A smelly home aquarium is a source of anxiety and frustration for many fish keepers. If you’re in this position, you must identify the cause of the odor to properly address it. You must act quickly because some potential causes may trigger issues like fin rot or swim bladder disease in your pet fish. Let’s look at some different reasons why your home aquarium smells and what to do.
1. The Aquarium’s Filter Is Clogged
Almost every home aquarium owner will agree that the right filter is essential to maintaining a healthy tank. There are several different types on the market, so you can easily find one regardless of whether you have a small or large tank. However, it’s important to maintain your filter properly. Many new aquarium owners remember to clean their tanks regularly, but they fail to unclog their filters or replace the sponges. Over time, this leads to ineffective filters.
Eventually, if you don’t clean an aquarium’s filter, it will become a source of tank pollution. A bad smell will be the least of your worries because it will impact the water quality and harm the fish. Usually, a build-up of debris and decaying organic matter causes filter clogs. It’s an easy problem to deal with but it’s also very avoidable. Usually, you should change sponge filters at least once to twice a month. Canister filters are generally effective for at least a month.
2. Decaying Plants Can Smell
Live aquarium plants are a brilliant addition to any tank because they offer hiding spots and enrichment for the fish. However, decaying plants can be an aquarium owner’s worst nightmare. Firstly, they release ammonia, a chemical that’s both toxic to fish and has a noxious smell. Decaying plants can also trigger algae blooms by releasing more nitrogen into the water (and algae blooms don’t smell like roses!).
Many tank owners keep scavengers like Amano shrimp and snails. These invertebrates will eat decaying matter. They can’t do it all by themselves, however, so remove larger decaying plants yourself. Certain goldfish and plecos will also happily munch on dying plants.
If you find that your aquarium’s plants are constantly dying and decaying, you should consider the reason why. Are the plants getting enough sunlight? Are your tank’s water parameters conducive to the types of plants you have? A bit of problem-solving could go a long way in promoting the health of both your fish and aquarium plants.
3. Foul-Smelling Algae Can Accompany Decaying Plants
Sometimes, a foul-smelling fish tank results from multiple factors. For example, decaying plants may create the ideal conditions for algae blooms, which can emit a nasty smell similar to rotting eggs. But when it comes to algae blooms, the smell is the least of your concerns. It likely means that your tank’s water chemistry is unbalanced. Algae blooms can also reduce oxygen levels in the tank, choking the fish. It’s safe to say that nobody wants to deal with this in their home aquarium.
Other signs of algae blooms include changes in water color, such as turning green, brown, or even red. Again, it’s important to stay on top of algae because cleaning a full bloom is very difficult. Owners must transfer their fish to a backup tank before manually scrubbing the primary aquarium. To reduce how often you must clean your aquarium, consider adding tank-cleaning species like rabbitfish and bristlenose plecos. Other options include partially replacing the tank water weekly and keeping the filter clean.
4. Dead Fish Can Cause Smelly Aquariums
Even the most careful aquarium keepers will eventually lose fish. Maybe they die of natural causes after a long and healthy life. In the worst case, marine ich could run through your tank and cause you to lose many fish. For whatever reason, an owner may not notice a dead fish and fail to remove its body. As it decomposes, it will exude oils into the water and contaminate it. You can avoid odors from decaying fish by removing their bodies quickly. Check your aquarium every day, so you know what’s happening.
5. The Aquarium Isn’t Cleaned Regularly
More often than not, a fish tank smells because it needs to be cleaned. Many first-time fish keepers are surprised at the amount of time and energy that goes into keeping a pristine aquarium. However, keeping a well-balanced tank isn’t very challenging unless you make it hard work.
It requires consistency and a sense of self-responsibility. There are unavoidable daily chores like removing food waste and or larger decaying matter. Food waste can cause bacteria build-ups and doesn’t have a good smell. It’ll also contaminate the water quality, so test parameters daily.
It’s essential to keep a fully stocked cleaning kit including a backup tank. Don’t shirk your duties because your fish are counting on you!
6. The Aquarium Has Too Many Fish
Another common reason why your home aquarium could smell is because there are too many fish. Fish excrete waste directly into the tank water, and in a contained space, it can accumulate and overpower the filter. Here, you have some options. You could get a larger tank for all your fish. Another option is to get another tank to evenly distribute your fish population.
Remember: the fish’s size and type will determine the amount of water space it needs. Doing research before adding fish to your aquarium will help you decide whether getting more is a wise decision.
