Smell of nitrites

Mr. Gardener wrote:
On Sat, 18 Feb 2006 23:40:44 -0600, dc wrote:


"Altum" wrote in news:1140286709.246608.305140
:


the smell of a healthy, mature filter. Am I the only one who "tests"
water chemistry by sniffing it?

Nope, you are not alone. With more than 260 tanks to look after, small is
often my first clue to a new potential problem when I walk into the fish
room in the morning. I will often follow my nose to the trouble spot.

Ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate all have their own distinctive smells.


I agree that one can tell a lot about a tank by sniffing it. Like good
garden soil, a healthy aquarium has a distinctive and wonderful smell.
I generally give each of my tanks a quick sniff during the morning
feeding. The fish get to look at my nose before they get their
breakfast. And the warm moist air clears my sinuses.

-- Mr Gardener

Hope they never mistake your nose for breakfast - lol

Gill

In article .com,
Altum wrote:
The dead fish thread reminded me of something. I can smell high
nitrites as soon as I walk into a room. That's how I knew the water was
probably fine in the tank with the lost guppy before I even tested it.
I always know when the nitrites appear in a cycling tank, and I know
the smell of a healthy, mature filter. Am I the only one who "tests"
water chemistry by sniffing it?


That's ammonia not nitrates you can smell and yeah you can
smell it across a room if you know what it is.


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