Why my planted tank smells bad?

[adman76]

Hi Guys,

I set up a 1.5 by 1 foot tank in my office and it has been about a month now. Recently, I realised that the office was smelling bad when I open it up in the morning and I realised it's coming from the tank. Anyone knows what's happening? I am using those wet and dry filter. Was ok until this week. I am also using DIY for CO2. And what can I do to get rid of the smell? I tried changing half of the water but it doesn't seem to help.

Thanks!

Mulyadi

[|squee|]

Could you describe the smell?

I only know 3 smells from a tank:

1) If you're using ADA Aquasoil Africana, if you go close to the tank you can smell something like crayons.

2) Blue-green algae. I think your tank has to be badly infested in order to have that kind of smell

3) Poorly-maintained tank: ammonia and lots of death and decay = foul water.

I think it's 3) that you have? Change water more frequently... meanwhile get a bottle of water conditioners like Easylife Fluid Fliter Medium.

[samuelgoh]

or is it cause of the layer of oil at the top of your water surface ? if that is the case, just use a surface skimmer

[PeterGwee]

Leaky DIY CO2....fermentation...beer?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[kemp]

haha!
the smell is choking... just replaced my diy with tank cylinder yesterday.
gotta pour out the diy and clean it...phew...u can imagine the pungent smell

Leaky DIY CO2....fermentation...beer?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[taz_boy]

HA...not really pungent la....
just like spoiled or expired beer.......

so the smell comes from the DIY??

[Ian Lim]

Could you describe the smell?

I only know 3 smells from a tank:

1) If you're using ADA Aquasoil Africana, if you go close to the tank you can smell something like crayons.

2) Blue-green algae. I think your tank has to be badly infested in order to have that kind of smell

3) Poorly-maintained tank: ammonia and lots of death and decay = foul water.

I think it's 3) that you have? Change water more frequently... meanwhile get a bottle of water conditioners like Easylife Fluid Fliter Medium.

bro, mine had blue-green algae and it smell pungent, other then removing it
manually, any medication or algae eater I should try? tia.

[adman76]

Aha!
As I suspected. It must be the DIY!
I used the Nutrafin DIY on Friday and on Monday when I came in the smell was there.
HAha Now at least I know it's the frickin DIY
OK guys thanks man!

[|squee|]

Ian, search the forums for the answer.

[adman76]

Oh Yah Guys,
After knowing it's DIY that's causing the smell. What next?
Anyway to get rid of the smell?

[tawauboy]

only way is to use pressurised co2.
else if you want to continue with diy co2, you have to live with it.

[valice]

Actually what DIY recipe are you using? My sugar-yeast one don't smell leh... only after I changed to a rice-sugar-yeast one (last longer too) then the smell got real bad...

By the way, talking about DIY CO2, does light have any effect on the yeast? Like our BB in the filters?