driftwood in freshwater aquarium, water smell

Question
I recently set up a 90 gallon freshwater tank.....I am close to a beginner......having had a 55 gallon tank once......and a couple of 20s.  The tank was used, I think it was saltwater.........I cleaned as good as one possibly could.....set up a canister filter.........artifical plants.............I put a couple of goldfish....and a few small tropical fish in.........AND my three year old red tail shark....that had outgrown my puny 10 gallon tank.............shortly after a weird clear film got on top of the water, most of my fish died........including my red tail........he got all white and puffy overnight........I put tablets in from the store to kill every kind of bacteria.....and the film disappeared.....since then..........my tank smells like dead fish..........that nasty smell..........the water is clear...........and the fish I gotten since are doing well...........it has been about a month.......but there is a smell............that I have never had in anything I have had before............you think it might be the driftwood?  If you have any thoughts that might help me figure this out...........please help.......I thought I would ask before I upset the decorations......as the driftwood looks beautiful.........sincerely mf

Answer
I really do not think the driftwood is your cause for the "foul" water in your tank.  Since it was recently set up, I can only guess that it was not yet done cycling.  If you had washed everything thoroughly, then I do not believe it to be your cause.  It may lower the ph in your tank a little bit, but it sounds to me, that by killing all the bacteria in the tank, the entire cycling system must now re-establish itself.  You will have to go through the phase of ammonia-nitrite-nitrate all over again.  I would do a 50% water change, add aquarium salt, at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water, and change your filter media.  You may have to do this several times.  Make sure to use good activated charcoal, as this will help clear out odors as well as impurities.  Once the nitrogen cycle is complete, you should be okay.

I hope this helps you.  If you have any further questions, please feel free to write.  Don't forget to rate this answer.

Sincerely,

Adrian