Category Troubleshooting

Aquaponics System Smells Bad: Causes, Fixes & Prevention

A gloved hand uses a water testing strip to check the murky, foamy water in an aquaponics system, indicating a problem with water quality.

A bad smell in an aquaponics system signals anaerobic decomposition or high ammonia levels from poor water quality parameters like low oxygen or excess waste. Key causes include stagnant zones, overfeeding, and insufficient aeration. Fix it by boosting aeration to 5+ mg/L DO, siphoning sludge, and testing pH (6.8-7.2). Read on for detailed steps and prevention.