Smell from the tank

[searcyb]

I have a 125 gal tank with two emperor 400 filters with brand new filters. Yet the tank still has a stink that pretty much takes over the whole house. I do weekly water changes of about 35-40% what should I be doing differently. is there a better filter that i should be using? Should I do two water changes a week?

 

[cabouta1]

SOMETHING FISHY IS GOING ON. MAYBE YOU ARE OVERFEEDING.

 

[shookONES]

It's either high ammonia or a buildup or organic waste. Make sure you vacuum every square inch or gravel.

 

[guppy]

I would try a few bunches of elodea, for a couple weeks as well as a thorough cleaning of the substrate, the growing plants should help pull out some of the nitrogen products and you can discard the older plant parts when new growth occurs. Can't hurt, might help.

 

[Oddball]

I'll echo the gravel wash recs from above. Also, do you have any driftwood in the tank? If it wasn't properly cured it'll rot in the tank and develop a very stagnant smell.

 

[RockyGoldy]

Dude...put some activated carbon in your filtration to get rid of the smell...but remember not to leave them in the filter for more than 2 mths period.

 

[Miles]

It's because your filters are new, and the bacteria hasn't established itself.

The smell is ammonia, and your not allowing your tank to fully cycle by doing the major water changes.

Add live plants and activated carbon as suggested. Do not use any Ammonia removers. Be patient, don't add any fish, cut WAY back on feeding, and let your tank complete it's cycle.

 

[Miles]

Also, judging by your fish list.. You have a TON of waste going off into the tank, hence the high levels of Ammonia/Waste.. causing the stink. Bio-Wheels are only so effecient at harboring beneficial bacteria, you might want to think about adding a canister filter full of Biological Media for a tank with that kind of bio-load..

Make sure something is not rotting or dead.. and quit feeding feeder fish..

 

[snogard]

... if you can smell it around the house then it is a serious problem. i'll second the overfeeding and adding carbon.

 

[searcyb]

well I don't over feed them, only what they can eat in 3-5 minutes. I vacuum the gravel once a week. I have carbon filters in the emperor 400 and the stink only comes around if my lights have been on for more than 5 hours.