55 gallon tank, two big filters (not sure of size), three barbs, one little shark, an angel fish, a pleco, and two snails. No live plants, no dead fish. Clear water, clean rocks. I don't over feed. It's not by a window. But it's making my house reek!
2007-02-10 07:57:00 · 20 answers · asked by Kim B 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
you need to change the water and get a very good filter to eliminate odor .....
2007-02-10 07:59:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Carbon Carbon Carbon. Its the key to having a nice nonsmelling fish tank. (It absorbs smells and other bad things)
Carbon (sometimes called charcol by some people because thats what it looks like) is the little black rocks.
Does the filters you buy have carbon in them? Or do you buy the carbon separately? When is the last time you changed it? Do you just rinse it or change it?
Carbon usually last 1-3 months. So you may just need new carbon.
I'm not sure what kind of filter you have.
If you have top fin the carbon comes with the filters.
You may have a different system that requires you to buy it separately.
I'd get some for both filters and change it as reccommended on the product.
Also make sure you are changing at least 25% of the water monthly. Even tho it may appear clear and clean the poop and what not is in there and can cause it to smell and other bad things.
(*Water dehydrating does not count as water changing)
2007-02-10 16:25:45 · answer #2 · answered by Miss. Kitty 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, everything you mentioned is good. Good size tank, no overcrowding, no overfeeding, but, clearly, there is something wrong or the water wouldn't stink. Now, having said that, it's fish we're talking about here. Fish will smell fishy, so you first need to decide whether you are just being sensitive or whether the smell really is out of proportion. You say clear water, clean rocks. Sometimes we can be too clean with our fish tanks. Fish tanks need to be a little bit "dirty" in order to be healthy. It sounds odd, but it's true. If you're not allowing your water to properly cycle by keeping it too clean, it will never balance out and get a good water quality and hence, it will stink. Read this article on water cycling and water changes. Your filter could be clogged. Now, again, don't scrub your filter squeaky clean. A good rinse in the old water is good enough and replace it about twice a year. Again, you need that beneficial bacteria that builds up in the filter, but having said that, if the filter is too clogged, it isn't going to filter out the bad debris anymore either. You also may have a filter that isn't sufficient to support the environment you have. Research your filter to make sure you have the proper size for your tank and that it properly handles the mechanical, chemical and bacterial filtration needs of your tank. It also could lie in the fact that you have no real plants. This is a big tank and it needs help in cycling the oxygen and carbon dioxide. Yes, rotting plants are no good, for sure, but no plants can also be as bad. Maybe the trick lies in how you are changing your water and cleaning your tank. Also, the water quality could be improper. Get a master test kit and test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Also get a kit to test for phosphates, copper and carbon dioxide. The answer is almost always found by testing the water quality. Good luck!
2007-02-10 16:08:07 · answer #3 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Filters may need replacing, and pumps need to be taken apart and cleaned, build up forms and will the god awful smell if you do not do this at least once a month.
Go to a pet store that sells fish and they can tell you what to use to clean the filters or to replace them, nothing last forever. If you change the filers in your air conditioner what makes you think you don't have to do that for your tanks..
2007-02-10 16:02:54 · answer #4 · answered by Angell 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That does not sound normal. I currently have four fish tanks (One is 120 gallon) and they don't smell at all! But I do water changes every week and clean the filters as needed as well.
2007-02-10 18:30:02 · answer #5 · answered by Kari R 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes its just the water particles and the fish smell together is what makes them stink. Some fish are just stinky. Also even if the plants arent real. Any thing in the tank that would be found in a lake or pond naturally can get algea on it and that doesnt alsways smell good.
2007-02-10 16:16:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
it all depends on the size of filters you have and how often you fill tank you know half change I have a 55 and with my filters (which are 2 that are big enough to filter 2x 55+some chems. work ok
but nothings like a good filter and tank change
2007-02-10 17:28:11 · answer #7 · answered by timramonej 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
try filter replacements with carbon in them, or try those carbon/ammonia chips they sell at pet stores. but i was told that carbon gets rid of contaminants, keeps the water clean, and reduces smell. I like the filter replacements with carbon, out of experience they're more effective.
2007-02-12 00:12:01 · answer #8 · answered by aNna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to do a water flush ... Replace about 1/4 of the water once a week for a month and then see how it smells .
2007-02-10 16:01:09 · answer #9 · answered by Bobbo 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Are you doing water changes? When you change the water make sure u put tap water dechlorinator or detoxifier.
2007-02-10 16:06:11 · answer #10 · answered by genericname_one 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