Reef bad smell

[andreasch]

How long has the smell been strong enough to smell in the room?

The smell is for like 6-7 months now that i can feel it in the room. Even after i do a water change or clean skimmer, change cotton filter media, smell is still there.

If i place my head on top of display tank's water level i can feel the smell coming from there.
Btw i have ALOT of snails. Every some time i see thousands of eggs on the glass. Ofc many snails probably are also dying in there but is impossible to finding what snail dies to remove it

I dont know of snails could make this smell

 

[andreasch]

I never had bad smells in my tanks...unless there is algae that is hitting the air. I would look for places where algae is maybe being exposed to air, or something else similiar is being exposed to air.

As long as things are underwater, there shouldn't be a smell issue.

Nothing is exposed in air except from the reactors and skimmer. On the display tank everything is submerged

 

[andreasch]

Depends on what the ‘bad’ smell is. If it is a rotten egg, hydrogen sulfide smell then that’s a problem. If it’s a ‘bay at low tide’ smell then it’s less of a problem. I get the latter occasionally. If I feed to much at one time or a coral decides to spawn. PE mysis can also cause it. Generally it means not enough circulation and or nutrient accumulations. Get the water moving a bit more and check your nutrient levels.

My params are all good. To be honest i really dont know how to descibe the smell :/ But is a constant one. Even if i feed or not.

 

[andreasch]

Have you cleaned your skimmer recently? I've found that skimmers can put off some nasty odors sometimes. Any chance a fish has jumped and landed under the couch or behind something and you haven't noticed it? Just throwing some ideas out there.

none of the above. I clean skimmer often. This doesnt change anything. smell is still there.. fish cannot jump outside as i have a jumpguard on top (plus the plexiglass cover)

The smell comes from inside of the tank

 

[stanlalee]

Media reactor with good carbon would be my first mode of action.

 

[Adamantium]

The smell is for like 6-7 months now that i can feel it in the room. Even after i do a water change or clean skimmer, change cotton filter media, smell is still there.

If i place my head on top of display tank's water level i can feel the smell coming from there.
Btw i have ALOT of snails. Every some time i see thousands of eggs on the glass. Ofc many snails probably are also dying in there but is impossible to finding what snail dies to remove it

I dont know of snails could make this smell

I wouldn’t put it past the snails to be the cause here, depending on how many you have. Have you ever pulled out a dead snail before it fully decomposes? It smells AWFUL.

Gorgeous tank, btw. Looks like you have a nice home, as well.

 

[Spieg]

Bio pellets can get pretty smelly. Have you tried replacing them?

 

[Kris 2020]

Bio pellets can get pretty smelly. Have you tried replacing them?

+1, biopellets absolutely stink. Is the output from your biopellet reactor under the level of the water? Do you have the output as near as possible to your skimmers intake?

 

[Uncle99]

2 year old tank looks very clean. Not a spec of coralline.
I’d post those “good” parameters, especially nitrates, at least could rule out water.
The stinkiest thing is the skimmer.
Next is things dying.
Over carbon dose?

 

[Viking_Reefing]

No idea what’s causing the smell but have you tried ozone? It should at least help with bad smells.

 

[wonroc]

Id triple check the skimmer.

 

[andreasch]

Depends on what the ‘bad’ smell is. If it is a rotten egg, hydrogen sulfide smell then that’s a problem. If it’s a ‘bay at low tide’ smell then it’s less of a problem. I get the latter occasionally. If I feed to much at one time or a coral decides to spawn. PE mysis can also cause it. Generally it means not enough circulation and or nutrient accumulations. Get the water moving a bit more and check your nutrient levels.

There is a way to find out if i have hydrogen sulfide in my tank? It could be the reason for the smell.
And in case i have, how i can fix this problem?

Noted that is not a bare bottom tank..i have 3-4cm sand

 

[andreasch]

No idea what’s causing the smell but have you tried ozone? It should at least help with bad smells.

No and am not familiar with it. Can you please give me some more details? Any negatives on start using ozone in an existing reef tank?

 

[ca1ore]

There is a way to find out if i have hydrogen sulfide in my tank? It could be the reason for the smell.
And in case i have, how i can fix this problem?

Noted that is not a bare bottom tank..i have 3-4cm sand

It probably isn’t. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs.

 

[andreasch]

Media reactor with good carbon would be my first mode of action.

Am using Red Sea Reef Spec Carbon - active carbon in a socket, submerged in my sump.
This wont work?
Carbon is not suppose to remove odors?

 

[andreasch]

I wouldn’t put it past the snails to be the cause here, depending on how many you have. Have you ever pulled out a dead snail before it fully decomposes? It smells AWFUL.

Gorgeous tank, btw. Looks like you have a nice home, as well.

Never pulled a snail out no. Thanks for the comment
I love the tank but am so close to shut it down if i dont find the solution with the smell

 

[andreasch]

Bio pellets can get pretty smelly. Have you tried replacing them?

Not replacing them..just adding more when their level in the reactor drops.

But i feel the smell coming from the display tank and not the sump where i have the biopellets. Thats why am saying maybe its a hydrogen sulfide issue in the tank.

 

[andreasch]

+1, biopellets absolutely stink. Is the output from your biopellet reactor under the level of the water? Do you have the output as near as possible to your skimmers intake?

The output of biopellet reactor, is in the chamber of my skimmer yes. Reactor is not totally submerged. A part of it is outside the water level of the sump, but smell is coming from the display tank and not the sump

 

[andreasch]

2 year old tank looks very clean. Not a spec of coralline.
I’d post those “good” parameters, especially nitrates, at least could rule out water.
The stinkiest thing is the skimmer.
Next is things dying.
Over carbon dose?

This "redish" color on rocks is not coralline? is cyano algae?
My params:
Kh - 9,1
Ca - 400
Mg - 1340
No3 - 0
Phosphate - 0
Ammonia - 0
Ph - 8


My tank is 600 liters + around 70liters the sump. Am dosing 300ml of carbon according to Red Sea Reef Spec Carbon - active carbon instructions.

The smell is coming from the display tank and not the sump where is my skimmer. Cant be a dead fish cos the smell like i mentioned is constantly for months now.

If its a hydrogen sulfide problem how i can solve the problem?

 

[andreasch]

It probably isn’t. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs.

Maybe thats the smell i get. The odor comes from display's tank water and i got no dead fish or coral. hydrogen sulfide dont have a solution?