How to make your fish room smell....less like a fish room?

[csb123]

Over the years I’ve accumulated about 1500 gallons of fish tanks in my fish room (basement.) As a result my wife complains that the place smells like a “pet shop.” I’ve got the humidity controlled with an air exchanger, but the distinct beach scent remains. I do my best bagging any waste ie. filter mats/floss. I’m not too excited about using chemical air fresheners or scented candles because of the volatile chemicals contaminating my reef. I have a diy ozone generator, but my significant other detests the smell of ozone. The room is 700 square feet.

What have you done to remove the “stank?”

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Add UV to your tank. Crystal clear water, zero smell.

Done.

 

[Alexreefer]

Also carbon helps remove some smells, I notice water changes help too. Also I had some rotting phyto and it smelled horrible. Dont know if you are culturing anything. just an idea

 

[Malifry97]

Essential Oil diffuser or two with strong scents like eucalyptus and mint may help along with UV and Carbon.

 

[Pau Hana Reefer]

When growing certain kinds of plants indoors, the smell can get overwhelming. In that hobby, they use carbon air filters to reduce/eliminate the smell. You can find these filters on hydroponic gardening sites. Not sure how strong your basement smells, but I'm wondering if these carbon air filters would do the trick?

 

[krash7172]

Does your whole home smell or just the tank room? I have 200g in a 30 sqft fishroom. HVAC return air vent is enough. It only smells when skimmer is neglected.

 

[Homewrecker]

Dehumidifier and air purifier work for me.

 

[csb123]

My reef doesn’t smell noticeably itself. I do run an 80 watt uv sterilizer and RoX carbon.

Humidity is 25-30% with the air exchanger.

Only the basement has the “aroma.”

Do essential oils have any reef toxicity?

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Does your whole home smell or just the tank room? I have 200g in a 30 sqft fishroom. HVAC return air vent is enough. It only smells when skimmer is neglected.

I hope you meant 300 and not 30. I have 200g in 128 sqft and it’s cramped lol.

 

[AZMSGT]

Isn't ozone supposed to help too?

 

[DangerDave]

If my water is smelling, it’s usually an organics / nutrient issue. Carbon can help. Keeping the humidity down goes a long way, I keep the room at 50%. Humidity seems to amplify it when I have a smell. If it’s too humid for too long, it gets an mildew smell.

 

[Greg P]

I'd be against using any oils.
Try using an exhaust fan running 24/7.
In my office/sump room we quite frequently smell the ocean but it's not so much we can't deal with it.
My wife never gets close enough to smell the skimmer so all is good.

 

[Greg P]

And was mentioned earlier, if you can't get the room smell under control, try running a whole room carbon air transfer filter.

 

[krash7172]

Hah. No, it's a 30 sqft converted closet for a built-in. I have 21" clearance to do all my maintenance.

I hope you meant 300 and not 30. I have 200g in 128 sqft and it’s cramped lol.

 

[AmaleeC]

An air humidifier was my best friend when we had guinea pigs. Maybe it can be of some help? Just a thought

 

[ZoWhat]

1) FOAM INSULATE the room behind the dry walls to make a complete seal. Pay or DIY-it. I believe you can rent the equipment

2) Mitigate the room using an internal fan inside a PVC pipe that goes OUTSIDE your house. Exactly like when they mitigate a basement high in radon gas.

3) replace door entering the room with an EXTERIOR door that has a weather seal.

4) if 1, 2, 3 fails your wife's inspection.... upgrade to Wife V2.0

 

[W1ngz]

Maybe it's time to go after the source, instead of just the smell, and thin out the piles of gear and tanks that accumulate over time. I'd bet not all of it is as clean as you wish it were.

I don't mean to say you don't keep a clean home or workspace, but it wouldn't take much more than an old powerhead or unused skimmer sitting on a shelf that hasn't been really well cleaned.

 

[krash7172]

I cut an extra 1/2" off the bottom of my tank room door to allow "make up" air to flow in.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Clean all your old tanks and bio media. It’s probably something organic that stinks. It might be old rock with orgánics or bio media. Elbow grease/chlorine is your friend.

 

[boehm742]

Maybe it's time to go after the source, instead of just the smell, and thin out the piles of gear and tanks that accumulate over time. I'd bet not all of it is as clean as you wish it were.

I don't mean to say you don't keep a clean home or workspace, but it wouldn't take much more than an old powerhead or unused skimmer sitting on a shelf that hasn't been really well cleaned.