What's that smell?

[Got Water?]

I have started to notice a smell. I have recently added some spaghetti algea in my refugium, would this have an odor?

 

[melosu58]

What does it smell like? A rotten egg smell?

 

[Got Water?]

No, it's not a strong odor, but a musty smell. I thought it was my protien skimmer's gunk but it's not.

 

[melosu58]

You are not cycling are you?

 

[Got Water?]

Sorry, I'm a newbe at this. I don't know what that is. I might be. Please explain.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Hmmm... cycling is the thing you did (hopefully) when you first started the tank to establish a bacterial population. You either did it by adding a cocktail shrimp or other item to rot away, or you did it by adding fish.

How long has your tank been set up, and what's in it?

 

[Got Water?]

Oh, ya I did that.
My tank: Start up in June '08, 140gal.SW-30" high with 8/54 T5's, and all the other reg. stuff (refugium tank, wet-dry sump, protein skimmer, 2 power heads, 2 heaters, auto top off tank...I planned on having jawfish so I have a 6" sandbed.
What's in it: turbo snails, hermit crabs peppermint shimp, sand shiffting star fish, fire shimp, red starfish, clam
3 clowns (had 4 but I had to take 1 out) 5 green chromises, bi-colored blenny, clown goby, copper banded butterfly, pyjama fish, opussim, hawkfish, had a blue spotted jawfish (he jumped ship yesturday)
corals - bubble, fox, frog spawn, sponge, orange paddle, 3 types of mushrooms, button, chili pepper, torch, open brain, candy cane, toadstool, cauliflower

This is probably more info. than you wanted.
Am I on the right track?

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Hmm... nothing you posted jumps out at me as wanting to create a musty smell. I suppose it could be something with the algae in your fuge, but I don't run one so I don't have any experience there.

You don't have water spillage collecting somewhere causing a mold/mildew problem in the tank stand, or on the floor, do you? Just thinking out loud...

 

[Got Water?]

No, I think all the cabinet is dry and in good shape but I'll check it out. It might be just some more moisture now with the heater running in the house. I have an exhust vent in the cabinet above my lights, think I might add another one. But that probably won't help my refug. tank. I'll have to give this more thought. Let me now if anyone has any more suggestion.

 

[heidi]

it sounds like ammonia poisoning to me did you let your tank cyle properly first. Ammonia is highly toxic to any fish. Reasons for an ammonia poisoning include a new set-up (nitrogen cycle), an interruption of the beneficial bacteria (i.e. power outage, medication, filter exchange) or a change in the bio-load, if too many new fish have been added to the aquarium too quickly.

 

[heidi]

do you remove all the uneaten food out of your tank after each feed as a build up of this would cause a smell. Any dead animals, plants, corals etc.....

 

[Got Water?]

I let the tank cycle for more than 2 months before adding anything, and then only a cleaning crew, I have only added 1 or 2 fish per month if that. I test for ammonia reg. and it has never gone over 0.25. I often think I'm not feeding enough because there is never any food left after 2-3 min. and I only feed twice a day. I have been fortunet not to have any deaths yet except for a jumper. The tank itself dosn't have a smell, just the refug. tank. I clean out the protein skimmer 1 or 2 times a week, and a pwc every 2 week. At this point I think it might just be the new cabinet and that it will go away with a little age. I hope!