Hi experts,

Can anyone please tell me why my tank water smells.

I have a 12G, with LR, i think water is closer to 9-10G. I changed 3G per week and then water
still smells bad.
I have 2 RBTA + 2 clowns. 3 snails. 1 emerald crab. 13lb live rock. LS.
I had my tank for 11 months already. No death for the past 9 months or so.
RO water (TDS 1-2 range). 1.024. I feed 1X a day. Pellets. Spot feed. RBTA once every month.

I used to add chemi-pure elite (water also smells) and now I switch to DR smith PhosPure® plus Zeolite & Carbon.

I also have a 4G nano tank. same thing, water also smells. I change 1G every week. It has carbon in
the filter.

Please advise.

thanks

sounds like the source water 2 me. What is your source water?

test your ammonia.

A Marine reef tank should never have a strong odor. if there is one, there is something probably wrong with your water quality.

the only time any of my tanks have smelled is when i had gotten cured live rock to my house. the die off went into the water and smelled but over the night it went away.

http://www.nano-reef.com/search/q.php?cx=p...&sa=Go#1002

Lol Stevie

You have any xenia in there? I have noticed that some tanks and I say some smell when they have xenia in them. Xenia smells like rotten liver when you take it out.Run some carbon that will help take the smell out.

why is this being asked so much?!
its getting kinda annoying.
bottom line your tank should not smell.

OK. I will test my Ammonia.

My water source is the pure water place where they sell water. The TDS is near 0.

I have only 1 zoa + 1 favia. Did not add anything new for a few months now.

I am asking because I want to solve the problem. If I know what is the cause of the smell,
I would have already corrected it. Sorry for my ignorance if my question troubles anyone here.

what exactly does it smell like? rotton eggs? or fishy smell?

have you ever been to a beach or ocean?

Get surface agitation. I've seen smelly tanks with the glossed over surface.

It smells like algae + fish poo.

Not fresh for sure.

I hope my chemical media works.

Mine has an ocean smell .....not gross but is this bad?

no, thats what it suppose to smell like...

your tank is a slice of the ocean, shouldnt it at least SMELL like one?