Habitat - Indoor :: Dark Green Dock?

[Brianthedog18]

Over the last few weeks, I've been noticing the ramp on my turtle dock turning dark green. I did a full water change last week and scrubbed it, but it's back again. Is this algae, and if it is, is it harmful to the turtle? I just want to make sure it is OK, and if not, how do I get it off? Lastly, to those of you who feed your turtle lettuce, how do you possibly keep the tank clean? I have little peices of lettuce floating EVERYWHERE, and some of it is getting in the filter! I really want to feed him in a seperate tank, but I don't have one, nor do I have enough room for one ( I live in a small dorm). Anyone have any ideas on how to keep the tank clean and get rid of the algae (?).

[jenaero]

That's algae alright. My dock is dark green and stinks like crazy. I scrub it but only some comes off, then it comes back with avengeance. Not much you can do really. Not harmful to the turts at all though. Every so often I get sick of looking at it and order a new one.

As far as the lettuce, I don't know. I feed in the tank but there are rarely any bits floating around. My filter seems to get it all. Maybe a better filter is needed for your tank. You could just use a net to skim the top of the water if it bugs you that much.

[Brianthedog18]

Ok, as long as it's not harmful to the turtle. Is it just this type of dock that gets the algae (the zoomed turtle dock) or does it happen to all docks?

[jenaero]

I have a zoo med dock and one of those green turtle ramps and they've both got it. It's a combination of the warm water and the uv rays from the lamp.

[sonyj]

I have the little bits of lettuce floating after he eats. Jen is probably right. I know that my filter is rated for 3x larger but I probably could use a better one. I just let it float and get it when I do the weekly cleaning.

[marisa]

Light, warmth and nutrients in the water all contribute to algae. To discourage its growth, the balance between these three conditions has to be changed. Difficult/almost impossible to do though, and algae eventually will return. Cleaning it is easier, though, if you scrub with white vinegar and rinse well afterward.

[tini]

sounds like algae, t6hey also sell stuff at petco you can clean you tank with that helps prevent algae *nods*