just defrost them in a little tap water before adding to the tank. Smaller vegetables have fewer seeds that can float loose in the water too. Just cut them on the diagonal or make them wider depending on how much your fish eat.

The beneficial bacteria will cling to the gravel and cleaning it won't disturb your cycle at all. It will, however, remove the harmful bacteria that might be growing on any uneaten food or vegetables that might have settled into the substrate. Don't go so far as to uproot your plants but do lift any decorations and clean under them too. You'll be surprised at just how much waste accumulates.