To anyone with Aqueon Mini Bow Aquariums or Aqueon filters

[FishCC]

My new Aqueon Mini Bow Aquarium is all set up and has been running for about a day. The filter seems to have an odd wet dog/sulfur-like smell. Is it normal for this filter to smell this way? My fish is not in the tank: just rocks, a heater, water conditioner, and a couple of decorations.

[Sakura8]

The sulfur smell is possibly coming from the carbon. Did you rinse the filter insert before putting it into the filter? That might explain the smell.

[FishCC]

Yes I rinsed it with cool water twice. I wondered if the carbon had anything to do with it.

[Sakura8]

Did you add water conditioner? If you use a conditioner like Prime or Stress Coat, you can get a strong sulfur smell from them as well.

[FishCC]

Originally Posted by Sakura8

Did you add water conditioner? If you use a conditioner like Prime or Stress Coat, you can get a strong sulfur smell from them as well.

I added Aqueon water conditioner.

[LaLaLeyla]

Yep my aqueon smells like that too. :P

[Badjer]

Yeah it's definitely the carbon...mine smelled that way too. I have a new filter on order for my tank though. Those Aqueon filters are ridiculously big for the tank and even with it being baffled, mine had a pretty strong current.

[FishCC]

Thanks so much! I don't have to worry then.

[FishCC]

Originally Posted by Badjer

Yeah it's definitely the carbon...mine smelled that way too. I have a new filter on order for my tank though. Those Aqueon filters are ridiculously big for the tank and even with it being baffled, mine had a pretty strong current.

Yeah I heard the current could be a problem for bettas. It's annoying how they advertise the Mini Bows as "perfect for your bettas" when their filters move the water around too much.

[Badjer]

It's horrible. Unfortunately, I got the "Betta Bow" version that my petstore told me would hold two males comfortably. That was before I began to research, and realized that they would benefit from more space than their divided 2.5 tank. I wish companies would only sell products that they knew worked well for the animals they make them for....