Stinky tank!!

[Drstrangelove]

Trimethy lamine and dimethylamine are the smells we detect from rotting fish. They both smell a bit like ammonia and come from the flesh off fish. Based on your observation this is related to feeding so either it's the food or the ammonia from the fish.

Two questions:
1) do other people agree with you about the smell? Some people are far more capable of smelling certain odors than others.
2) do you detect the same smell if you feed them raw shrimp or earthworms?

My guess is that it's the fish food and the smell occurs as the particles break down and the chemicals are released into the air during gas exchange. You could also take some of the food, pulverize it and mix it into a glass of warm water and see if you get the same smell. I realize it's on different fish food, but unless it was all bad (for example, heated in a room for hours and all went rancid or such).

Ammonia conversion doesn't really spike 30 minutes after feeding, afaik, The tested peaks are more like 2-3 hours later.

 

[KrazEDesigns]

Baking soda will raise the KH & PH and unless there is a valid need to adjust those, do not use it.

Do you have any filter floss that needs to be rinsed if it's not a bad batch of food as suggested before?

 

[mr.bigglesworth]

Could be anaerobic bacteria.

 

[Fat Homer]

^ You may not smell it unless you stir a deep substrate... Plus OP said it happens after feeding not during maintenance


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[killerfahaka]

It's the food, give detail on what ou are feeding and if it new.

 

[mr.bigglesworth]

^ You may not smell it unless you stir a deep substrate... Plus OP said it happens after feeding not during maintenance


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Yea which is why I started thinking:

Cichlids generally dig a lot. Food is suddenly put in the tank. Most of the obvious open food has been consumed so the fish dig looking for more food. Then anaerobic gas pockets are released and the smell occurs temporarily.

Sound possible?

 

[mr.bigglesworth]

Also is the smell kind of like rotten cheese? Or like that of a swamp smell?

The disgusting smell of swamp comes from anaerobic bacteria in the water.

 

[notho2000]

What brand of foods are you feeding? There are certain ones containing shrimp meal that will stink your house out and it doesn't take much. I've already been read "the riot act" by my wife. When she comes in the door, she knows immediately that I have broken my promise not to feed "that food". There are two brands that I know have a horrific odor after using it. I won't mention the names but the bottom line is (IMO) it's the food.

 

[Lyferxb9s]

It is every single thing I feed period. No matter the brand, shrimp, fish fillets etc..... My sump is clean and does not need replacing. What about a UV sterilizer in case it's something in my tap water chemistry reacting with the foods?

 

[Red Devil]

Check to make sure that all of your fish are accounted for, because the smell could be coming from a dead fish or shellfish in the bottom of the tank or caught in the filter. Look to see if any food has accumulated on the surface or gotten buried in the substrate or any plants have died. Remove any excess food, dead fish or shellfish, and dead plants.

2


Check the filter for an excessive accumulation of waste material, which is an indication that either the filter is not being cleaned often enough or too many fish are in the tank. Rectify either situation by cleaning the filter more often or setting up an additional fish tank.






3


Make sure that you are changing the water at the proper intervals and at the right percentage. Extract between 20 and 25 percent of the aquarium's water on a weekly basis and substitute new, clean, conditioned water.

4


Check the labels of any chemicals that you are adding the tank's water to see if that could be causing a chemical reaction and creating the smell. Switch to a different product if necessary.

5


Check the inside of the lid to see if mold is growing, which could be contributing to the smell. Use a small amount of liquid dish soap or baking soda mixed with water to thoroughly clean the lid. Rinse the lid fully and dry it before putting it back in the aquarium.

6


Use an algae scraper to remove any algae that has accumulated on the inside of the aquarium's glass. Scoop any algae you remove using an aquarium net. Change the water within 24 hours.