new set up

Question
Hi just wondering, ive just set up a new Juwel Rio 180
only filter fish tank. its been running for 2 days now, but there is a bit of a smell is this normal????

Answer
Good evening Justin,

The smell of ammonia (it's been described as a wet diaper, or cat pee in extreme cases) is normal as a tank matures, especially in the filter where most of the biological filtration is taking place.

If you have fish in this tank already, then they are suffering due to being in an uncycled system. However if you are "fishless cycling" using an ammonia source such as cocktail shrimp or pure household ammonia, then the smell is normal and can be remedied by doing a water change of 50% or so. In any case, be sure to have a water test kit on hand so that you can monitor ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. These three basic water quality parameters are essential to know, since when fish are sick, a water quality issue (namely ammonia or nitrite presence, both of which are toxic) is usually responsible, so test these first. Healthy, cycled tanks always register 0 ppm for both of these levels.

I hope that helps! Check out these sites if you haven't yet, they have information on all levels of the hobby:
http://freshaquarium.about.com
http://www.wetwebmedia.com

Take care,
Nicole