I ordered a new piece of decor after reading good reviews for it, I am reluctant to add plastic to my tank but I wanted an additional spot for my betta to hide and figured this was a cute and affordable one. My tank is still cycling so no fish in yet. I know the gravel isn't an ideal substrate but as I've added plants things have seemed more or less normal until I added the plastic piece and noticed a very off smell. I walked into my room and swore I smelled a weed or skunk smell, when sniffing the tank it almost smelled like a sharp dirt or mildew odor until I realized it reminded me of chemicals. I took the piece out and noticed the odor on it, now I'm a bit freaked out because I'm not sure if it's what caused it or that the smell is just sticking to it. I did soak it before adding it to the tank.
In addition to the gravel, I have a java fern, anubias, African water fern, and dwarf hairgrass, along with two pieces of mopani wood and an almond leaf which were soaked/boiled before adding. I've been treating with Seachem Prime and Stability for about 5 days now along with adding a few pieces of betta food every couple days to help speed up the cycle. Water parameters are all normal. No traces of ammonia and minimal nitrites and nitrates at this time. My questions are these:
Could anything else in the tank have suddenly caused this off/chemical smell?
If it's the plastic decor, do I need to do a water change now? I would hate to remove any beneficial bacteria that's built up the last few weeks…
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1t39j7r
Posted by jyanii3
3 Comments
Smell the bottle of Prime and see if that’s the smell you are smelling. Prime can smell like what you are describing and can definitely linger in the water especially if you’re using it daily.
Tanks usually have a natural “earthy” smell. When there’s decaying organic matter, fish food or waste, especially during the early cycling phase, it can smell pretty bad. After all, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are chemical compounds. Water changes and a bit of patience usually take care of it.
If you really think it might be the plastic, you can do a few water changes and add some activated carbon to the filter. It won’t harm your beneficial bacteria and can help remove any residual chemicals that might have leached into the water.
Ok so it’s probably the prime your smelling prime is very very funky!!! I had to stop using prime because after months of using it it had my house smelling like a sewer and rotten eggs and it made my fish tank stink so bad . It really didn’t at first but then out of nowhere it really smelled so bad. I found a replacement product that works so good and exactly like prime and it’s called API AQUA ESSENTIALS binds ammonia nitrite nitrates heavy metals and conditions water so it’s my new product and since I started using it my house / rooms haven’t stunk yet.