Tank Doesnt Smell Right! Getting Concerned

[star4]

I moved some fish about yesterday, coldwater to a 400l tank and tropical (frontosa) into the tank 300l that was coldwater. The 300l was stripped of all gravel and cleaned out (just warm water, new gravel added some new ornaments, filled using some water from the smaller tanks that the frontosa were in then the rest fresh. Left the internal filter from the coldwater tank in and used an external from the coldwater tank (had 3 filters on the coldwater tank), The external filter has been running 9 months + the internal longer, but I did change half the sponges in it last week. Added the fish as soon as it was up to temperature. however I noticed this morning an odour was not very strong but chemically sort of smell, yet I have just gone to feed them and the smell is stronger. The new ornaments have been cleaned 4 times and left to dry and rinsed out again in tank water before I added them to the tank. The ornaments were specialist aquarium ornaments but I am conserned at the smell and considering doing a water change. Do new ornaments normally make the tank smell?

 

[silverrabbit]

I have no proper idea, but isn't this something to do with the coldwater becteria not coping in the tropical water? Like, does some of it die off and so you have a mini cycle?

confusing!

 

[minxfishy]

Thats tropical to coldwater I believe ^^^ In cold water the bacteria dont grow as fast as they do in warmer temps.

Im going with those ornaments, we said at the time of putting them in they had a faint smell. Just out of interest, did you test the water today? A 50% w/c cant hurt hon.

 

[star4]

I am pretty sure its the ornaments giving off the smell, the filters should be fine (she says crossing my fingers) I was just wondering if the temperature change boosing the bacteria gave off a smell, but I would expect earthy not chemical. Will do a water change to be safe. Thanks

 

[fishnovice]

I am pretty sure its the ornaments giving off the smell, the filters should be fine (she says crossing my fingers) I was just wondering if the temperature change boosing the bacteria gave off a smell, but I would expect earthy not chemical. Will do a water change to be safe. Thanks

I moved the powerful filter for my lorge coldwater outdoor tank into a tropical tank to keep bacteris alive over winter as the tank froze. Never noticed any smell and the ex=cold filter has been in tropical tank for 5 months now. I'd say it's unlikely to be the filter

 

[star4]

Thanks for that I didnt think it would be the filters, was asking just in case. Done a partial w/c smell has gone a little, I think I will do a daily change, only small, till the smell goes fully.

 

[hamfist]

Yup, if in doubt, water change.

i have always noticed a slight "plasticky" smell with resin ornaments but nothing like you are describing. I still suspect that they are the cause of the odour.

 

[saz326]

It could be the lighting units...? Are the lamps in a plastic unit? Try sniffing the tank area before "lights on" in the morning and before "lights off" at night. If the smell is stronger at night after the lights have been on all day then you may have found the culprit.
(this could also be indicative of a failing lighting balast - the smell of o-zone where electricity is arcing acorss contacts)