Bad smell

[FindingPonyo]

Hey guys! I have a 20 gal wide coral tank. It has 3 corals currently but it is having a nasty smell. I’m doing a water change but I usually do water changes every 1-2 weeks. Last time my water smelled bad, the next day the entire thing crashed and it was cloudy, rotten fish smelling, and everything was dead. I hope that is not the route I’m going down again

 

[ndrwater]

sounds like something is definitely up. Can you tell us more about your system? Sounds like there may not be enough flow and something is rotting

 

[Katrina71]

+1 funky smell is never good

 

[IKD]

Do you have any carbon? How is the water circulation and aeration?

 

[FindingPonyo]

The flow in my tank is really good. I have an adjustable wave maker that pushed the water as it comes from the filter. See vid—
These are my parameters from my test strips

 

[FindingPonyo]

Do you have any carbon? How is the water circulation and aeration?

Yes I have carbon sponges in the filter and I make my own filter cartridges. Mesh bag and I pour in carbon from Petco.

 

[FindingPonyo]

Do you have any carbon? How is the water circulation and aeration?

Check my thread with the pic and vid

 

[avgreen]

Yes I have carbon sponges in the filter and I make my own filter cartridges. Mesh bag and I pour in carbon from Petco.

How long has the tank been set up? Try testing for ammonia. If something happened or your nitrifying bacteria just don't like you they could've died and thats why your nitrites and nitrates are low is because its not being converted from ammonia.
Activated carbon also is very good for removing smells and clearing up water but is not a preventative matter but a treatment for a problem. Are you using RO/DI water? Also maybe try putting the powerhead on the other side of the tank? Because the powerhead and the filter are on the same side it could be creating a dead zone at the other side of the tank.

 

[ScottB]

Dead snail(s) can really stink up the place. Got any?

 

[FindingPonyo]

How long has the tank been set up? Try testing for ammonia. If something happened or your nitrifying bacteria just don't like you they could've died and thats why your nitrites and nitrates are low is because its not being converted from ammonia.
Activated carbon also is very good for removing smells and clearing up water but is not a preventative matter but a treatment for a problem. Are you using RO/DI water? Also maybe try putting the powerhead on the other side of the tank? Because the powerhead and the filter are on the same side it could be creating a dead zone at the other side of the tank.

Wow, you are very smart. Thank you!!!

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Has anything gone missing in the tank lately? Maybe there’s something dead in there and it’s started decomposing.

 

[FindingPonyo]

How long has the tank been set up? Try testing for ammonia. If something happened or your nitrifying bacteria just don't like you they could've died and thats why your nitrites and nitrates are low is because its not being converted from ammonia.
Activated carbon also is very good for removing smells and clearing up water but is not a preventative matter but a treatment for a problem. Are you using RO/DI water? Also maybe try putting the powerhead on the other side of the tank? Because the powerhead and the filter are on the same side it could be creating a dead zone at the other side of the tank.

I am using my refrigerator water. It is purified and good. I have used it on my frog, and it is 14 yrs old. It has worked In my other tanks tho. My filter cartridge is literally just a mesh bag with a handful are carbon in it. I don’t have an ammonia tester it isn’t in my reef master test kit. It has been set up since december.

 

[FindingPonyo]

Has anything gone missing in the tank lately? Maybe there’s something dead in there and it’s started decomposing.

I only have coral but I think there are bristle worms so I am going to siphon out the sand

 

[FindingPonyo]

Dead snail(s) can really stink up the place. Got any?

YES! I had one but I threw it out. I didn’t know one dead snail could stink up an entire tank and make everything smell bad

 

[jeffchapok]

I'm sorry to tell you this, but test strips are worse than worthless. This is because they are notoriously unreliable and can lead one to believe that parameters are okay when they are in fact widely out of range. I commonly tell people that they only thing they are good for is measuring the depth of your trash can.

Do yourself a huge favor and get a good set of tests such as the Salifert or Red Sea brands. If you are serious about reefing, this will be the best money you will ever spend. Pass on the API kits available in most pet stores -- they are only a marginal improvement over the test strips.

 

[Hydrored]

What are you using to remove the chlorine from the fridge water?

 

[vetteguy53081]

ADD Carbon !!! Will destroy decay and odor, I recommend chemipure blue.
Do water change and that test strip test - I question it. Take a nice water sample to a trusted pet store and have them test for you to confirm your readings are accurate.

 

[Duffer]

also refrigerator water may only be RO water, you need the DI also. Or get distilled water

 

[Malifry97]

Glad you found put about the snail, but can we get some info on your fridge water? What is the filter?

 

[dadnjesse]

not only should you get some better test kits, you should invest in a RO/DI filter. Your refrigerator water is not ideal, especially if you are going to have corals.