stinky fake wood

[plah831]

Thanks, Paul! I did try bleaching it last time, I'm going to take them out and do a sniff test today. I made sure there was nothing inside them, and sure enough there wasn't. When I bleached it, I got tons of baby snails falling off of it Too bad because I could have used the snails to feed my dwarf puffers.

But I imagine if little snails came out due to the bleach and washing, that anything dead would have, too. I even used a flashlight to check in all its nooks and crannies. For some reason, the orange one is the worse offender even though it has more openings cut out of it. The gray one actually cups water (it doesn't have holes to vent water at the bottom, like the orange one), but it doesn't smell nearly as bad. Still stinky, but not "smell it from the other room" stinky.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I figured you already tried that that is really odd and it has to be annoying more that anything. Hope you figure it out.

 

[aardvark1]

Plah-

Have you done a fishie count?

I have one of those wood thingies in my Parrot tank; once adding gravel to the sand substrate so I had taken it out and set it in a tub for the duration of the job. Almost done, I took a look in the tub and "Blackie" my smallest Parrot was laying there! Netted her into the tank with the water; she's still swimming after about 10 minutes high and dry!

She likes to hide in one of the holes; must have gone along for the ride in the driftwood.

Anyway-possible that one of your cats is missing,and died in there?

 

[plah831]

hi Art! I have all my fish accounted for, including the cats. The only ones that is tough for are the otocinclus. I never see all of them during the day, but I'll check tonight when they're all out and about to make sure that one isn't missing.

Yeah, my male upside down cat has done that to me before. He wedged himself so well into a small castle ornament that I pulled it out, rinsed it under tap water and left it out for nearly an hour while I did my water change! Imagine my surprise when I put it back in the water and he swam out! Aren't I glad I didn't bleach it that time? Those cats are definitely crafty. But now I know enough to remove the decorations slowly to give them time to come out, and I know which ones are their favorite.

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[webcricket]

Yeah, that's one of the grey Top Fin ones I have too. Mine aren't "smell it from the other room" bad though - they just have an odor if you put your nose right into it. Maybe try dumping some hydrogen peroxide in the piece (out of the tank of course) - that should flush out any decaying matter that may be stuck. You could also do a baking soda soak overnight to see if that helps with the odor. Just rinse it really well before sticking it back in the tank.

 

[Grundy]

My petsmart fake wood stunk pretty good when I took it out last week. I rinsed the snot out of it and it is a little better. It is currently living in the garage to think abot what it has done. :

 

[Grundy]

Hey, I cracked one hundred posts! Look at me sitting at the big-person's table!

 

[ConnerFish]

I had an aquarium decoration that would smell when in the water. I never could figure out why. Finally just gave up and got rid of it. Maybe it was a similar thing. Mine was made of plastic.

 

[plah831]

Hey, I cracked one hundred posts! Look at me sitting at the big-person's table!

Congrats, Dr! I planned on celebrating with a post when I reached 1000, but it went by so quickly that I missed the opportunity.

It is currently living in the garage to think abot what it has done. :

LOL Bad fake wood!


Update, folks. I think I pinpointed the smell... it's Prime. I KNEW I knew that stink from somewhere! Maybe that piece is absorbing the Prime more than the other. :huh:

Oh well. It looks like I"m just going to have to live with it. Thanks again for everyone's attention