Bad Smelly Aquarium Water?

Question

I cleaned out my 5 gal aquarium 2 weeks ago, new filter etc. today I noticed the fish acting nervous and that the water smells soured but it's crystal clear. I have been adding stresszyme according to directions and water conditioner when I changed the water so I drained off about 1 1/2 gal old water and changed the filter which didn't look dirty at all what am I doing wrong here?

Answer 1

Have you tested for ammonia? Sometimes newer tanks or uncycled tanks will have a buildup of ammonia and will stink quite bad. Try changing 50% of the water and seeing if it goes away.

Answer 2

I have had this same problem before and is very common with uncycled (water which has not yet established a biological filter balanced with nitrites, nitrates, and "good" bacterium). Your problem is compounded further because you have such a small aquarium (under 10 gallons). I have raised fish for a long time and have instructed younger persons on keeping fish and I always recommend a beginner set up of no less than 10 gallons.

Since you have a quasi-established set up with 5 gallons, I think your best bet for what is causing the stinky water is the high concentrate of Nitrites in the water (caused by fish waste). I would recommend getting a Nitrite kit as well as a pH water test kit. Follow the directions for each carefully and use the water color chart that is included in each kit. Depending on what fish you have, the acceptable range for each will vary but you usually want a pH around 7 (neutral) and a Nitrite level within the "safe" range indicated on your color strip.

In the future, you may want to limit how much water you change and when. I never completely clean my aquarium inside and out. I use a siphon gravel vacuum and siphon out 10% of the water and waste every week. For a 5 gallon aquarium, that should not be very much, less than a half a gallon should be fine. The important key here is that you are not eliminating all of the waste at once which also contains "good" bacteria which aid in achieving clear, "fresh" smelling water.

Also be mindful of not overfeeding as some fish foods will stink the water up significantly if you give the fish too much for what they can eat at any given period of time. Believe it or not, I had a pair of goldfish in a ten gallon aquarium that lived to be 12 years old, and I attribute their long life to not feeding them more than twice per week, and following the 10% water change per week rule. It is always better to underfeed a fish then overfeed them because fish can find other sources of food to scavenge when not eating flakes or pellets, algae being the favorite snack food for most fresh water fish.

Anyway, best of luck to you and I hope your stinky water goes bye-bye.

--GEODE

Answer 3

Dont change the filter clean it out in the dirty water youve taken out, there must be something dead if its that bad however fish water should have an earthy smell to it if its working properly, im guessing but because theres only 5 gallons of water i would surmise that the smell is the dead bacteria, given time the smell will go as new bacteria take a hold and start working, you could get a test kit and test for ammonia and nitrite/nitrate. you will probably find at least one of those present.
AJ

Answer 4

You basic issue is ammonia, and nitrites. 1st you don't want to change your filter. This is where the bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite, and nitrites to nitrate live. 2nd you should never completely clean out a tank. (Maybe you haven't) Do 20-30% water changes with a gravel vacuum/siphon. 3rd stresszyme and it's ilk really don't work well, and do more harm than good. Read up on the nitrogen cycle.
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

Answer 5

I would get back to basics,
start all over again drain the water from you aquarium, then wipe it down with a paper towel using tap water nothing else.
buy bottled water from the store and fill your aquarium up and you should be alright... lose the chemicals you will find for the most part they are useless and a waste of money and only cause more problems then they prevent. after 30 days or so wash your gravel and add more water
good luck

Answer 6

Fish in the tank defecate and makes water dirty. The percentage of dissolved oxygen to water may be coming down. Also the water should be oxygenated with air flowing through the water. You have to clean the water every week. If enough oxygen is not there in water then the fish will die.

Answer 7

it could be ammonia,nitrates or nitrites.

depending on what you keep in a 5 gallon you might need to change the water a lot more often.
in 5 gallons i have found it best to gravel vacuum and change 1/2 the water about once a week. if you are trying to keep more than one goldfish in there you are going to have to change 1/2 the water more often than that.

Answer 8

well in my opinion its either some algae that you accidently brought up or it could simply be the good bacteria settling in I would say you should give it at least two days to settle in if the bad smell persists contact a proffesional right away


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Answer 9

idk but if there is some algae i would consider getting a placastomus which is a fish tat looks like a cat fish!this might help hopefully!