Water smells bad

[SinaiTSi]

I've just had 2 new tanks setup and they both started smelling bad after a day. One is a 55 gallon with my Oscar in it while the other is a 30 gal. with a few tinfoil barbs. Both have the correct sized filters and I haven't overfed, what else could be the problem?

[Dangerdoll]

the tanks aren't cycled. Have you read the "cycle" thread (sticky) at the top of this forum?

[LunchBox]

have you done any ammonia tests on your water in the 2 tanks? if ther eis a large amount of ammonia in the water it will start to smell.

[SinaiTSi]

From what I read, it seems that, if you do a fishless cycle, you have to buy ammonia from the store and add it to the tank and let it run for a bit. If you do a cycle with fish, you just let some hardy fish produce the ammonia naturally to start the cycle. Is this right? Also, how long can I expect until the water if fully cycled and is there anything else I need to do to help/speed it up? Thanks.

[SinaiTSi]

I also did some reading on chemicals such as stress zyme or Tetra easy balance. Stress zyme is supposed to help in the breakdown of ammonia in a new aquarium. Would it be a good idea to use this?

[Dangerdoll]

since you have the fish already in the tank, the choice for you is to follow the fishy cycle plan which is listed in Daveedka's Cycle Article. I believe the cycle would take the standard 4-6 weeks but Dave's article may be able to clarify that. The goal is to make water testing and water changes to keep the ammonia level as low as possible (below .5 ppm) as much as possible. Fishy cycling, depending on the size and amount of fish, I would say this can probably be a lot of testing and water changes. I wouldn't suggest adding anything you've noted, I don't really know if they would help or hurt though, I just don't think it's necessary... my personal opinion is that adding anything would mess with the dynamics of which you are trying to achieve. While doing your water changes, the only thing needed would be a chlorine/chloramine remover as you add new water to the tank.

[Pufferpoison]

From what I read, it seems that, if you do a fishless cycle, you have to buy ammonia from the store and add it to the tank and let it run for a bit. If you do a cycle with fish, you just let some hardy fish produce the ammonia naturally to start the cycle. Is this right? Also, how long can I expect until the water if fully cycled and is there anything else I need to do to help/speed it up? Thanks.


from what you read, if your doing a fishy cycle, prepare to do water changes quite frenquently. you need to get ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kits ASAP, the ammonia can be fatal to your fish or will burn the gills, which is ireversible. Bio-Spira will help, Amquil Plus will help, but you still need water changes.

4-5 weeks to fully cycle on average.

[SinaiTSi]

I tested the ammonia, which was too high. Luckily both tanks have very hearty fish in them, now I just need to get the water fully cycled before I add any others. I also added some Stress Zyme, it's recommended by Dr. Fosters and Smith during the first couple weeks to help break down the ammonia and help the bacterial filtration. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know what reading I get when I post back later.

[Rbishop]

Water Changes!!! :mad2:

[SinaiTSi]

Obviously water changes is a must, but how often?

[Dangerdoll]

as often as it takes to keep the ammonia as close to 0 as possible. This may be more than once a day, depending on the ammonia load but you'll need to keep an eye on it. A close one.... Once you start to get the feel of when the ammonia is raising, you will be able to work with how often you'll need to change.

[Roan Art]

I tested the ammonia, which was too high. Luckily both tanks have very hearty fish in them, now I just need to get the water fully cycled before I add any others. I also added some Stress Zyme, it's recommended by Dr. Fosters and Smith during the first couple weeks to help break down the ammonia and help the bacterial filtration. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know what reading I get when I post back later.
Just for later . . .
Save your money. Stress Zyme, Cycle -- all that stuff is not going to help you cycle your tank and in some cases can cause problems, regardless of what Foster & Smith say. They're not always right ;)

Just keep the ammonia and nitrites down by doing water changes and be patient.

Roan