Do diatoms stink?

[Bryson.bobby]

A couple weeks ago I noticed my tank started to start its diatom cycle and put out an odor I can’t explain. A few days later I noticed my anenome was upside down on the sand and my triggerfish died. I pulled the trigger out as soon as I noticed it was dead. Seems weird that the majority of hermits were okay. I then put the hermits, anenome, and a few live rocks in my 20 gal that I had set up for a few years now. Everything I added to the 20 gal is still living.

Any ideas why the trigger died and the tank smells?

 

[ScottR]

A couple weeks ago I noticed my tank started to start its diatom cycle and put out an odor I can’t explain. A few days later I noticed my anenome was upside down on the sand and my triggerfish died. I pulled the trigger out as soon as I noticed it was dead. Seems weird that the majority of hermits were okay. I then put the hermits, anenome, and a few live rocks in my 20 gal that I had set up for a few years now. Everything I added to the 20 gal is still living.

Any ideas why the trigger died and the tank smells?

Diatoms have no smell whatsoever. I’ve taken clumps of sand covered in diatoms out of my tank and never noticed a smell. How are your parameters? Ammonia? NO2/3?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Diatoms have no smell whatsoever. I’ve taken clumps of sand covered in diatoms out of my tank and never noticed a smell. How are your parameters? Ammonia? NO2/3?

I had ammonia checked right before the diatoms started, it was very low. I will try to get it checked again this weekend when I get some time.

 

[ScottR]

I had ammonia checked right before the diatoms started, it was very low. I will try to get it checked again this weekend when I get some time.

For ammonia, you basically want it at zero. Perhaps your tank hasn’t cycled yet. This could be the cause of the smell.