How can you run a reef tank without using carbon ?

Casey8 · #1 03-06-2012, 12:12 AM

As someone here may have been aware that I had been having a problem with carbon lately, so I didn't use any carbon at all in my tank for a few weeks now. But now, I have came up with another problem. Without using carbon, it stinks up with a fishy smell in my bedroom and slowly travelling into my livingroom too. It smells too fishy that I get to the point that I can't handle it any longer. Can someone here that is running their tank without carbon, tell me any tricks on how I can get rid of this smell ?
Thanks for your input.

daniella3d · #2 03-06-2012, 12:31 AM

I don't have any smell and I don't run carbon now. Of course when I remove water from my tank to do water change I can smell the corals quite a lot but as soon as the water is back I can't smell anything.

Maybe you could use Purigen, it is safer than carbon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey8

As someone here may have been aware that I had been having a problem with carbon lately, so I didn't use any carbon at all in my tank for a few weeks now. But now, I have came up with another problem. Without using carbon, it stinks up with a fishy smell in my bedroom and slowly travelling into my livingroom too. It smells too fishy that I get to the point that I can't handle it any longer. Can someone here that is running their tank without carbon, tell me any tricks on how I can get rid of this smell ?
Thanks for your input.

Casey8 · #3 03-06-2012, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daniella3d

I don't have any smell and I don't run carbon now. Of course when I remove water from my tank to do water change I can smell the corals quite a lot but as soon as the water is back I can't smell anything.

Maybe you could use Purigen, it is safer than carbon.

Hahaha ... daniella, you must have a plugging nose ! Just kidding though.
My tank is having a terrible smell but the water is very clear, maybe from using an UV.

The Grizz · #4 03-06-2012, 12:43 AM

I didn't run carbon on my 165 for almost the first yr. and never had it smell but I also have a high water flow & have been running pellets for some time now.

jagermaier · #5 03-06-2012, 12:48 AM

Make sure your protein skimmer is working properly, adding a refufium will also absorb the extra nutrients from over-feeding and waste that might be contributing to the smell.

sphelps · #6 03-06-2012, 12:53 AM

No carbon in my tank so far, my previous tanks also rarely used it. Never had a smell issue...

reefwars · #7 03-06-2012, 12:58 AM

none in mine this tank but ive had others with it.....no smell either way , nor should there be;p

my first suspect would be said skimmer too

Casey8 · #8 03-06-2012, 01:15 AM

It looks like nobody is having this problem, only me

and why me again

reefwars · #9 03-06-2012, 01:30 AM

maybe its your source water are you using rodi??

in my experienece even with low flow, even when the tanks half drained the smell of the tank should be fresh and ocean like.if theres a smell you dont like i bet its coming from the overflow or sump. maybe stagnant water in the overflow box??

Casey8 · #10 03-06-2012, 01:43 AM

reefwars, I am using r/o water. I will check my sump tomorrow, you maybe right the smell may come from there. I didn't clean my sump for awhile now. But it never happened like that before when I used carbon. Why did jagermaier and you mention about a skimmer, is it something to do with the skimmer too ? But I clean the cup everyday, because it skims too much of goo even I have dialed it to a dry skim, but still, I am afraid of getting overflow when I'm not home.