Musty smell??????

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by kathie, Jan 19, 2010.

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  1. kathie

    kathie

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    I have a musty smell coming from my tank. I have never had this before. But I have a lot of algea that grows on the tank braces. The malawis also splash a lot of food on the braces. Can this cause the smell? Tank was tested this weekend & everything is perfect. I'm going clean the first clamber of sump, overlfow box + a 40% water change.
     
    kathie, Jan 19, 2010
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  3. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

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    dont scratch! wash! :D

    aaaaanyway - is it like a rotten water smell or just earthy?
     
    Henk Hugo, Jan 19, 2010
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  4. OP
    kathie

    kathie

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    Earthy smell
     
    kathie, Jan 19, 2010
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  5. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

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    Tanks smell like that after a while - i personally think its just as the tank mature and settles in. All my Eheim filters and sumps smell like that when i clean them out
     
    Henk Hugo, Jan 19, 2010
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  6. OP
    kathie

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    Should I add another powerhead cause I just have a 950L powerhead at the moment?
     
    kathie, Jan 19, 2010
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  7. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

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    what filter do you have on the tank?
     
    Henk Hugo, Jan 19, 2010
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  8. OP
    kathie

    kathie

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    Its a very strong smell. The sump has no smell.

    I have a sump filter.
     
    kathie, Jan 19, 2010
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  9. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

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    ok - maybe do a 40% water change?
     
    Henk Hugo, Jan 19, 2010
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  10. OP
    kathie

    kathie

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    Can I clean the first chamber of the sump?
     
    kathie, Jan 19, 2010
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  11. Henk Hugo

    Henk Hugo

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    sure - just know that it will pump whatever comes out of it into the tank - loads of muck normally
     
    Henk Hugo, Jan 19, 2010
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    kathie

    kathie

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    Is this normal with a sump filter?
     
    kathie, Jan 19, 2010
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  13. Sean J

    Sean J

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    Depends what's in your first chamber and how many chambers you have.

    An easy way to prevent this is to put a lot of filter floss in the last chamber and let it filter out the muck. Then remove it after a few hours.
     
    Sean J, Jan 19, 2010
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  14. Dirk

    Dirk Dwarf Catfish

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    Blue-green algae and brush algae, which both grow well in heavily stocked aquaria in which you feed a lot have a particularly unpleasant smell. They also grow better if the pH in the tank has dropped so I would check that. I would also do some filter cleaning and agree with the other advice that has been given.

    Kind regards,

    Dirk
     
    Dirk, Jan 19, 2010
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  15. OP
    kathie

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    Cleaned the overflow box, drained the water out from fist chamber & a 40% water change. I also cleaned the braces cause is was thick with algae + food. Tank is doing much better. No smell.
     
    kathie, Jan 20, 2010
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  16. Donny

    Donny

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    Post pics pls :)
     
    Donny, Jan 20, 2010
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  17. OP
    kathie

    kathie

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    I will post pics tomorrow. I'm not feeling well.
     
    kathie, Jan 20, 2010
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  18. Donny

    Donny

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    ok :) hope you feel better soon.
     
    Donny, Jan 20, 2010
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  19. OP
    kathie

    kathie

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    Whiskey will do the trick.
     
    kathie, Jan 20, 2010
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  20. Sean J

    Sean J

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    That's the attitude!!
    :bigsmile:
     
    Sean J, Jan 20, 2010
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  21. OP
    kathie

    kathie

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    kathie, Jan 20, 2010
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