the smell...oh the smell. about to take down one of my tanks... and go planted FW!

[56longroof]

I agree planted tanks so seem pretty relaxing. I have been threatening to set one of for a few years now. almost did 2X.
can you explain what you mean by the old fashion ways please.
I tend to feel the same every time I get more gear or do it the "better" way seems to just cause more issues.
I really thought I was nailing this tank, went slow with the build even longer with stocking. let if cyclce for months before turning on the light.

I've had several planted tanks. I really enjoyed them but my all time favorite freshwater aquarium is a blackwater biotope. Super easy and there are alot of small tetras and apistogrammas that are entertaining to watch. Plus the Rio Nanay angelfish is a stunner.

 

[VintageReefer]

Dying macro flat out stinks stinks. Stinks

 

[CHSUB]

I agree planted tanks so seem pretty relaxing. I have been threatening to set one of for a few years now. almost did 2X.
can you explain what you mean by the old fashion ways please.
I tend to feel the same every time I get more gear or do it the "better" way seems to just cause more issues.
I really thought I was nailing this tank, went slow with the build even longer with stocking. let if cyclce for months before turning on the light.

Some have mentioned already; algae smells. Has an odor, toxic, and ulgy. The “old fashion way” I’m referring to is low inorganic nutrients, no dosing P and N because hobby test kits reads 0. Imo, this is the single reason some are struggling. Diatoms, dinos, GHA, other nuisances algae, coralline, and corals all required the same amount of N and P to grow. Dosing nutrients to increase “good” stuff vs bad stuff is exactly opposite. They all need nutrients to grow the only factor is time and space.

‘ I really thought I was nailing this tank, went slow with the build even longer with stocking. let if cyclce for months before turning on the light’

This looks fine, and I’m guessing, but did you follow the “new way” and run inorganic nutrients higher than barely readable? Nothing to do with equipment.

My new build started with dry rock and corals day three with lights on; fish a week late. Managed ugly stage with good husbandry and manual removal: Always 0 no3 and po4 ~ 0 to .05. Tank is thriving as expected and hoped in 8 months. Some here insisted my approach was out dated and a recipe for disaster, comments included, “ RIP”.

 

[PharmrJohn]

no I have been meaning to do that. 1st step was a bag of carbon on the skimmer cup.
next i will add carbon to the skimmer out flow if I can fit it. it pretty BIG skimmer in a small space.
3rd step would be add carbon to the air intake??

In all honestly I need a new skimmer I feel this one not right for the tank. but went way over sized do to seahorse being very messy eaters and being fed more often. i was hoping it would just work but sadly I feel its just to big. not the right tool for the job.


can you post a pic so i can get a better idea plz.

I'll draw one up. That contraption was taken apart 12 years ago. Currently, I'm in planning stage for my new build, but when I get home, I'll put my shockingly bad art skills to work.

 

[Devaji]

Some have mentioned already; algae smells. Has an odor, toxic, and ulgy. The “old fashion way” I’m referring to is low inorganic nutrients, no dosing P and N because hobby test kits reads 0. Imo, this is the single reason some are struggling. Diatoms, dinos, GHA, other nuisances algae, coralline, and corals all required the same amount of N and P to grow. Dosing nutrients to increase “good” stuff vs bad stuff is exactly opposite. They all need nutrients to grow the only factor is time and space.

‘ I really thought I was nailing this tank, went slow with the build even longer with stocking. let if cyclce for months before turning on the light’

This looks fine, and I’m guessing, but did you follow the “new way” and run inorganic nutrients higher than barely readable? Nothing to do with equipment.

My new build started with dry rock and corals day three with lights on; fish a week late. Managed ugly stage with good husbandry and manual removal: Always 0 no3 and po4 ~ 0 to .05. Tank is thriving as expected and hoped in 8 months. Some here insisted my approach was out dated and a recipe for disaster, comments included, “ RIP”.

pretty much the wholw time p&N always read zero. except after all the macros melted I think do to no N &P then it was read able not that only lasted maybe a week then all the other algae came.

 

[Devaji]

I decided to stick with this tank.
my plan is:
1. get my carbon reactor up and running.
2. do a flux RX treatment. to beat it back.
3. get my ATS fired up. I got 2 options now so I can use what ever fits the sump best.

as far a corals I am going to stick with low maintenance low fuss and hopefully affordable.

