Remove water smell.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
L

lsgraulau

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 12, 2011
84
0
6
Puerto Rico
First of all I'd like to say I'm new here.

This is my fourth fish tank. I've gone through freshwater, saltwater, freshwater again and now I want to try a planted freshwater aquarium for discus (haven't bought them yet). The plants are growing nice considering the fact that I haven't found the correct light for my 29 gallon tank. The substrate is live river sand and I have a small piece of driftwood that goes from one side to the other. In all my years of fish keeping I've never had my water smell as it does now. The water is beginning to smell even though the filter is working (330gph) there's nothing decomposing as the plants are alive. So far only one fish has died during cycling and it was a pregnant female Ramirezi that didn't want to eat. I took it out as soon as it died so it would not pollute my water.

Any ideas on what could be causing the water smell and how I can get rid of it?

Also on a sidenote any tips on keeping discus happy? I live in the tropics.
 
You won't be able to keep many discus in a 29 gallon, but as a grow out it will work nice. Lots of daily to every other day water changes depending on where you get them.

Usually water smell comes from ammonia, but if you tank is cycled, not sure. Perhaps do a few water changes and see if the smell remains.
 
I plan on keeping a pair until I find a 300gallon for the living room so I can keep a school of them and maybe a small stingray or two.

The tank is starting the second week now. I've been doing 5-10% water changes separated by one day while I wait for the plants to anchor themselves
 
I know they are happier in groups, but your upgrade plan looks nice. I plan on putting discus in my 300 gallon once all my other fish move to the pond I am building in a couple years or less. Maybe.
 
I think that I have heard before that different types of driftwood can cause water odor as well as poor coloration in the water. If the water starts showing signs of odd colors such as dark brown tint to it then I would venture to guess that your driftwood is causing the issue. You might want to remove the drift wood and soak it in a separate container for a couple of days to a week to let it get rid of its odor.
 
Seachem Matrix Carbon takes the smell out
 
muffywrx said:
I know they are happier in groups, but your upgrade plan looks nice. I plan on putting discus in my 300 gallon once all my other fish move to the pond I am building in a couple years or less. Maybe.
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How fast do they grow? Let's say I get a pair at 2.5 inches how much time do you think I could keep them in the 29 gallon?
I'm having a hard time finding a large aquarium where I live. I found a 450 gallon one brand new with furniture and everything but it's half a foot longer than I can manage in the space I had planned for it.
 
qazabaz said:
I think that I have heard before that different types of driftwood can cause water odor as well as poor coloration in the water. If the water starts showing signs of odd colors such as dark brown tint to it then I would venture to guess that your driftwood is causing the issue. You might want to remove the drift wood and soak it in a separate container for a couple of days to a week to let it get rid of its odor.
Click to expand...

The "driftwood" is in the process of becoming driftwood but it was originally a large woody vine that dried up years ago.
 
put activated carbon in your filter and the smell will be absorbed... alternatively, make sure theres no decomposing plant matter, give the tank a really good clean... or check in the hood and cover glass if some food has landed where it cant be seen and is smelling up the place
 
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