Habitat - Indoor :: Water concern

[3crazyturtles]

Iv read lots about water clarification and I still can't seem to get this [----] down...I did I 75% water change like 2 weeks ago and even added some more BioMax in my Fluval Fx6...still looking for the best setup for that filter and since I have 3 messy RES I'm thinking of having BioMax in every basket because I'm thinking there's not enough to keep up with my turtles...I use 100% distilled water because iv read it's a good way to go if you live in a condo with hard water...my wife is wanting to possibly get rid of 1 or 2 of them but being the animal lover I am I just won't do that, I'd rather go broke trying to give them everything they need...anything else I could put in the tank to help with clarity as it doesn't smell too bad...thanks guys

[3crazyturtles]

Any suggestions on changing my setup would be appreciated too...I'm always concerned they have too much water but they seem to like it, and they bask all the time and are getting used to us walking by so they just stay up there

[OtisDriftwood]

How many gallons is that tank? Are you testing your water? If not, that's going to offer the best insight - API makes a freshwater test kit under $30 http://amzn.com/B000255NCI or several pet stores will test for free.

If you have high nitrates you may just need more frequent water changes, if you have high ammonia, you need more bio-media.

The cloudiness makes me wonder if you're cycling... do you clean your bio-media in tap water? How long has this filter been setup?

It seems like the FX6 should keep up with your tank adequately, unless the volume is more than I'm guessing.

Small suggestions: Move your input and output to opposite ends of the tank to improve circulation.
Consider your lighting, both artificial and natural: The greenish tint may suggest algae growth?

[3crazyturtles]

My tank has around 50-60 gallons of water and it's a 75 gallon tank...I haven't tested my water in a little while but might since this is concerning me...I clean/rinse my BioMax in tank water when I clean my filter because iv read normal tap water will destroy it...and iv had my filter set up this way for a while but I am considering moving the inlet and outlet to opposite sides...I have 2 algae eaters in their now and they have been since day 1 with the turtles so they usually keep the tank somewhat clean and the tank doesn't get any regular direct sunlight just my heatlamp/uvb bulb

[OtisDriftwood]

Hmmm... FX6 should be adequate on that size tank.

Are you following the guidelines for media detailed in this thread? FX5 is the same setup as the FX6 by the way.

Are you sure that the valves are opened all the way where they connect to the canister? The FX6 is pretty darn powerful, you should be getting some serious flow out of that thing, if it's flowing kinda weak, and your valves are opened, you may have problem with the impeller?

I'm just trying to think outside of the box, because you appear to have adequate filtration.

[3crazyturtles]

Ya I'm going to drain a few gallons tonight and maybe check the filter out, it definitely has power because if one of the turtles swims in front of the output they get flung around lol sometimes they sit there and swim into it like a current lol...other than the water, how would you say my setup is? Some people say I should have half that amount of water and make a bigger basking area but I have seen all 3 of them on the dock together basking

[3crazyturtles]

And when it says "bio-media" does that mean BioMax rings? Because iv only got 1 tray right Now with BioMax rings

[Kansasslider]

I would add carbon and purigen to your filter for starters. Looks like you have an algae bloom. Does your tank get direct sunlight? The fx is a great filter. I'm guessing something else is to blame here.Is biomax and sponges the only thing in the filter? I also wouldn't waste your money on biomax just get on ebay and order some good porous ceramic rings. Not sure about distilled water in a fish tank? Maybe you could pre filter your tap water.

[3crazyturtles]

I'll have to get back to you on what exactly I have in my filter baskets...and No the tank gets no direct sunlight so I'm not sure what it is...I can go back to using my hardwater and just treat it prior to putting it in the tank but I hated that hardwater spots that my airstone made at the top of the tank

[Kansasslider]

Try running your water through a carbon fiilter

[Kansasslider]

Oh yea, no such thing as too much water in a tank. As you know turtles love to swim.

[3crazyturtles]

Iv heard good things about tidy turtle, ever have any experience with it?

[Kansasslider]

Never heard of it. Did a Google search and couldn't find anything? Is it an additive?

[steve]

Sounds like a waste degrader.

[3crazyturtles]

Ya it's a waste degrader...look it up on Amazon, i had some a while back and it cleared it up pretty good...So did a cleaning on my filter and did a 25% water change...in my FX6 I now have (Bottom and Middle) BioMax and a black foam sponge, then the top basket has 2 black foam sponges with 2 bags of zeocarb inbetween the foam pads...trying this to see how it does, again any info on people with FX6s would be great