 

[CHSUB]

as far a corals I am going to stick with low maintenance low fuss and hopefully affordable

Lots of beautiful leathers available that, imo, make some of the most amazing DT. My mangrove tank will soon be filled with leathers…GL!

 

[danreef55]

Lots of beautiful leathers available that, imo, make some of the most amazing DT. My mangrove tank will soon be filled with leathers…GL!

Have you changed the carbon over the skimmer gas exhaust yet?

 

[SaltyArms]

Over sized skimmers can be “tuned down” by reducing air intake. I have ran an oversized skimmer in my reefer nano for years. Just added a little ball valve to the top of the air silencer to reduce airflow and it works fine. Once you’re maintaining a good head on the top of the bubbles via airflow you can raise/lower water level exclusively to change from dry to wet skimming and you’ll be dialed in.

Also, keep in mind if you can’t find the musty/moldy smell source… it could be something else in the house and the tank is getting blamed because it’s ugly. Algae and biofilms smell like poop… not like mold. So don’t rule out some bigger potential issue in the house (pipe leak. moisture in the wall from a leaking window sill or roof, etc) that’s just getting circulated.

 

[Fishy888]

Algae definitely smells like poop, especially cyano. I don’t think the musty smell is coming from your tank or even your skimmer.

I’m glad you’re not giving up. How big is your tank? I’d get an army of algae eating snails, crabs and, if your tank is big enough, get a scopas tang and/or a couple of tuxedo urchins. They’ll mow that algae down.

As you know, overskimming causes more harm than good. I overskimmed and got dinos. I took the collection cup off and have been running the tank like that. There’s been a marked improvement since then.

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

Run a bit of ozone through your skimmer, with carbon filtering the air coming out the cap…

 

[voelter76]

Some have mentioned already; algae smells. Has an odor, toxic, and ulgy. The “old fashion way” I’m referring to is low inorganic nutrients, no dosing P and N because hobby test kits reads 0. Imo, this is the single reason some are struggling. Diatoms, dinos, GHA, other nuisances algae, coralline, and corals all required the same amount of N and P to grow. Dosing nutrients to increase “good” stuff vs bad stuff is exactly opposite. They all need nutrients to grow the only factor is time and space.

‘ I really thought I was nailing this tank, went slow with the build even longer with stocking. let if cyclce for months before turning on the light’

This looks fine, and I’m guessing, but did you follow the “new way” and run inorganic nutrients higher than barely readable? Nothing to do with equipment.

My new build started with dry rock and corals day three with lights on; fish a week late. Managed ugly stage with good husbandry and manual removal: Always 0 no3 and po4 ~ 0 to .05. Tank is thriving as expected and hoped in 8 months. Some here insisted my approach was out dated and a recipe for disaster, comments included, “ RIP”.

I did exactly the same thing. The one slight difference is that I added corals as soon as temp and salinity were stable. First fish entered on day 4. Never dose P or N. The tank is booming.. I think these “new methods” cost people more money and lead to more problems. Then you have bummed out and discouraged reefers. Makes me sad.

 

[KrisReef]

venting talking aloud here to others that "get it"

for what ever reason I cant seem to win with this tank. RS 300XL was going to be a seahorse tank but decided to just go classic reef focusing on LPS corals.
over sized skimmer, UV had a roller mat but never used it.

log story short when deciding of I wanted to go SH or reef all my macros melted then came the problems. one problem after the other. the latest is GHA so much long and stingy GHA. all my numbers are in check as the GHA is soaking it up.
reduced lighting by 50%
manual removal/WC

then there is the smell. you know that smell when you go to the tropics and get a house/hotel that smell musty/moldy
its making the whole house smell so bad. every time I come back in from being out side for 15 min. I am oh GOD.

I was thinking about replacing the skimmer to a better size one for the tank, current is 3-4X over sized. so its not going a good job IMHO over sizing does not work.
then got to thinking might just shut down the tank and set it up as a simple planted FW tank. seems less maintenance cheaper and cleaner...well maybe
the fish from the tank (4 wrasses ) can go in to the FOWLR I am still stocking.

was looking at the tank then felt guilty about giving up. maybe I should give it dose of fluconazole for the GHA and stick with it. take coming up on the year old mark so be a shame to start a new project. but on the other hand a house that does not smell will be nice to.

another reason is my job after 17 years of contracting is close down for 2 years for a remodel so my funds will be unstable for a while. might even spend a few months abroad normally spend one month a year. but might spend 2+ IDK


with all that said I am leaning towards a planted FW tank. easy plants small fish and call it a day. but then there is that felling ofBut fo giving up I cant seem to get out of my head.
be reefing on and off for 20 years now and it seems more tanks problems nowadays...I blame the lack of LR

anyway what do you classy folks think?
I gotta do something about the smell at the very least never had a smell house or tank before.

