Here is a diagram of my setup:
125 gallon tank, with roughly 30 gallons of scrubbies in a wet/dry setup, and 20 gallons of them underwater in the sump. In addition I have a rena XP4 running all mechanical.
I purchased the scrubbies used from another MFK member, but I washed them thoroughly with hot water before using them. He washed them as well.
The spouts on the wet/dry have filter socks on them, I wash them every other day. They don't catch a lot but they do turn brown.
The water quality looks amazing, perfectly clear.
I lose a gallon a day due to evaporation. I swap out another gallon. So it gets two gallons of fresh water every day.
I set this tank up about 2 months ago. I let it cycle for a couple of weeks, using seachem stability for the recommended time. The tank has 15 very small cichlids, about 1". They've been there three weeks. The tank began to smell three days ago, and it's getting worse. I cleaned the drip trays, filter socks, and the "border sponge" lining the drip tray. The water smells... like wet wood? It smells from the top of the tank - it's the actual water for sure. Smells dank - it's shockingly strong.
I put two large carbon bags into the sump from the beginning. Should I add more? Should I remove them? The water still tests well, everything in the safe areas, so why the smell? I've never had another tank do it anywhere near this strong. I have noticed some light browning on rocks on the substrate on the bottom of the tank. Can't tell if it's algae or what. There is a TON of circulation in the tank. I didn't think I'd need an algae eater with all the mbuna cichlids....
Any advice? I'm planning on doing my first big water change today, should I hold off? I've been waiting on doing a large one - I didn't want to effect the new bacteria. Thanks
125 gallon tank, with roughly 30 gallons of scrubbies in a wet/dry setup, and 20 gallons of them underwater in the sump. In addition I have a rena XP4 running all mechanical.
I purchased the scrubbies used from another MFK member, but I washed them thoroughly with hot water before using them. He washed them as well.
The spouts on the wet/dry have filter socks on them, I wash them every other day. They don't catch a lot but they do turn brown.
The water quality looks amazing, perfectly clear.
I lose a gallon a day due to evaporation. I swap out another gallon. So it gets two gallons of fresh water every day.
I set this tank up about 2 months ago. I let it cycle for a couple of weeks, using seachem stability for the recommended time. The tank has 15 very small cichlids, about 1". They've been there three weeks. The tank began to smell three days ago, and it's getting worse. I cleaned the drip trays, filter socks, and the "border sponge" lining the drip tray. The water smells... like wet wood? It smells from the top of the tank - it's the actual water for sure. Smells dank - it's shockingly strong.
I put two large carbon bags into the sump from the beginning. Should I add more? Should I remove them? The water still tests well, everything in the safe areas, so why the smell? I've never had another tank do it anywhere near this strong. I have noticed some light browning on rocks on the substrate on the bottom of the tank. Can't tell if it's algae or what. There is a TON of circulation in the tank. I didn't think I'd need an algae eater with all the mbuna cichlids....
Any advice? I'm planning on doing my first big water change today, should I hold off? I've been waiting on doing a large one - I didn't want to effect the new bacteria. Thanks
