Why do my tanks smell?

[Koikeeper99]

My fish tanks have recently started to smell really bad. I cleaned them yesterday and they still smell? How can I eliminate the smell?

[patrickriley2010]

Originally Posted by Koikeeper99

My fish tanks have recently started to smell really bad. I cleaned them yesterday and they still smell? How can I eliminate the smell?

Activated carbon .

[Koikeeper99]

I used activated carbon and it still smells terrible.

[patrickriley2010]

Originally Posted by Koikeeper99

I used activated carbon and it still smells terrible.

Like only smells when your by it or the whole room?

[Koikeeper99]

Whole room and half the basement.

[Catfish Lover]

Maybe over feeding? Decaying food? How often to you do water changes?

[Koikeeper99]

I've been feeding a lot less since it started smelling and I change 75% a week

[Catfish Lover]

Ok. What size is the tank? What kind of fish do you have, and how many are in there? Some fish are obviously messy than others. Just trying to find the root of the problem to help out, sorry for all the questions.

[Koikeeper99]

Originally Posted by Catfish Lover

Ok. What size is the tank? What kind of fish do you have, and how many are in there? Some fish are obviously messy than others. Just trying to find the root of the problem to help out, sorry for all the questions.

No it's fine but a 55 gallon tank with 5 medium sized fancy goldfish two bristlenose plecos and two ghost shrimp.

[Catfish Lover]

Goldfish are messy fish, I forgot to mention how much filtration you have. That could be playing a factor. Hopefully someone else can chime in here. I'm not sure why you would be having such a bad smell from the tank that you can smell it from other areas of the house from your information that you've given.

[Koikeeper99]

I also forgot to mention there is 2 55 gallon tanks in the same room the one I mentioned and another with 4 koi and a very small leopard sailfin pleco. The 55 gallon with Goldie's has one 75 gallon bio wheel penguin 350 filter and the koi tank has the same filter and a magnum 200 canister filter.

[Koikeeper99]

And when you smell the tanks up close they don't even smell that bad? That's what I find weird?

[Catfish Lover]

Seems to me that you may not have enough filtration breaking down the gold fishes waste. Could it be the other tank? 4 koi in a 55 is grossly overstocked as they need to be in a pond. They produce LOTS of waste. Both tanks are overstocked. I'm thinking your filtration can't keep up with the waste they produce.

[Koikeeper99]

Originally Posted by Catfish Lover

Seems to me that you may not have enough filtration breaking down the gold fishes waste. Could it be the other tank? 4 koi in a 55 is grossly overstocked as they need to be in a pond. They produce LOTS of waste. Both tanks are overstocked. I'm thinking your filtration can't keep up with the waste they produce.

Yeah I'm trying to find a 125 gallon and building a pond for the koi if the weather would warm up. And I was thinking the same thing but I've had one tank for a year and the other for about 6 months and they've never smelt before?

[Catfish Lover]

They're growing and producing more and more waste, at least thats what I presume and why you may have not smelled anything earlier. Good luck with the pond!

[Koikeeper99]

True so should I invest in a second filter for the goldfish tank for now? And thanks!

[Catfish Lover]

If money isn't a issue I would go ahead and add one unless you think you'll have that 125 sooner than later.

[Koikeeper99]

Originally Posted by Catfish Lover

If money isn't a issue I would go ahead and add one unless you think you'll have that 125 sooner than later.

I'll get a 125 as soon as I find one for under 500$. That comes with stand and filters and stuff so I'm not positive when I'll get it haha.