treesprite September 16, 2012 Share September 16, 2012 I'm asking because so many people talk about it smelling, but mine just smells like something similar to potting soil (in spite of the fact that the thick nearly black mush riser buildup looks like.... ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy G September 16, 2012 Share September 16, 2012 Mine smells like rotten egg, dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDRDATA September 16, 2012 Share September 16, 2012 Mine varies, with a "marine" component and varying degree of hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite September 17, 2012 Author Share September 17, 2012 (edited) So why does mine not smell rotten? Edited September 17, 2012 by treesprite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Weaver September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 (edited) My liquid is nasty-smelling, but the solid stuff like you have that I scrape from the neck does not smell too bad. Edited September 17, 2012 by Marc Weaver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyInVa September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 I just switched skimmers. My old skimmers skimmate does not smell and did not pull out nearly as much as my new skimmer. My new skimmers skimmate smells like rotten eggs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallreef September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 There are many factors, lol mostly the thick gunk does not smell as bad as the liquid.. even at that it depends on how much you overfeed and such, like what you feed... My old tank the skimmate didnt really smell... this tank... its rancid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoutlaw September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 It's fish $H#@.....of course it stinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddR September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 It's fish $H#@.....of course it stinks. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite September 17, 2012 Author Share September 17, 2012 I go really dry most of the time (because I've had too many crazy skimmer episodes that flooded all that scummy water back into the sump), so I don't generally have a lot of liquid, but it's usually dark and really does not smell horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 Mine varies. Currently the skimmate in both tanks is earthy and not particularly bad, but sometimes half the house will smell nasty when I clean the cup. My theory is that there is occasional cryptic die-off, like a snail stuck somewhere, that adds to the stink. I do remember that when I changed from a not-very-efficient HOT to a nice in-sump model, the skimmate was stinky for quite some time. Adding a little kalk to the collection cup reduces the stink, by the way. No idea why, but Leishman suggested it years ago and it worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraffitiSpotCorals September 17, 2012 Share September 17, 2012 Thats a personal question, me and my fish are quite offended... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rioreef September 18, 2012 Share September 18, 2012 You should smell it after a large clam spawns. Skimmate was whitish color and likes to create foam easily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami September 18, 2012 Share September 18, 2012 Let's just say that my wife and daughter know when I'm emptying the skimmer cup.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integral9 September 18, 2012 Share September 18, 2012 I almost blew chunks the first time I emptied my SWC skimmer. I'd classify it somewhere between dog poo and rotting clams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati September 18, 2012 Share September 18, 2012 I cannot smell mine at all, because I add kalk to the skimmer cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami September 18, 2012 Share September 18, 2012 I cannot smell mine at all, because I add kalk to the skimmer cup. I'm going to have to try that. Do you just add a little powder? If so, how much do you add? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve175 September 19, 2012 Share September 19, 2012 Self cleaning head beats the kalk. However, when I clean the scum off of it every 2-3 months, I would agree with the feces/rotten egg/vomit minus the roses descriptor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda September 19, 2012 Share September 19, 2012 Started using biopellets this weekend. Got a good bloom of microbes and a lot of sticky skimmate. Based on spousal comments, this was the stinkiest in years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite September 20, 2012 Author Share September 20, 2012 Let's have a skimmate contest at the next meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami September 20, 2012 Share September 20, 2012 Let's have a skimmate contest at the next meeting. That idea stinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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