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Ok, so I just found a wonderful 90 gallon tank for a ridiculously cheap price and I'm going to buy it this weekend and get it set up. This is a big jump from my 25-gallon! But I figure that my little guys will be comfortable in one this big for a long time.

My question: How do you all (who have really big tanks) manage to keep it clean? It was really easy with a 25 gallon to empty it out and everything now and then. But with something so much bigger, I don't know how to handle it! Any tips? How often do you change the water? Is there a specific filter that will really do the trick? Any suggestions would be great!

First off I'd invest in a python fill and clean .. one that would be long enough to reach from your sink to the tank. They sell a 25' one at Walmart for under $30.. really a back saver on carrying all those buckets of water let me tell you. I'm still trying to figure out what filter is best for my 75 gallon tank, so can't help you there.

As for cleaning. I do bottom cleaning with a 'vacuum' on a weekly basis when I add water and clean the filter medium as needed.. around once a week or sometimes a bit more. I also net out all the bits of greens I see floating around instead of waiting for it to fall on the bottom. I may spend an hour or less a week on maintenance.

That 90 gallon should be good for a mature RES most of its life I'd assume, well unless you get a huge monster female

with these pythons, can you hook it up directly to the tap?

Anyone clean with bleach and use a python? How do you rinse it out enough? I tip ,mine upside down.

The Pythons can hook up to most taps and/or garden hoses. It won't work if you a fancy fixture though. I have to hook it up through the front door, to the outside water outlet (no regular faucets in the house).
I've never used bleach on the tank, so I'm not sure how well you need to rinse it. But the Python is able to shoot water back into the tank if you need a semi strong blast, and then you can siphon it back out.

cool.

I just finished a 100% water change, complete clean... took forever.

i've never used bleach, never will. i personally think it's too dangerous, stick with white vinegar.

I only used bleach once, in a 10 gal when I first got my turt. I let the thing soak in the tub for about 20 min to make sure it was rinsed good enough

My vet said the tank can be cleaned with bleach as long as it sits for a long time afterward. She said the tank needs to be 100% free of the bleach smell before filled back up and putting the turtles in. I still don't ever use it though just because it makes me nervous. But that is still a good rule of thumb.

I use lime-a-way and vinegar. I also make sure I rinse it very well though.

I use white vinegar for general cleaning. If, however, I need to disinfect, I do use bleach--2 oz. to a gallon of water. This is weaker than the 5% bleach solution I've seen recommended, yet should be safe for general disinfecting (and I rinse repeatedly afterward, probably more than is necessary).