Stinky powerheads?

[bsfmaximus]

I've got a couple little Sunsun wavemakers in my tank and when I take them out of the water, they stink! Bad. Is that normal? My tank itself does not stink, nor does my skimmer or canister filter when I take them apart to clean.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

stink like hot day on the beach? Or?

 

[bsfmaximus]

No beach I'd want to visit... stinks like some really strong skimmate / dead snails.

 

[mcarroll]

That's just an algae or cyano growing on them....can be pretty strong, but not all noses seem equally sensitive.

Visit a beach a low tide...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

agreed. bacterial breakdown of organics is a stinky stinky process. You may want to pull a rock or frag out and give it a sniff too. make sure its not system wide. then Id just go with some prime or your favorite bacterial dosing.
it could be a bio/chem reaction to the cheap plastic, but I had some of those and never noticed a real big stink.

 

[bsfmaximus]

Thanks, guys. The rock doesn't stink like these pumps. I have been wanting new pumps for a while anyways.

 

[mcarroll]

Pumps are usually situated near the surface so they get a lot of light and flow (duh:p) so are very likely growing more and more different stuff than your rocks or gravel would.

Don't let that stop you from getting new pumps though!! :):):) A set of Tunze 6045's would be awesome even if they smelled the same!