Since I got my new tank, I added an elk antler, it was a shed I got from EBAY. I go through the same normal process of starting a new tank, new cycle, etc. Ive had this tank for a while now, and I watched my tank cycle, but the ammonia is still higher than normal, around the 2.0 range. I do water changes every single day, twice on weekends. Well this past weekend I decided to do a 75% water change and I also decided to take out the antler as I got bored with it. The rays just moved it around wherever they wanted it anyways. I have also noticed a very foul smell from the tank and thought it was the bio-boost, cloudy, another reason why I wanted to change a lot of water. So I get about 50% drained and take the antler out, as Im getting it out that foul smell just tripled, nastiest smell, made me gag. I tossed it outside on the porch. So I continued with the water change, filled back up, and just did another water change last night because the smell was still there. I also cleaned out the 3 FX5s, they didnt smell any better. So after I got done I took something to the porch, I found a place to hang the antler in my apartment, as I got closer I could still smell it, like it was rotting. Then I noticed that it was bleeding from two of the tips, a lot of blood was coming from the tip of one of the tines and some from the first tine. I read online that it needs to be soaked in water for about a month so the liquids can escape, add salt to the water, etc. I filled up the tub, added a ton of salt, but the smell was just too much. I out it back out on the porch, still need to decide what to do with it.
All this time I thought I was having water issues when all it was, was the antler. It was been rotting in my tank, bleeding out blood and other liquids, lost a few fish in the process and wasted a lot of water. Here are the photos below.
All this time I thought I was having water issues when all it was, was the antler. It was been rotting in my tank, bleeding out blood and other liquids, lost a few fish in the process and wasted a lot of water. Here are the photos below.
