Is the charcoal in fishtank filters meant to small terrible from new ?

Question

I have a new tank set up , with a charcoal filter , the problem is literaly after 2 days the smaell was terrible , after going through everything we found that the charcoal in the filter was the thing causing the smell. I was told that the charcoal was there to get rid of smells in the water so whats wrong? thanks for any help

yea the tank and gravel and everything was cleaned from new. The smell that was coming from the tank was very noticable after about 2 days. I am not sure if i was meant to do anything to the charcoal , as i just put the filter in the tank and turned it on.
thanks again

No dead fish or floaty things :) , the foam filter smelt fine and there wes not much junk in it, as it was a new set up.

Answer 1

I've had aquariums for about six years now. What filter system are you using? The carbon filters are supposed to clean the water. It removes impurities and medications and is also an odor eliminator. As some users have stated it may be your charcoal. If you have a filter system where you fill a bag with charcoal, then do not settle for second best just because of price. Get top grade premium charcoal.

You may also want to get a different filtering system. Hagen's Aquaclear is a good system, as is Marineland's Penguin filters with biowheel (these are what we use). If you've never had a setup before you'll notice a white cloud within the next day or so. This is a bacteria bloom and is quite normal; Nitrobacters, the good bacteria, are beginning to colonize your tank.

If you have any questions let me know.

Answer 2

I have used charcoal before and they don't cause any terrible smell at any time, even when not effective anymore.
As you mentioned your tank is newly set up, you may not have enough of the ammonium/nitrifying bacteria etc to help break down the organic stuff/remains in the tank.
If the smell is smelling like rotten eggs would be the anaerobic bacteria multiplying in your tank. This means there is insufficient oxygen inside your system, expecially where the source of the problem. You may need find if there are any place where the remains are getting trapped where they are not getting enough air/oxygen. Do you have an under gravel filter too if you have sand/gravel in the tank. Increase the air by airstone and exposed water surface area may help.
Good luck!!!

Answer 3

My charcoal doesn't smell at all. I think that there must be something wrong with the charcoal you have or with the filter. Take them back to the shop you got them from and get them to sort it out.

Answer 4

No the charcoal usually does not have an odor. I would visit a fish store or call them and ask for help They are usually very friendly and helpful. Good Luck

Answer 5

it can be that it got plugged up and is growing something nasty.
try new charcoal. if that smells bad fast too then you have a bad bacteria or plant growing in your tank.
did you rinse all of the tank and parts first?
Chunks of dead fish can get stuck in the filter, ickk smell

Answer 6

this has never happened to me but it sounds like your overfeeding your fish and the excess food is being caught in the filter making you believe its the charcoal that smells when its most likely rotting food

Answer 7

The charcoal is not what you are smelling, but the bacteria that it is collecting is what that smell is.

All you can do is keep the room well aired, and deal.

Answer 8

i've had fish tanks for years and never heard of this b4... could have something gotten into the charcoal that doesn't belong there? maybe try new? it certianly isn't normal.

Answer 9

charcoal absorbs odor= change the charcoal.

Answer 10

get some different charcoal,mine dosnt stink