Big Tank Smelly House

[Merge_595]

One thing I can not figure out is how to keep the home smelling fresh. Always run carbon, daily splashing the air filter with freshers. What are you guys/gals using to keep the tank smell to a minimum & the home smelling great???

 

[Cheesus]

Just curious, are you using carbon in a reactor? That's all I ever do to contain any of the smell.

 

[WvAquatics]

I have found when I smell my aquariums I need to refill carbon bags and I'm slacking on maintenance. I don't have a skimmer or sump on current aquarium so filter bag and carbon in the hob filter if I need

 

[Merge_595]

Yep! Change it once a month still stinks lol

 

[Merge_595]

I have found when I smell my aquariums I need to refill carbon bags and I'm slacking on maintenance. I don't have a skimmer or sump on current aquarium so filter bag and carbon in the hob filter if I need

I run carbon in a reactor & change it once a month FAITHFULLY still no luck..

 

[DaJMasta]

What kind of smell? Is there a specific place it's coming from? Is there a specific catalyst for it starting or increasing?

I've never had a tank that stank unless something was wrong with it, and I haven't found many people that find the smell of clean saltwater objectionable. While something like an exhaust vent or a carbon filter in the room could help, it may be better to find and address the source rather than mitigating the symptom.

 

[Cheesus]

Weird, I run that exact same kit lol I noticed the smell on the new tank, set it up and 2 days later no smell.

Could it be skimmer stink?

 

[exnisstech]

Hmm I have 3 tanks 285g, 65g and 40g in our living room dining room and bedroom of a small ranch home and I don't smell my tanks. I don't run carbon. I'm sensitive to odors to the point my Gal keeps her perfume in her truck.

 

[Merge_595]

What kind of smell? Is there a specific place it's coming from? Is there a specific catalyst for it starting or increasing?

I've never had a tank that stank unless something was wrong with it, and I haven't found many people that find the smell of clean saltwater objectionable. While something like an exhaust vent or a carbon filter in the room could help, it may be better to find and address the source rather than mitigating the symptom.

It's hard to explain every large tank I've had makes the same smell. When I had a 75 gallon years ago I didn't struggle to keep the house smelling like the candle isles in stores..It's not a hard smell like something is dying but if I put my nose over the water I can definitely smell it..Is it possible for carbon to take the smell away completely? Maybe I've just never ran enough...

 

[kenchilada]

My 250G system has no smell at all. Never has. I rarely run carbon.

 

[Merge_595]

Weird, I run that exact same kit lol I noticed the smell on the new tank, set it up and 2 days later no smell.

Could it be skimmer stink?

What carbon you're using? Skimmer definitely smells awful but the house doesn't smell like skimmate it's a smell I can't even explain. It's mild daily but if I go away for 3 or 4 day's BOOM smacks my nose soon as I hit the door

 

[Merge_595]

My 250G system has no smell at all. Never has. I rarely run carbon.

Not fair lol

 

[Merge_595]

Hmm I have 3 tanks 285g, 65g and 40g in our living room dining room and bedroom of a small ranch home and I don't smell my tanks. I don't run carbon. I'm sensitive to odors to the point my Gal keeps her perfume in her truck.

This can't be only me lol

 

[Mark Goode]

Buy a big, smelly dog then you won't notice.

 

[Cheesus]

What carbon you're using? Skimmer definitely smells awful but the house doesn't smell like skimmate it's a smell I can't even explain. It's mild daily but if I go away for 3 or 4 day's BOOM smacks my nose soon as I hit the door

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/pro-carbon-activated-carbon-4000-ml-polyplab/
Seems to work well for me.

 

[WvAquatics]

I have the same issue time to time. Always just refill a filter bag with carbon. I also do some husbandry and it goes away. It's a musty smell. Not bad smell just like when a room has moisture sitting.

 

[Merge_595]

Buy a big, smelly dog then you won't notice.

Aww man! Lol

 

[Merge_595]

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/pro-carbon-activated-carbon-4000-ml-polyplab/
Seems to work well for me.

Thanks I'm going to check it out. I've always used BRS(i know I know)

 

[Cheesus]

Buy a big, smelly dog then you won't notice.

I think this is the correct way.

 

[Treefer32]

Two things:
1. Humidity can smell in a home and can be dangerous.

Had a friend that had a 220 gallon in a small duplex. When he went to move out and was cleaning the walls around the tank, the ceiling caved on him. The insulation in the ceiling above the tank had become sodden and picked that day to be too heavy and caused the sheetrock ceiling to cave. Humidity from a tank or any reason can make a home smell. I notice this if I'm gone away from the home for 1-2 weeks and come back I can smell a mildewy smell if the dehumidifer stopped or if I have the home temp get above 70. Warmer air mixed with humidity equals mildewy stuffy smells.

2. a healthy operational tank should never smell rancid! nor make a home smell rancid. I had this happen 1-2 times in 6 years of running my 340 gallon. I found my pump in my plank auto feeder had jammed up due to a snail getting stuck. This Caused food to pile up and over weeks start to rot. This made the entire house stink badly. I cleaned it all out and in a day or less the house smelled fresh again.

I would suggest as a first step, getting a dehumidifier or Air exchanger. I would also get a reliable humidistat. My dehumidifer keeps the fish room at around 48% humidity. Still higher than I'd like, but keeps the rest of the house mildew free both summer and winter. I should spring the $3,000 on an air exchanger for health reasons for humans and ph reasons for fish. But, it's spendy and hard to know the real impact without having it.

The other thing I do is I have a massive April Aire high, merv rating installed on my furnace. The filter runs $110 but has carbon meshed into the air filter to further purify any mold / mildew smells due to the increased humidify in the home.

Ideally a home should be around 30% humidity I believe is the recommendation. I'm lucky to get it down to 48%.