Fish Tank Smell

[NewTankGuy]

I have my tank in my office, a 20ft x 13ft room, and when you open the door you are instantly hit with a "fish/musky" odor.  What are some good solutions to this, beyond just keeping a clean office and burning candles?

 

[shrimply]

In my experiance a healthy, cycled and decently maintained fish tank shouldn't smell of anything.  Mine doesn't.  If it did I'd probably be making sure everything was OK with ammonia levels etc and making sure I was keeping up with water changes and tracking down the cause of the problem.
 
Is there any decaying plant matter, is there any chance you are over feeding?  Is the water crystal clear?

 

[NeonTetra97]

As shrimply said check for dead plant matter and keep up with water changes, a smell can be used to indicate things such as a dead fish etc but all tanks have a characteristic smell, I find using activated carbon in the filter helps reduce smells. Also do you have a lid on the tank? As the water evaporates it will carry the smell into the air and make the room damp if its not well ventilated.

 

[Xzavier247]

How big is the tank? Fresh or salt?
I would purchase some carbon. That will take and away the smell.

 

[NewTankGuy]

I think the issue is the rooms ventilation now that you point it out.  My office is an old utility room that I converted/finished, and the windows in it do not open.  So the only ventilation is a fan that I use to circulate the air in the room, or when I leave the door to the garage open.  The tank is a 29 gallon fresh water, moderately planted.  Everything looks good with the plants and water tests great, however, my fish have been eating one of my floating plants to the point that I just pulled what was remaining of it (it was small to begin with) so that may have been my culprit there too.  Thank you all of the tips! 
 
Oh how would I add carbon to the filter?  I have a Whisper 40 filter that hangs off the back of the tank, and uses the pre-assembled Bio-Bags and the little sponge...

 

[Xzavier247]

I believe for that model you need to get replacement cartridges. That has the carbon in it.

 

[FingersofFish]

As already stated If everything is good it probably shouldn't smell.

I have 3 tanks in my downstairs living room and there is no fishy smell. What does smell however is the cupboards below the tanks, but only if open - those fish flakes pong.

On a note of ventilation, my room did used to smell a little dank/musty at times, but since we air bricks and vent holes that's no longer an issue! I think it was more to do with drying clothes than the tanks anyhow!

 

[orangegecko]

I don't notice any smell on my 46 gallon...  As others have mentioned, I also suspect something dying or decaying...  the plant you pulled might have been it.  Let us know!

 

[Alasse]

They would be the tank making the air humid and creating the smell, not the actual tank itself
 
The room my 5ft is in will do the same if the door and windows are all shut, there just isnt enough ventilation. Once the door is opened the smell goes in a very short time

 

[NewTankGuy]

Ya I kind of noticed that too, after removing the eaten plant, and paying more attention to it, the smell is really of just wetness, kinda like if you left a pile of wet towles in a small room for a couple days....

 

[Xzavier247]

Kinda like a swamp cooler