Habitat - Indoor :: DIRTY TANK- HELP!!

[JAMES]

CAN ANYBODY HELP US? HELLO, I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM, AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO GO FOR HELP. ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND HAVE HAD TWO BABY RED EARED SLIDERS FOR ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS NOW. WE JUST PURCHASED A 20-30 GALLON TANK SPECIFICALLY SETUP FOR AQUATIC TURTLES. WE HAVE THE ROCKS, HEATER (100 WATT), AND WHISPER FILTER THATS SPECIFICALLY THE SIZE FOR OUR TANK. MY QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU KEEP TTHE WATER CLEAN. IN LESS THAN A WEEK, OUR TANK IS BROWN AND MUCKY. THE FILTERS ARE GETTING DESTROYED, AND WE HAVE TO BOTH CARRY THIS HEAVY TANK OUTSIDE AND CLEAN FOR AN HOUR. THE PROCESS IS TO HARD TO KEEP UP WITH. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CLEAR WATER ALL THE TIME, SO WE COULD ALWAYS SEE AND EXPERIENCE OUR TURTLES. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SO THE TURTLES CAN HAVE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND BE HAPPY. THEY ARE DOING WELL AND GROWING RAPIDLY. THEY EAT ALL THE FOOD WE PUT IN THE TANK, SO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT OVERFEEDING. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE FECES IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE DIRTINESS PROBLEM AND ARE FILTER CANT KEEP UP. AND TO BE HONEST, I DONT THINK A BIGGER FILTER WOULD DO ANYTHING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND CAN ANYBODY PLEASE HELP WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS AND EXPERTISE. THANK YOU!

[marisa]

Your filter is inadequate for the size of the tank. The specs on the filter are for fish, not turtles, which are much messier. No filter, however, will pick up all the poop off the floor of the tank, if that's what you're expecting, however.

You want a filter rated for 3X the size of your tank. I have a 20-gallon long and I'm using a filter called an Aquaclear in it. The specific model is the 70, which means it's really for 70 gallon tanks. If you have a comparable size tank, you might consider one as well, but be warned--the water level should be higher for them to work most efficiently and they're not the most quiet filter (but this can be fixed with plexiglass).

Which size tank do you have---20, 25, 30 gallon? How much water do you have in it? What size are your turtles (shell lengths not including the curves)? The smaller the tank and the less water you have in it means you'll have to clean more frequently...

Feeding your turtles in a separate container of water would help somewhat as well. (Are you sure you're not overfeeding them---how much do you feed them?)

[daredevilgirl013]

Ok here' s what i have and do

I have a 20 gallon long tank filled up about 3/4 of the way. I have a 60 gallon whisper filter in there (love it!!) which works wonders. I've only had to clean my tank every three weeks, but here is also the catch and what else I have in there

I have a whole bunch of ghost shrimp because one they provide food for the turtles and two, they eat the turtle waste and what waste is in the tank.

I also have 5 little snails, they eat alge, waste, and plant matter. They do a good job

I have one huge apple snail, he's the main cleaner, he loves to clean the sides of the tank, but he eats a lot of plants!

And today I bought a plecos aka a alge sucker fish as my snail doesn't really like to get the alge off of the tank walls.

I also have a lot of guppies which eat waste too.

Also with that heater that should cause some water evaporation which in my case what water evaporates is what makes for me to have a good parital water change as I add about a gallon every day.

For your turtles, since you have two, the idea is to have 10 gallons per shell inch so if one turtle is 3 inches and the other is 3 you need a 60 gallon tank at the least. Remember they'll keep growing so it's best to just buy the biggest tank you can get right now so you won't have to keep upgrading every time they grow an inch.

As for the growing rapidly, they shouldn't be. The rule is an inch a year basically. If they are growing rapidly that can cause major health problems.

So get a better filter, get some cleaner upper animals as I call them and that ought to help.

[JAMES]

THANKS FOR REPLYING, THE TANK IS A 20 GALLON. BUT IT HAS A SLOT CUTOUT ON THE SIDE FOR THE FILTER HOUSING TO SIT. THEN A PULLOUT PIECE OF PLASTIC FITS OVER IT TO ENCLOSE THE SIDE. THE FILTER IS A WHISPER 20. YOUR RIGHT, I AM JUST FINDING OUT HOW DIRTY THESE TURTLES ARE, AND THEY NEED A BIGGER FILTER. I THINK OUR TANK MAY NOT WORK FOR A BIGGER FILTER. BECAUSE THE TOP HAS A FULLY ENCLOSED LID WITH THE FLOURESCENT LAMP. SO I CANT PUT THE FILTER ON TOP. BUT MAYBE IT WILL SOMEHOW FIT ON THE SIDE PORTION, IF I REMOVE THE PULLOUT PIECE OF PLASTIC. THANKS ALOT, I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

[daredevilgirl013]

Well if your turtles are an inch a piece then the tank is fit for them, but I'm doubting they are that little so you really need a bigger tank, that is part of the problem right there.

Here is a photo album of my tank and turtle, you really need to look at what I've done and have in my tank to give you an idea as your tank doesn't sound too good for the turtles. And if your tank won't work for a bigger filter then it's time to upgrade to a bigger tank.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daredevil ... /my_photos

My filter hangs on the side of the tank, doesn't need anything cut at all and it works wonders. So just look at the pictures to give yourself an idea.

[JAMES]

COOL, THANKS YOU ALL. YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING WITH THESE KINDS OF PETS. IM A DOG GUY, SO THIS IS ALL NEW FOR ME. APPRECIATE THE HELP!

[JAMES]

WOW, THOSE PICTURES ARE AMAZING. THAT TANK IS AWESOME AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, C L E A N. HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHANGE YOUR FILTERS.

[cam722]

Ok, what you have is what is known as a turtle tank. not the best tanks in the world for aquatic turtles btw. They should have a lot more water than those tanks provide which is partially the problem you're having with keeping it clean. Turtles are very messy critters If at all possible, I'd suggest you get a larger tank, and fill it up as high as you can with water.. without the possibility of your turtles escaping.

[JAMES]

DOES WATER TEMPERATURE (WARMER), HURT THE SNAILS, GHOST SHRIMP, FISH, ETC.? IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN I PUT SOME SMALL TUFFIES IN THE TANK, THEY ROLLOVER AND DIE. THEY CANT HANDLE THE HOT WATER.

[JAMES]

GOING TO BUY A NEW FILTER, WHATS THE BEST FOR MY 20 GALLON TANK? WHAT BRAND? SUBMERSABLE OR ON THE SIDE? IVE READ ALOT OF YOUR FORUMS, AND I SEE MIXED REVIEWS, AND THOUGHTS.

[cam722]

I don't think 78 degrees is considered HOT for snails.. mine survive in that temp

I personally like the over the side, aquaclear filters. Just remember to get one rated for 2-3 times the size of your tank since those are rated for fish and not turtles.

[JAMES]

MUCH APPRECIATED!

[daredevilgirl013]

Yeah my snails, fish, and shrimp are doing fine in their water. And yesterday it was 81 (did a water change and the temp got bumped, but it's back to normal) and nobody did the roll over and die bit. Plus snails and stuff like the same temps turtles do, so it's all good!

[fishandcandy]

I have an Aquaclear 50. I love it.
It's a little too powerful for tank I have now, so I only run it for a few hours a day, but it's keeping the tank super clean.

[marisa]

James, before you post again, please take the caps lock off...

I'm using an Aquaclear 70 in a 20-gallon long tank and it's been working really well (as I told you above).