i mention the skimmer because if the lid isnt closing right it gives off a bad smell and if its skimming properly it removes alot of nastys that smell. your skimmer cup filling everyday is IMO too much i would look into that, if you wanted to go on vacation or even out for a few days it would be a pita lol there must be a mod you can do to skim less. i also think having a refuge helps plants absorb alot of bad stuff that would smell bad.

i dont clean my sump too often i may scrape the glass in the refuge here and there to view how stuffs growing down low but the dirtier i can get
my fuge the better.


my other sections get basted regularily.


i woulld also take a smell in your overflow box for sake of elimanation after your return pumps are shut off and see if anything smells from there.

If algae is exposed it tends to smell, has your water level dropped in your tank at all for some reason?

I also dont run carbon, and have no issues with smell.

No carbon. No skimmer. No smell. Smell has never been a problem for me. I might add a bit of carbon a couple times a year. Could it be over feeding or really high bioload??

No algae in my tank as I am dosing Vodka, my water is crystal clear. How come none of you has that kind of smell from your tank, even with your windows closed in the winter time ? Overfeeding ... OK I admit it :mrgreen: I am feeding my fish 2 times a day. Is that what it comes from ? And I love my skimmer, I love to see it skimming lots of goo from my dirty water, I don't mind to clean it everyday. And I am a slave for my tank, I didn't go anywhere in the last 10 years :mrgreen: OK, maybe Victoria for one night, but that is it.

Hamy remember you went from your old skimmer to the Swc 160 and u have stated that it's pulling gross stuff out right. With my skimmer if I leave the skim in the collection cup or open the cup it will give a bad odor. IMO its the skimate

Huh ... how come I never thought of it. Yes, it must be from the skimmer cup. It is extremely stinky whenever I open the lid. I should blame Rick who sold me a VERY GOOD skimmer :mrgreen: and who is the second one to blame for letting me buy this stinky skimmer ? :wink:

Hehe... glad you like it. What if I want it back? :biggrin: just kidding

No problem, I will send it back to you at double the price, and no low balling me :mrgreen:

Damn you! And you seemed so nice. :lol:

Let us know if the smell is actually the skimmate. I think Mike is right.