Smelly CO2 ??

[Malc-C]

For those that don't know our tank is built into the wall and is accessable via a cupboard under the stairs. For the last couple of days I've noticed a smell in the cupboard, and today it was exceptionally strong. Without wishing to offend, the smell was as if someone had passed wind having eaten a curry the night before, but more like as if someone left the gas on (I've already checked and there is no smell else where either).

The first suspect was the Hagen Co2 unit, and sure enough, removing the line from the top of the canister confirmed it ! I've now changed the contents, but wondered if anyone else using the same fermentation system has experienced the same thing. It was due for renewal (having been 26 days since last changed) but was still producing bubbles. None of the fish seem to of suffered, so I can only assume that the gas was no toxic (as far as I know CO2 doesn't normally smell)

Stats are unchanged from the normal week-to-week recordings

PH 7.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 ppm
Kh 11 degrees
GH 18 degrees

The only other possible source is the Amquel + which smells very similar to the pong in the cupboard, however the cap is on the bottle and there has been no spillage

I'm stummped ?? - has anyone else experienced this sort of thing with a Hagen unit ??

 

[zig]

Ive been running 2 Hagen units for months on end 24/7 and have never experienced any unpleasent smell while they are operating, they do smell when you open them but this is a smell of yeast fermenting and is what i would expect, and even then it is not that bad, perhaps your co2 system had an air leak and the smell had built up over several days in an enclosed area.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

hmmm newly brewed c02 solution it tempts me sometimes to try it out smells like beeer

 

[Malc-C]

Ive been running 2 Hagen units for months on end 24/7 and have never experienced any unpleasent smell while they are operating, they do smell when you open them but this is a smell of yeast fermenting and is what i would expect, and even then it is not that bad, perhaps your co2 system had an air leak and the smell had built up over several days in an enclosed area.

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Well I think I found the reason. The line from the CO2 unit was full of water. Now this could of happened when I took the unit off for changing, or it could of happened overnight the day before (I have a one way valve in the line to stop the water entering the CO2 unit). If it did, then the CO2 could of vented into the cupboard hence the smell. However, been in to home brew it didn't smell like mash fermenting, it smelt more like british gas when the cooker fails to light, or as if a bottle of Amquel+ water conditioner had been spilt, neither of which was the case !

Thanks for the input guys

 

[LA321]

I have the Hagen C02 and around the time I need to change it mine didn't smell, but my amquel+ does find ways to have its odor comeout, I usually rinse the outside bottle after closing the cap tight which stopped it