Nothing is wrong but my tank smells

[dnledman]

Hi Everyone, I have been keeping saltwater tanks since I was about 15. Now I am almost 40 and have run into a new problem. Most of my tanks have been in the 20-70 gallon range. I now have a 210 gallon system (waterbox 230,6) and it is almost 3 months old. Ammonia is 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate is under 10 but I have this lingering fish smell in the house. Dream tank isn’t going anywhere but does anyone have any tips on containing or reducing the slight odor of fish smell?

Or is something wrong I am not thinking of.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Have you tried running activated carbon? That's the best option that I know of.

 

[TD1260]

Hi Everyone, I have been keeping saltwater tanks since I was about 15. Now I am almost 40 and have run into a new problem. Most of my tanks have been in the 20-70 gallon range. I now have a 210 gallon system (waterbox 230,6) and it is almost 3 months old. Ammonia is 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate is under 10 but I have this lingering fish smell in the house. Dream tank isn’t going anywhere but does anyone have any tips on containing or reducing the slight odor of fish smell?

Or is something wrong I am not thinking of.

No chance someone hoped out and is fertilizing you floor nearby? I’ve had a snail do that once.

 

[56longroof]

Are you running a skimmer? I notice a smell when it needs to be emptied. Also, as stated above, carbon will help with odors.

 

[dnledman]

Running a big skimmer, I do notice the smell coming from there. I am going to have to clean that every day aren’t I?

Yes, running active carbon.

 

[dnledman]

No chance someone hoped out and is fertilizing you floor nearby? I’ve had a snail do that once.

I did a once around and nada

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Running a big skimmer, I do notice the smell coming from there. I am going to have to clean that every day aren’t I?

Yes, running active carbon.

Skimmate stinks. Really bad. I am emptying mine almost everyday, because it smells horibbly.

 

[56longroof]

Running a big skimmer, I do notice the smell coming from there. I am going to have to clean that every day aren’t I?

Yes, running active carbon.

Try maybe every other day and see if you notice a improvement.

 

[JonoH]

Try dry skimming if your currently wet skimming - that should help.

I notice a smell sometimes, but its not all the time - dosing tubes can get a bit smelly if your automating things like AB+ also.

Put some pics up of your sump and whole set up.

 

[KrisReef]

What are you feeding your fish?

 

[JonoH]

Running a big skimmer, I do notice the smell coming from there. I am going to have to clean that every day aren’t I?

Yes, running active carbon.

Does your skimmer have a drain on the collection cup - if you could, you could always hard plumb that to drain itself also.

 

[Idech]

Running a big skimmer, I do notice the smell coming from there. I am going to have to clean that every day aren’t I?

Yes, running active carbon.

You can put carbon bags over the holes on the lid. Just leave one for air.

 

[jkrohn]

I used one of these and it helped a lot for the smell: https://reefeco.com/pages/stinksink

Additionally if you have a drain in your skimmer you can plumb it into a skimmate locker (I DIY'd a 2 gallon one I use when I travel)

 

[BryanM]

Running a big skimmer, I do notice the smell coming from there. I am going to have to clean that every day aren’t I?

Yes, running active carbon.

Yep. I certainly had to clean mine about every 5 days. Wifey was not happy with that smell at all..... Neither was I truth be told.

 

[Mr4000]

My tank is a peninsula that divides our living room and dining room and I run ozone and it takes care of all the smells. I did intentionally turn it off for a few days and the smell started coming back. Without it, since it's 240 gallons I don't know what I would use.

 

[Toszinator]

You can run an ozone generator

 

[jeffsz]

You can put carbon bags over the holes on the lid. Just leave one for air.

this is correct, my skimmer has holes on the lid an horrible smell. i added 2 layers of carbon filter pad bought at LFS. cured the issue. will try to post link from amazon of something similiar!

Amazon product ASIN B07WK4GV1H

 

[jeffsz]

this is correct, my skimmer has holes on the lid an horrible smell. i added 2 layers of carbon filter pad bought at LFS. cured the issue. will try to post link from amazon of something similiar!

Amazon product ASIN B07WK4GV1H

 

[get-salty]

Skimmate stinks. Really bad. I am emptying mine almost everyday, because it smells horibbly.

if you have to clean your skimmer cup everyday... you're doing it wrong. should not be like that.

about the smell, maybe you guys are more sensitive to the "fishy" smell now that you have a bigger tank w/bigger open top.

cover the whole system "black out" for an hour or so and see. good luck

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

if you have to clean your skimmer cup everyday... you're doing it wrong. should not be like that.

about the smell, maybe you guys are more sensitive to the "fishy" smell now that you have a bigger tank w/bigger open top.

cover the whole system "black out" for an hour or so and see. good luck

My skimmer is just breaking in, so it's still going crazy. I'm working on dialing it in still.