How to Get Rid of a Fish Tank Smell in a House With Live Fish

A properly maintained fish tank should not have bad odors. If you notice unpleasant odors emanating from the aquarium, then this is an indication that the tank is not properly functioning and requires immediate attention and maintenance. Taking the time to isolate and correct the problem not only removes unpleasant odors from the tank, but it also saves the fish and plant life.

Things You'll Need

• Smaller fish bowl
• Gravel vacuum
• Magnetic algae scrapers
• Filter cartridge

Instructions

1. Remove fishes from the tank and place them in a smaller fish bowl filled with clean water.

2. Vacuum the tank’s gravel to remove uneaten food, fish waste and other debris, which can cause unpleasant odors. The gravel vacuum also siphons out the tank’s dirty water.

3. Remove algae from the fish tank by using magnetic algae scrapers, which remove the bacteria from the tank’s glass, rocks and artificial plant life.

4. Remove and discard the dead leaves from the aquarium’s real plant life, since decaying leaves cause unpleasant odors in the tank.

5. Change the cartridge in the filter. Refer to the cartridge’s packaging for instructions. Failure to change the cartridge causes unpleasant odors and harm to the water’s quality due to dirt buildup.

6. Add fresh water slowly into the tank using the gravel vacuum to prevent the tank from getting too clouded. Add the fishes slowly back into the tank to prevent shock and trauma.

References

• The First Tank Guide: Cleaning Your Aquarium
• AquariumGuys; Aquarium Cleaning and Maintenance Guide; Pearl A.