Smelly water

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Irma, Nov 11, 2009.

  1. Irma

    Irma Guppymad

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    My 60cm tank constantly has a musty smell to it. I do small water changes every third day to try and keep the smell as light as possible but there is always a smell after the second day. My other 2 tanks never give off a smell. I have a few platies and guppies in the tank with a few plants. I have a box filter as well as a filter in the lid of the tank.
    I don't know what to do anymore.
     
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  3. Gilbertr14

    Gilbertr14 Phenacogrammus

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    Hello and Welocome
     
  4. stormbringer101

    stormbringer101 ARO

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    hello welcome
    check your filter and rocks for rotting plants or fish they sometimes get wedged in impossible places.
     
  5. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    hi
    first off how many fish do you have in the 60l tank? and what do you feed then and how often?

    agree with storm bringer do you clean the filter? wash it out in some old tank water after a water change. also look for dead fish
     
  6. stormbringer101

    stormbringer101 ARO

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    do you use the same net .water sypon on all your tanks or each one has its own ?
     
  7. OP
    Irma

    Irma Guppymad

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    I have checked for any dead fish but I didn't think about rotting plants. They look alright but I will check them. The tanks all have there own filters, they are not linked. The box filter is cleaned every second week and the top filter material is changed every week. It is the tank where I am raising some younsters so there are around 25 3 week old fish in there. I know that it's probably too much but that is also why I am doing water changes every 3 days. Even so, sometimes the smell is still there straight after the water change.
     
  8. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    raising young Fry probably means your feeding them several time a day right?

    can you test for nitrates?
     
  9. OP
    Irma

    Irma Guppymad

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    I'm feeding them twice a day and I'm doing my best not to overfeed. I can test for nitrates and will do so when I get home.
     
  10. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    smell water normally points to your water changes are not enough. since you change water offten maybe you need to increase the amount of water you are changing.
     
  11. Sean J

    Sean J

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    +1

    50% water change immediately, and then another 50% after 2 days. Should help. Then do 50% every week. The fry will grow quicker as well.
     
  12. Slojo

    Slojo

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    Ditto here on more water per waterchange.
     
  13. Reafer

    Reafer

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    have u checked your substrate hasnt become a smelly rotting mass , what substate are u using?
     
  14. OP
    Irma

    Irma Guppymad

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    I must have read your mind. I have just done a 50% water change and removed all the plants to see if that will help. I've also cleaned out the box filter. I'll know by tomorrow if the problem has been solved. Thanks for all your help everyone!

    I'm using normal gravel which I am siphoning very well. I actually dig deep into the gravel and it comes out clean. Hopefully removing the plants, 50% water change and cleaning the box filter will finally solve the problem.
     
  15. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    You don't have to remove the plants just check it any of them are rotting and remove any that are.
    It sounds like your on the right track now.
    Keep us posted
     
  16. OP
    Irma

    Irma Guppymad

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    No smell this morning but the big test is when I go home tonight. Hoping that all will be okay!
     
  17. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    Great stuff!
     
  18. small_fry

    small_fry Fish King

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    no offence to anyone about their suggestions, but this person complained about a musty smell. that to me points to maybe water getting in between tank and stand (where the stand has woods somewhere on it). it could also be your top filter giving off that smell as well...

    just my 2c
     
  19. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    lol good point but Irma did not stated that the smell was coming from the water, the hood or next to the tank. im sure a quick sniff will located the problem if this is the case. But early reports from Irma stat the smell seems to be gone after increase 50% water change. :cool: lets hope for the best.
     
  20. OP
    Irma

    Irma Guppymad

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    Good news - no smell last night and also no smell this morning!! I'm happy!! Looks like it was the plants. I have bought some new little plants and put them in the tank.
     
  21. butcherman

    butcherman Administrator

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    good news!
     

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