​

Drain it, sell the living stuff and put it in storage.
Go on vacation to a nice tropical reef where you can collect (on the sly) lots of live rock.
Put the rock in and extra suitcase and fly back home with it for your new start up.
Let the tank cook with just rock for a couple of months.
Take another vacation and bring home some nice living souvenirs.

But for goodness sake don't vacation in France. They don't have reefs and no one needs an Eiffel Tower Keychain. If you have one already, sorry.

Collect something for me while you're there.

 

[gbroadbridge]

^^^ Take a break.

Don't sell off as you'll regret it later.

Do a clean restart in a year or two.

Been there, done that... A couple of times.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

i like the smell of my reef. The only thing that makes me gag is cleaning the skimmer. Otherwise, I like it. You can run carbon (;preferable through a reactor) and it will take care of many of the aquarium smell.

 

[Kodski]

How recently has it started to smell? You mentioned that you heat the house with a fireplace. Any correlation with when you noticed it starting to smell and when you started using your fireplace more?

I come from a cold and dry wintery climate to. Currently 2*F that feels like -10*F here. I also grew up heating the house with a fireplace and have learned a few things about them. For instance, they PULL the air from the house and up and out the chimney. Fireplaces create vacuums within a house and my guess is pulling the smells from under your tank out into the house where you're noticing them more. Something like an air exchanger would help to balance the pressure inside the house and likely the smell.

The next thing, how much did your tank increase in evaporation when you started with the fireplace? My guess, a lot. More evap is going to equal more tank smell in the air. Consider adding a humidifier to the house near the tank. Also your skin and sinuses will thank you.

I love a good fire, but I really hate how it would dry out the house so much. Can't tell you how many nights I'd wake up with bloody noses and how many mornings I'd spend 10 minutes trying to clear the gunk from my sinuses.

 

[Michael71]

I believe he means running a low nutrient tank. Basically keeping nitrates and phosphates as low as possible all the time to prevent issues like algae outbreaks

 

[Devaji]

Drain it, sell the living stuff and put it in storage.
Go on vacation to a nice tropical reef where you can collect (on the sly) lots of live rock.
Put the rock in and extra suitcase and fly back home with it for your new start up.
Let the tank cook with just rock for a couple of months.
Take another vacation and bring home some nice living souvenirs.

But for goodness sake don't vacation in France. They don't have reefs and no one needs an Eiffel Tower Keychain. If you have one already, sorry.

Collect something for me while you're there.

well I did just get back from a 3 week trip to Thailand.

How recently has it started to smell? You mentioned that you heat the house with a fireplace. Any correlation with when you noticed it starting to smell and when you started using your fireplace more?

I come from a cold and dry wintery climate to. Currently 2*F that feels like -10*F here. I also grew up heating the house with a fireplace and have learned a few things about them. For instance, they PULL the air from the house and up and out the chimney. Fireplaces create vacuums within a house and my guess is pulling the smells from under your tank out into the house where you're noticing them more. Something like an air exchanger would help to balance the pressure inside the house and likely the smell.

The next thing, how much did your tank increase in evaporation when you started with the fireplace? My guess, a lot. More evap is going to equal more tank smell in the air. Consider adding a humidifier to the house near the tank. Also your skin and sinuses will thank you.

I love a good fire, but I really hate how it would dry out the house so much. Can't tell you how many nights I'd wake up with bloody noses and how many mornings I'd spend 10 minutes trying to clear the gunk from my sinuses.

its been smelly for 6 months now, all through summer and fall. summer was not bad as we had the windows open most of the time. but fall and now winter notice it more.

the evap . has picked up some for sure. I believe its a combo of many factors.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I believe he means running a low nutrient tank. Basically keeping nitrates and phosphates as low as possible all the time to prevent issues like algae outbreaks

Doesn't work.

You just end up with starving unhappy coral and still have algae.

 

[Msz3389]

Hi, I'm no expert here but did you think of ozone? Im running it 15mins per day past midnight and I can say even as skimate doesn't have a smell