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) 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!