Fish tank odor help

[Oscar Man]

My 80 gallon tank with 2 Oscars and a jack dempsey and a place has been running for 3 months now I do a 10 gallon change every Monday and a 5 gallon every Friday and has never smelled bad but as of yesterday the odor has been terrible I tried cleaning and a water change is tomorrow any ideas a good chemical or something?mu

 

[Oscar Man]

Pleco not place ***

 

[BigJim]

Dumping chemicals into your tank is rarely a good idea.

Can you describe the smell?

Without knowing more details, I would do two things:

1. Up your water change volume. You've got a fairly heavy bioload in that tank and I don't think 12.5% and 6.25% PWCs are going to cut it. Try 20g and 10g or just one 30g PWC per week and see if it helps.

2. Activated carbon can help remove smells. You'll have to replace it regularly though as it gets plugged up.

 

[Oscar Man]

I'm not sure just bad but I did change the filter pack 4 days ago and I guess I will try a 20 gallon change

 

[BigJim]

You changed the filter!?! That's never a good idea. That smell is probably fish waste. What are your water parameters?

 

[Oscar Man]

I meant the carbon pack

 

[BigJim]

Oh, that's ok then.