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My wife and kids brought home two baby RES from a vacation trip. They are 1" long and struggling. Just recently that have started eating again and have improved 100%. However, I'm worried about the water quality. My setup is this: 10gal tank, two rocks from yard, on bottom, 4" of water, Fluval 1 filter on its side,w/ cardon screens, 1 basking day time lamp, water temp stays about 80 degrees 24/7. Not sure about ambient temp. We feed outside the tank. I'm changing the water completely every 5 days but am getting a thin bluish film that develops in about 2 days.Iit gets thicker every day until it traps bubbles on day 5. I change, repeat cycle. What can or should I do about the scum? Any other suggestions?

Welcome. The film sounds like the the filter isn't doing it's job (Fluval 1+ filters don't do much of anything) very well. (By bluish do you mean a kind of rainbow effect?) How much is it agitating the surface of the water? The water level should be higher as well. Consider getting a bigger tank and a better filter.

What are cardon screens?

PetCo thay are carbon impregnated filter mats. No it's not rainbowish but more blue. It doesn't agitate at all it kind of clogs the surface.

Ok, the carbon inserts--I've used them with the Fluval 2+. Are you rinsing the new ones before you put them in the filter?

By agitating, I meant is the filter moving the top of the water at all. If the water isn't moving at all, it will stagnate and get "thick."

*nods* I rinse mine off first!

Thanks so much for the help.

OK. it looks like I need to make the water deeper and stand the filter on end to agitate the water. I didn't rinse the carbon inserts off before use but have since. yet it still forms. And looking at it again I guess it is kinda of raindowy at least it has a metallic sheen.

Do I need a night time light? I have been keeping the light on 24/7 to heat the tank. is this OK?

Also, Who makes the best version of the floating ramp?

You really need to make sure you rinse all inserts very very well before using them. I have a difficult time with the carbon inserts on my filter... a real pain sometimes

You should have a fully submersible water heater instead of having the lights on 24/7. Turtles should have a day/night cycle like there is in nature. So, no, you don't need a night light

There are many different kinds of floating ramps, zoo-med is the one I think most people use, there's also other kinds, you'll just have to search. This is similar to the one I have.. although I believe it's a different manufacturer.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... =AA&ctt=62

I've had a few different kind and this is the one I like the most.. My turtles are both around 4" and both can fit on it easily. The water level and change and they can still get up because of the long ramp.