fishy smell

[shobby]

Not sure if this is normal or not, I live in Florida, make regular water changes, checked the water today, amonia .25. Never has it been there. What would cause this, second, doing water changes, the water smelled fishy. Is this normal. I live in Florida, always had the air on but being that the weather has changed, turned it off three days ago, would that change anything. Has it always smelled and I just didn't notice it?
Also, same old question on hair algae, someone out there has to have an anwer on how to get rid of it, I try and try. Changed to Ro water, started a refugium, added more rock, nothing, it still continues to grow. Help anyone?
Shell

 

[asharp13]

for the algae...get a good cleaner crew. check out my tank diary cuz i had it bad. throw some hermits, emeralds, and snails in there. i would also, recommend killing all lights from the tank for a couple days. this will help your crew get a head start!
fishy smell....idk my tank smells like death sometimes and other times i dont notice it at all. i dont have an answer for you on that one but id like to see what others think it might be.

 

[raymond2688]

i am very new at this hobbie my tank has been set up for 4 months or so and i have had the same problem. I ran activated carbon and it was gone and the water was crystal clear. it seems carbon is contraversal on this site but it worked for me. hope that helps

 

[btldreef]

I'd suggest carbon if you've got a fishy smell. Try ChemiPure Elite. definitely by far the best carbon I've used. Make sure you since the carbon thoroughly before adding it to your tank, it explains how on the container, but I usually flush it out in left over water I just used for my water change...

 

[asharp13]

what are the pros and cons of carbon? why do people like it and why do people refuse to use it? exactly what does it do?

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by asharp13
http:///forum/post/3158198
what are the pros and cons of carbon? why do people like it and why do people refuse to use it? exactly what does it do?
I don't know why people don't use it. I know it's a hot topic, but here's why I use it:
"The carbon's micro-porous structure absorbs dissolved organics, chloramines, fish odors, toxic metals, toxic gases and growth inhibiting enzymes."
It lowers dangerous levels, IMO.
I personally use ChemiPure Elite because it has the addition of the phosphate remover.
I have excellent water quality when using it. I stopped using it in my 14G for a while, just to see if it made a difference and my water quality just wasn't the same and immediately that fish smell came back.
IMO, Carbon regulates pH, detoxifies ammonia, helps with nitrates/nitrites and just improves overall water quality.

 

[asharp13]

it sounds like you feel quite strongly about the use of carbon. i have always been told that i dont need it. a couple months back my tank became really gunky with a thick film on top of the water. i added a bag of carbon to my filtration and the crud was gone in a couple days. i stopped using it shortyl thereafter and i can definetly tell what a difference those little black pellets make. i am going to pick some more up this afternoon!!!

 

[asharp13]

thx for the help BTLD!!!

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by asharp13
http:///forum/post/3158224
it sounds like you feel quite strongly about the use of carbon. i have always been told that i dont need it. a couple months back my tank became really gunky with a thick film on top of the water. i added a bag of carbon to my filtration and the crud was gone in a couple days. i stopped using it shortyl thereafter and i can definetly tell what a difference those little black pellets make. i am going to pick some more up this afternoon!!!
Yes I do. Every time I don't use it, there's issues.
Originally Posted by asharp13
http:///forum/post/3158225
thx for the help BTLD!!!
Any time