CFB + java moss = horrible fecal smell

[MaDsci]

I just noticed while cleaning my tank a couple of days ago that the big clump of java moss lying in the middle of the tank reeked of intense fecal matter. I noticed that some of the moss was brown and dying but there was also bits of fecal matter entangled in it too. So I clipped and threw away the dead moss and rinsed in water what was left. After a couple of days now, the water is clean and cool but the moss still smells like fecal material. Now I'm not sure if this is relevant but I have a hunch that the heat wave a couple of days ago which raised my tank to about 26 celcius may have cooked the java moss and fecal material together surprisingly, all my newts were still alive. Has this happend to anyone before? Also is there a way to get rid of the smell? Or should I just throw the whole thing out and get some new moss?

 

[caudatadude28]

26 C is way too hot for newts and maybe java moss. I would throw away the moss and get new. I have java moss in 20C and its doing great.

 

[Jennewt]

I've never seen such a thing. It's hard to believe that fecal matter is to blame, as a few CFB don't really produce that much. There is always a bit of java moss dieing, usually at the bottom of the clump, but it doesn't smell. Are you sure something else didn't fall in there?

I'd keep the java in a separate container until it has no bad smell. If it never gets to that point, pitch it.

 

[MaDsci]

Seriously, Vancouver BC couple days ago was 39 celcius, now it's dropped down to 26 celcius and there was a crazy thunder storm last wednesday too.

 

[caudatadude28]

If your newts were subjected to 39C they should be dead! Do you have efficient cooling methods?

 

[MaDsci]

If your newts were subjected to 39C they should be dead! Do you have efficient cooling methods?

The water itself wasn't 39C, it was the outside temperature that was 39C. Since then, I have moved the tank to the basement where it is cooler.

Anyways, the java moss still reeks, I'll probably give it another week and a half before I decide to throw it out.