Hey all!

I currently have 19 tanks running in my basement. I breed mostly shrimp but also have swordtail, endlers, platys, and Corys breeding.

I have started to notice my basement having that musty old water smell. Basically I am wondering if anyone has some tricks or suggestions on what they have found as a successful way to keep smells in check. I run sponge filters in ALL of my tanks so I am not sure how I could implement carbon. Also, I am starting to convert most of my breeding tanks to bare bottom with no substrate, some people are against this but my fish seem to breed better and its far less maintenance.

Any input or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!

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55 Gal Planted Community Tank
50 Gal Sand Planted Bronze Cory Tank
20 Gal Planted RCS Tank
20 Gal PlantTank "Beaslbob"
20 Gal Planted RCS Tank
20 Gal Platy Breeding Tank
15 Gal Electric Blue Crayfish Breeding Tank
15 Gal Platy Breeding Tank
(3) 15 Gal Planted RCS Tanks
10 Gal Planted Golden Mystery Snail Breeding Tank
10 Gal Planted RCS Tank
10 Gal Swordtail Tank
10 Gal Endler Tank
5 Gal RCS Display Tank
4 15 Gal RCS Tanks (Waiting to stock)
2 20 Gal Longs (Waiting to stock)

well i had an issue with one of my tanks smelling so what i did was add carbon in a nylon and let it float in the tank. it worked for me. but it could just be the water from the tanks making everything damp in your basement. do you have tops on the tank? i think glass tops may help keep the water down.

Yep, have tops on all my tanks. I think I may try this carbon nylon Idea.

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55 Gal Planted Community Tank
50 Gal Sand Planted Bronze Cory Tank
20 Gal Planted RCS Tank
20 Gal PlantTank "Beaslbob"
20 Gal Planted RCS Tank
20 Gal Platy Breeding Tank
15 Gal Electric Blue Crayfish Breeding Tank
15 Gal Platy Breeding Tank
(3) 15 Gal Planted RCS Tanks
10 Gal Planted Golden Mystery Snail Breeding Tank
10 Gal Planted RCS Tank
10 Gal Swordtail Tank
10 Gal Endler Tank
5 Gal RCS Display Tank
4 15 Gal RCS Tanks (Waiting to stock)
2 20 Gal Longs (Waiting to stock)

Do you have a floor drain or a sink in the basement? Sometimes the water that sits in the trap can get odors because we don't flush it with clean water often enough. Might try cleaning out the traps or pouring a box of baking soda down the drain.

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4ea 10 Gal all planted.
20 gal in for repair
Swordtails

Still learning...

Nope, I do not have a drain. :(

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55 Gal Planted Community Tank
50 Gal Sand Planted Bronze Cory Tank
20 Gal Planted RCS Tank
20 Gal PlantTank "Beaslbob"
20 Gal Planted RCS Tank
20 Gal Platy Breeding Tank
15 Gal Electric Blue Crayfish Breeding Tank
15 Gal Platy Breeding Tank
(3) 15 Gal Planted RCS Tanks
10 Gal Planted Golden Mystery Snail Breeding Tank
10 Gal Planted RCS Tank
10 Gal Swordtail Tank
10 Gal Endler Tank
5 Gal RCS Display Tank
4 15 Gal RCS Tanks (Waiting to stock)
2 20 Gal Longs (Waiting to stock)

Have you checked for a mold problem in the room itself from the higher humidity?

some have to vent the room air outside the room do keep the room air fresh and humidity down.

just a thought.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

BB.. ya beat me to the punch.. I'd check the humidity level in the basement.. Basements are notoriously damp and adding that much H2O will just add to it.. Check the ceilings for mold or dampness.. A dehumidifier might be in order. Bill in Va.

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..