Tank smells like a febreezd fruitcake

[Zoa_Fanatic]

So I added a toadstool to me tank a while ago. It’s not super huge. It’s maybe 10-12% of total coral biomass in the tank. Well I’ve noticed my tank has a kind of a rotten fruit+Ocean breeze smell. Like Febreze over a Christmas fruitcake. Is that what terpenes smell like? Nothing in my tank has slowed or stopped growing.

it’s also possible it always smelled and I never noticed. I just did a big water change and it’s lessened somewhat. Tank is a biocube 32, running skimmer and UV. Been operational for 1 year, rock has been in one of my tanks for 4 years. Two clowns, and various cuc. Torch, hammer, zoa, leptastrea, toadstools and super tiny finger leather.

parameters:

78F
1.026
0 nitrite
20 ppm nitrate
I use instant ocean reef salt

Never encountered this before but I generally think my tank stinks anyway. Just a shark fishing kinda stink.

 

[GHOSTLY]

The rotten fruit can be cured with carbon. I wish my tank smelled like febreeze

 

[shadow_k]

You could always add some carbon for the smell

 

[ZoWhat]

Soooo. Your tank and coral doing great but you're complaining about an odor?

Stick tissues up your nose and light a candle. Lololololololololol

 

[KrisReef]

Suggest cleaning the skimmer cup.

 

[BrianAnthony]

I hear covid does wonders for smell. Lol.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

So I added a toadstool to me tank a while ago. It’s not super huge. It’s maybe 10-12% of total coral biomass in the tank. Well I’ve noticed my tank has a kind of a rotten fruit+Ocean breeze smell. Like Febreze over a Christmas fruitcake. Is that what terpenes smell like? Nothing in my tank has slowed or stopped growing.

it’s also possible it always smelled and I never noticed. I just did a big water change and it’s lessened somewhat. Tank is a biocube 32, running skimmer and UV. Been operational for 1 year, rock has been in one of my tanks for 4 years. Two clowns, and various cuc. Torch, hammer, zoa, leptastrea, toadstools and super tiny finger leather.

parameters:

78F
1.026
0 nitrite
20 ppm nitrate
I use instant ocean reef salt

Never encountered this before but I generally think my tank stinks anyway. Just a shark fishing kinda stink.

View attachment 2458761 View attachment 2458762

I know this is unrelated to this topic but I remembered you’re a fellow Biocube and in previous threads many months ago, I remembered discussing Biocube lighting and how not to upgrade it. Did you decide to upgrade it or is it still stock? I just recently decided to add some cheap 21LEDUSA Bars in there and for the price, I have no regrets at all. Everything on yours looks great!

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Suggest cleaning the skimmer cup.

I clean it once a day with a toothbrush.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

You could always add some carbon for the smell

I was running it but haven’t lately. I’ll get some tomorrow

 

[KrisReef]

I clean it once a day with a toothbrush.

Change toothpaste! (I have no idea what your nose is detecting, but it sound interesting)

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I know this is unrelated to this topic but I remembered you’re a fellow Biocube and in previous threads many months ago, I remembered discussing Biocube lighting and how not to upgrade it. Did you decide to upgrade it or is it still stock? I just recently decided to add some cheap 21LEDUSA Bars in there and for the price, I have no regrets at all. Everything on yours looks great!

Oh no I didn’t upgrade. Everything in there is doing great and splitting. I like the stock LEDs myself. Both my 32 and 16 are running stock LEDs and I haven’t seen anything i can't grow yet. I even have lepto and cyphastrea growing in my 16 no problem. That stuff is in my 16.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

sounds lovely

 

[sfin52]

Agree run carbon and see if that helps.

 

[HB AL]

I clean it once a day with a toothbrush.

Your kidding right?

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Your kidding right?

No. It’s a bright pink toothbrush I got specifically for that. My hands shake and I can’t get anything down around the barrel of the skimmer cup (biocube skimmer) so I use a toothbrush to clean the cup every day.

 

[HB AL]

Got it but why clean it that often? I clean mine maybe twice a year. Just wondering why.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Oh no I didn’t upgrade. Everything in there is doing great and splitting. I like the stock LEDs myself. Both my 32 and 16 are running stock LEDs and I haven’t seen anything i can't grow yet. I even have lepto and cyphastrea growing in my 16 no problem. That stuff is in my 16.

View attachment 2458871 View attachment 2458873 View attachment 2458876 View attachment 2458883

Yeah you have a beautiful tank. I love the stock LEDs especially the blues, but the only thing that was killing me was the whiteness of the daylights. I find it too white. So I did a little $50 light bad thing and I’m glad I did. I’m a big proponent of not wasting money in this hobby and I find that that purchase was one of the better things I have bought.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Terpenes have an odor but not fruity. Have you done any baking or using candles? The smell CAN reach the tank.
Carbon should alleviate any wierd smells. Also check skimmer if youre using one

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Got it but why clean it that often? I clean mine maybe twice a year. Just wondering why.

I only clean the collection cup. Sorry if that was unclear. And it’s the tiny coralife brand skimmer. It’s her black and nasty every day. I have to empty it at least every two days and there’s so much sludge build up by then I need to brush it out

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Yeah you have a beautiful tank. I love the stock LEDs especially the blues, but the only thing that was killing me was the whiteness of the daylights. I find it too white. So I did a little $50 light bad thing and I’m glad I did. I’m a big proponent of not wasting money in this hobby and I find that that purchase was one of the better things I have bought.

I agree with the too white. I run my sunset/sunrise ones at the same time to kinda beat back the whiteness some