Smelly Aquarium Filter?

Question

I have a new tank, and I took the hood off(to set up and automatic feeder for the weekend) but the blue filter part stinks! The water doesn't seem to smell, but its the filter cartridge. I did a water change yesterday. Is this normal? I tested the water and it was fine.

Yes I was talking about the carbon filter, not the biowell.

Answer 1

If it's an older filter, it's probably picked up odors from the debris it's holding. Take it out and rinse it in the sink to dislodge some of that, or replace the filter cartridge. I generally change the filter cartridges about once every two or three weeks in our tank, but you may not need to do it so frequently. We have several fish, including a monster of a plecostomus (who puts out way more than he takes in...), so it's necessary to change ours often. You probably won't get rid of all of the odor coming from a filter that's been submerged for a while, but changing it or rinsing it out will help manage it.

Answer 2

The smell in your filter is due from the chemical activity from the activated carbon that has failed. Activated carbon removes odors, cloudiness, and impurities. I do not agree with the one who told you never to remove your filter cartridge because it harvest beneficial bacteria. Not true. All filters should have a removable cartridge that is used for mechanical filtration ( the blue part) to trap debris and activated carbon on the inside ( probably the black part-depending on what cartridge you have). There should also be a totally separate media used for these beneficial bacteria known as bio-beds or bio-wheels, again depending on type of filter. Those, you never change. The removeable cartridges must be changed every 2-4 weeks to maintain the effectiveness of your Mechanical and Chemical filtration. Read the packaging labels on any filter cartridge or filter box and it will tell you the same.

Answer 3

It is just rotting food / plant / waste material on the filter cartridge. It is normal.
Do not, ever ever EVER replace your filter cartridge unless it is falling apart. So many of your beneficial nitrifying bacteria reside on your filter cartridge that if you replace it, it could cause an ammonia spike because there aren't enough nitrifying bacteria to break down the ammonia.
If it's gunky, just swish it around in a bucket of aquarium water before you dump the water. You can also run it under the tap but that will kill some bacteria.

Answer 4

I'd say just follow the directions for maintenance that came with the filter. That smell is the bacteria colonies. Otherwise, clean it just enough so that it works normally.

Answer 5

I even have had this comparable subject beforehand and is extremely basic with uncycled (water which has no longer yet time-honored a organic and organic clear out balanced with nitrites, nitrates, and "sturdy" bacterium). Your subject is compounded further on the grounds which you have the style of small aquarium (below 10 gallons). I even have raised fish for a protracted time and function recommended youthful persons on conserving fish and that i consistently propose a newbie set up of a minimum of 10 gallons. on the grounds which you have a quasi-time-honored set up with 5 gallons, i think of your superb guess for what's inflicting the smelly water is the extreme focus of Nitrites in the water (brought about by employing fish waste). i could propose getting a Nitrite equipment as properly as a pH water try equipment. persist with the instructions for each heavily and use the water shade chart it incredibly is secure in each equipment. looking on what fish you have, the suitable variety for each will variety yet you frequently choose a pH around 7 (impartial) and a Nitrite point in the "secure" variety indicated on your shade strip. sooner or later, that's beneficial to shrink how lots water you modify and while. I on no account thoroughly sparkling my aquarium interior and out. i exploit a siphon gravel vacuum and siphon out 10% of the water and waste a week. For a 5 gallon aquarium, that should no longer be very lots, below a a million/2 a gallon could desire to be nice. the important key right this is which you're no longer removing all the waste at as quickly as which additionally incorporates "sturdy" micro organism which help in attaining sparkling, "clean" smelling water. additionally be conscious of no longer overfeeding as some fish meals will stink the water up heavily in case you provide the fish too lots for what they could devour at any given quantity of time. have self assurance it or no longer, I had a pair of goldfish in a 10 gallon aquarium that lived to be 12 years old, and that i characteristic their long existence to no longer feeding them greater beneficial than two times a week, and following the ten% water substitute a week rule. that's consistently greater valuable to underfeed a fish then overfeed them because of the fact fish can discover different sources of food to scavenge while no longer consuming flakes or pellets, algae being the in demand snack food for many clean water fish. besides, better of success to you and that i'm hoping your smelly water is going bye-bye. --GEODE

Answer 6

there is poop and crap in it