Asked on the Fish Forum by hoagie1127 on 9/8/2004, 8:01 am
Q: Bad water odor
I have a 30 gallon tank, with three goldfish. It has an AquaClear 300 filter with ammonia and carbon inserets, two bottom air filters, and three air stones. Ammonia level is 0 ppm, nitrite 0ppm, and nitrate is 25 ppm. PH is at 7. The water is crystal clear, but has a very fowl odor that I cannot get rid of. The fish appear to be very healthy and active. Is there anything on the market to get rid of the smell, or do you have a remedy for it. I vacumn and do a 25%% water change weekly.
Answered by OscarLover on 9/10/2004, 9:28 pm
A: Bad water odor
Well first off, if these goldfish are not fancies or grow larger than 4-6 inches in max size they need a bigger tank. Just a heads up. Also goldfish are VERY messy fish. often requiring two filters.
I'm not sure what you mean by bottom air filters? They filter air or they are powered by air?
You may want to up the cleaning to twice weekly (same amount) as because goldfish are so messy their poo may be the culprit in the smell.
Also check your fish light. Over time the glass between the tank and light gets gunked up with algea, and mineral deposits (especially if you have hard water). Give it a quick clean with a wet paper towel (don't use soap and make sure to dechlorinate the water you use for the paper towel). If there's still gunk bring it to the bath tub/sink and scrub it down with a toothbrush (never used for ANYTHING previously) then wipe clean with a wet paper towel then dry.
Clean out your filter. This will take 1 week to do. You need to start with the filter itself, take out the cartridges (inserts) and float them in the water to prevent losing good bacteria. Take the filter, disassemble it and clean all parts (do not submerge the plug in the water and let dry before you put it back on the tank). Use a toothbrush never used for anything else and remove any gunk in the filter. let it dry, then fill with dechlorinated water after putting it on the tank, and re-insert the cartridges before turning on. Then in 3-4 days take out those inserts and scrub them down with a toothbrush to remove gunk then replace them. Watch your water, you are removing a good amount of bacteria from teh filter but cleaning the parts seperatly prevents the loss of too much.
If the smell still doesn't go away, check your chemicals and fish foods. Get a bowl of water and put in food, see if it smells. Try the same thing with the chemicals you use. If they're the culprits replace them for better products. Also test your own tap water, leave it out for 3 days.
Also clean the lid and rim of the tank to rid it of trapped food particles.
Other than that... I can't think of what would be causing a smell. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help :(
> I have a 30 gallon tank, with three goldfish. It has an
> AquaClear 300 filter with ammonia and carbon inserets, two
> bottom air filters, and three air stones. Ammonia level is
> 0 ppm, nitrite 0ppm, and nitrate is 25 ppm. PH is at 7.
> The water is crystal clear, but has a very fowl odor that I
> cannot get rid of. The fish appear to be very healthy and
> active. Is there anything on the market to get rid of the
> smell, or do you have a remedy for it. I vacumn and do a
> 25%% water change weekly.
>
Answered by hoagie1127 on 9/10/2004, 10:42 pm
Q: Bad water odor
> The fish are fancies, and I was always told that each fish should hafe 10 gallons of water. I have the original filter AquaTech that I could cut out a little more of the cover to use if you think another filter would be good. I clean the filters once a month and also the light glass and around the rim of the tank. Have you evere heard of a product called Pet Beverage for cleaning the smell from aquariums. I just found it on a web site called Bioworlyproductusa.com. The testimonials are good, but you know how them go to sell a product. I will add the other filter, and I do not use many chemicals for I find that none of them do what they say they do..
> >
>
Answered by OscarLover on 9/10/2004, 10:49 pm
A: Bad water odor
I would get a filter made for your tank size (if not made for a slightly larger tank) you need one that works well.
I would not use that product. I have personally never used it but without knowing what it may do to attempt to "reduce" odor I can't in good faith tell you it's safe. It may very well mess up your tank chemisty.
Clean the tank stand too... there may be food that got out and is rotting :(
If the smell just WON'T go away, and you tried what I suggested, nothing works. You might want to work on masking the odor. Using essential oil on light bulbs (rub them with a cotton swab with oil on it) helps bring a gentle scent into rooms. And fabreezing the area AROUND the tank may help as well (don't fabreeze the tank itself :()
I'm very sorry I can't be of more help :(
And yes fancies should get 10 gals per fish minimum but hte more space you can give them teh better... they are messy :)
> > The fish are fancies, and I was always told that each fish
> should hafe 10 gallons of water. I have the original filter
> AquaTech that I could cut out a little more of the cover to
> use if you think another filter would be good. I clean the
> filters once a month and also the light glass and around the
> rim of the tank. Have you evere heard of a product called
> Pet Beverage for cleaning the smell from aquariums. I just
> found it on a web site called Bioworlyproductusa.com. The
> testimonials are good, but you know how them go to sell a
> product. I will add the other filter, and I do not use many
> chemicals for I find that none of them do what they say they
> do..
> > >
> >
>
