Are Algae Wafers Supposed to Stink?

[Fish Kate]

Hi:

I bought some algae wafers for my mystery snail and after the first one had been in the tank (10 gal) for about an hour, I noticed a bad smell in the room. I sniffed the water and the smell was coming from the tank. When I removed the wafer it stank to high heaven. Is this normal? I love my snail but I'm not willing to stink up my whole house for him.

Also, the day after I introduced the algae wafer, three of my four fish (two guppies and a danio) started acting very sick and the two guppies have since died. I've been very careful with my water changes and have kept all the levels low. Could there have been something in the food that made the fish sick? (I've only had them 12 days; the rasbora, the only other fish in the tank, seems pretty healthy.)

 

[jaylin]

Hrm ... I've never had a floating algae wafer. Mine sink. They can make your fingers stink to high heaven, but they do sink and they don't stink up my entire house. My snails usually have them devoured pretty quickly.

What brand are you using? I'm fairly new to the algae wafer myself but I got the cheapy Top Fin Algae thins and haven't had any problem.

 

[Fish Kate]

Sorry I can't tell you the brand. It was an inexpensive one from Petsmart, but I have already thrown the package out. The wafer did sink, but it still made the water smell bad and my snail did not go anywhere near it even though it was in there for over an hour (usually he finds his food within minutes). I did see my danio pecking at it.

 

[Holly9937]

What are your test results? Is it possible there is a dead fish in the water?!? I've never heard of an algae wafer stinking up a tank, let alone a whole house !! I guess its possible that you got some bad food, but that would be a pretty odd thing to happen. Not sure what else might be going on.... You could try shrimp pellets, those sink,

 

[FreddytheFish]

if the inhabitants of the tank don't eat the wafer, after awhile u have to fish it out. if you don't bacteria will cover it and kill all your fish ( i know from experience...poor little wag moons :sad: ...)

 

[Holly9937]

One decayed/uneaten algae wafer will not kill your fish, or cause a huge increase in amonia. If so, there are other issues in the tank

 

[Jay]

Kate...

In order to help you we will need more information on the tank.
I went back and looked at your previous posts and I think the tank is only about two weeks old..is that correct?

Is this tank fully cycled?

Do you have test kits, can you give us water parameters?

A tank that STINKS up the house is not normal.

There could be several reasons for the smell, but it would be a shot in the dark without information from you.

I keep two or three different algae wafers on hand for various applications. If I sniff them I get the idea of fish meal, or fish house or crab house restaurant, not an objectionable smell.

Let us know as much info as you can.

 

[mishi8]

A tank that STINKS up the house is not normal.

There could be several reasons for the smell, but it would be a shot in the dark without information from you.

IME, it's not unusual for a tank to have a strong musty/mildewy smell in the early stages of cycling...likely from the high ammonia levels...and not related to the algae wafer. The smell can permiate the area/house, but it will disappear eventually (if I remember correctly, the odd smell lasted for a few days.) A tank that is well established should have a mild, earthy smell.

Since you've had your fish only 12 days, I'm assuming that you are still cycling. What are do your water tests show? If you have high ammonia and/or nitrite readings, that may be the reason for your fish loss.

 

[jaylin]

I keep two or three different algae wafers on hand for various applications. If I sniff them I get the idea of fish meal, or fish house or crab house restaurant, not an objectionable smell.

Ok, I want to know what kind of algae wafers you are using because mine smell like ... algae. And I don't find that smell to be all that pleasant.

 

[f8ldzz]

I use Hikari algae wafers, and they do make your fingers a little bit smelly.
The ingredients do list "fish meal" at the top, so that's probably why.

It's not supposed to make the whole tank putrid!
It sounds like your batch is old or moisture got in it and began to rot.