Scent

bex255 · May 15, 2009

I was just wondering what axolotls and their tanks are meant to smell like. I have only had mine for a few days and completely changed the water yesterday but there is a scent coming from the water that is a bit sickly. Should I be worried? I did leave her waste in there a bit longer than I would have liked due to a lack of turkey baster, but have now gotten one. Could that be why?
I have just done a 20% change but the smell remains.

melfly · May 15, 2009

Hiya
Is your tank already cycled?
If so then you need to just keep an eye on the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
If not cycled i think you need to change the water pretty regularly.

I have some babies whose water i change 100% one to two days as they are in tubs rather than a tank yet

Hope this helps til someone else comes along!

Mel

SludgeMunkey · May 15, 2009

Define "sickly smelling"....

Rotting plants?
Mold?
Fish?
Old socks?
Rotten Eggs?
Low Tide?
Swamp?
Sidewalk after it rains?

bex255 · May 15, 2009

I would say probably a mix of swamp and rot, but it has gone down a fair bit since I changed the water. It isn't that strong and I can't smell it unless I go quite close, but it doesn't smell like normal water. The tank isn't cycled yet and there is no food, waste or living plants.

callina · May 15, 2009

Hi,

maybe it´s from the ground. Do you use sand or gravel on the bottom? Wet sand smells a little bit like mud.

-Tina-

melfly · May 15, 2009

Mine sometimes smell a bit metallic if you understand what I mean, lol.
It's an odd smell but it's only apparent when they need a change.

Mel

Ps Don't change the water too much (i.e. no 100% changes while it's cycling).

bex255 · May 15, 2009

No I'm not using a substrate yet so it can't be that.

Yeah I won't change 100% again, just 20% daily. Hopefully it will just gradually dissipate.

Jacquie · May 16, 2009

Hi Bex,

Just a thought...

Are you using a filter or airstone in the aquarium? Filters help keep the water aerated, and this helps prevent stagnation from occuring (the smell of stagnation is similar to 'swamp and rot').

Darkmaverick · May 17, 2009

Since the smell persists after water changes, perhaps its your dechlorinator? Most dechlorinators have a sulphuric odour. Just a thought, im actually having a stuffy nose.

SludgeMunkey · May 17, 2009

I would have to agree on the water pretreater being one possible source of the odor.

Another could be the water itself. Often, well water has a high TDS (total dissolved solids) level that generates an odor only upon stagnation. Municipal water can do this too, although it is not as common.

To be honest, all of my aquariums have what can only be described as a "green" odor, however, I use a lot of live plants, live moss, and real wood, so that vaugely earthy scent is normal around here. My axolotl tanks are heavily planted, but the "green" odor is a clean smell, as opposed to the swamp odor you describe.

I too suggest the addition of some light aeration, this should help resolve the issue.

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