Habitat - Indoor :: Need Urgent Help!!

[Synthogy]

Hey guys.

Here is my problem: I have a red eared slider turtle in a 55 gallon tank that's 90% full of water. After a 100% water change the water starts turn really foggy and not exactly green but more like a yellowish green. The water smells really bad like rotten eggs. When we first got the tank and set everything up the tank lasted a whole month without developing any sort of overpowering scent and stayed pretty clear most of the time until one day the water just smelled absolutely horrid and I decided to take the filter apart and clean it thoroughly. The process took like 3 hours. The filter was just completely FULL of some green slimy GUNK like LOADS of it.. I'd say 3 pounds of the stuff... It was all over inside the filter tubes as well, basically it was every where inside the filter. I use a filter for a 75G tank on my 55g. Now after I cleaned it thoroughly and added new filter media it started smelling bad and the gunk started to build up in only 2 weeks or so..




Details on my tank:

1. 55 Gallon, 90% full.
2. I use mechanical and bio filter
3. Basking Lamp, no UV or UVB just a normal lamp to warm up their basking.
4. In tank water heater set to 65F so water remains around 70F-75
5. Turtles are fed in the tank only once. One day yes one day no.
6. There are no rocks or sand in the tank. There is absolutely nothing in the tank besides the water heater and basking spot, and the pump.
7. I tried doing 40% water changes every 2 days after the smell started to develop, but it comes right back within 2-3 days.

We really need to solve this issue soon because we are having guests stay over.. Someone please help

[steve]

Sounds like the tank is cycling again. What kind of filter do you have now and what filter media are you using? When was the last time the filter was cleaned?

[Synthogy]

Sounds like the tank is cycling again. What kind of filter do you have now and what filter media are you using? When was the last time the filter was cleaned?

I'm using an API Nexx, and I completely cleaned out every bit of the filter about a week and a half ago since it was just FULL of green slimy gunk. I'm also placed a new mech and chem filter after I cleaned it.

[steve]

It's likely algae if it's reproducing that quickly. Is there algae on the tank walls or decorations too?

[Synthogy]

Nothing on the tank walls and there is no decoration.

To be more precise.. the color of the water is the same color as the quote box when I quoted your post, just a little bit lighter.

I'd also like to point out I know nothing about this stuff.. I just started researching and I'm so overwhelmed with how much information there is regarding many different issues.. Don't know where to start, what to focus on. All this has me really confused and worst of all stressed because I was the one that suggested to my aunt to put the turtle in a proper environment because the turtle use to live in a 10 gallon tank and the turtle is like 12 years old and 6 inches long. It barely had room to move and it lived like this for 5 years. I had my aunt make the expenses of buying all this stuff, but I didn't know this would turn out so hard to maintain. She's going to kill me if I don't get this solved and I don't know how to put it to her if I'm gonna have to get her to spend more.. She's already going to kill me for having to have her spend more money.

[steve]

Once you lock things down, it shouldn't be more expensive or difficult. Can you post a picture of the setup, specifically the basking dock? Are you feeding inside the tank? What and how much of it are you feeding?

[Synthogy]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/40/img4999l.jpg/

There's a pic from a few weeks back.

Don't mind the other turtle it isn't ours.
The decorations are no longer in there either.

All that's currently in the tank is the pump, where the water comes out from, the heater, the lamp, and the basking area.
The water currently looks exactly the same with the same bad scent.

The filter is using mech, and chem and set to full power.

We also use the water clorox remover thing before adding in any water.

It is eating reptomin sticks and we feed it about 10-15 sticks every other day.

And yes we feed inside the tank, but make sure there are no left overs.

[steve]

Using Carbon and Purigen filter media will help clear it up and remove odors. Do not use a water conditioner as they can be harmful. A lot of fogginess might be attributable to the poop. A basking and UVB light should go directly over the basking area.

How long have you had the filter?

[Synthogy]

I use this http://www.petco.com/product/5930/API-B ... SiteSearch as far as the carbon goes.

As for the conditioners.. I didn't know that. I assumed I needed it since we use tap water.

So if I add in the purigen it'll fix the problem? That seems to be the only thing I'm missing when it comes to the water

I've had the filter for 2 months, and it's been completely cleaned about 3-6 times due to the constant return of the smell and water fog.

[steve]

In the long run, it will be cheaper to get carbon in bulk. You do want to remove chlorine/chloramines but don't use water conditioners. Purgien will help clear up the water (and it's regenerable) but I think the main problem is the Nexx being underpowered and inefficient.

[Synthogy]

In the long run, it will be cheaper to get carbon in bulk. You do want to remove chlorine/chloramines but don't use water conditioners. Purgien will help clear up the water (and it's regenerable) but I think the main problem is the Nexx being underpowered and inefficient.

So let's say I get a fluval 406 or a FX5 with all the necessary media would this solve the issue?

You mentioned something about the cycling, would I have to worry about that with a completely new filter?

Can you tell me all the media that you recommend I put inside the filter?

Sorry about all the questions, I just want to make sure the issue won't reappear or my aunt is going to make me pay her back for all I made her spend

[VeipaCray]

You have a few issues going on here....

1. The API nexx doesn't hold enough media even with the expansion to deal with the bio load of a turtle. There's not nearly enough bio media in that tiny thing.
2. When you do a 100% water change and don't have much bio media - your tank goes through a bacteria bloom each time... (usually makes the water cloudy)
3. The greenish yellow tint and the green gunk is algae. The inadequate filter and tap water that's probably got a higher phosphate concentration will feed the algae.
4. Feeding in the tank can increase phospates (phosphates are a food source for algae)


What to do?
1. Can you return or exchange that API Nexx?

2. Can you get a few expansion units to attach to that Nexx? You're going to need a few of them. The problem with the Nexx is that it's a bypass system (so it's an inefficient filter design) AND it doesn't hold much bio media. The XP3 is a much better filter choice for your tank.

3. You don't need to add purigen if you're using the API nitra-zorb filter media. I would actually use the nitra-zorb media in this case with as much bio media as you can fit in the top of those tiny media modules.

4. Purigen / Zorb will NOT fix your problem. Your problem is really two fold. High phosphates AND not a filter that cannot hold enough bio media.

5. While API missed the mark on this stupid Nexx filter, they do make some other great products.... their test kits being one of them. You NEED a test kit to test for Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and phosphates (for freshwater). Without the test kit you're just guessing. It's cheaper to measure and fix the exact problem(s) than to guess.

6. Read these threads:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=28813

[VeipaCray]

In the long run, it will be cheaper to get carbon in bulk. You do want to remove chlorine/chloramines but don't use water conditioners. Purgien will help clear up the water (and it's regenerable) but I think the main problem is the Nexx being underpowered and inefficient.

So let's say I get a fluval 406 or a FX5 with all the necessary media would this solve the issue?

You mentioned something about the cycling, would I have to worry about that with a completely new filter?

Can you tell me all the media that you recommend I put inside the filter?

Sorry about all the questions, I just want to make sure the issue won't reappear or my aunt is going to make me pay her back for all I made her spend

If you can afford the FX5 - by all means get that filter. You won't find anything better for a turtle for the price.
Save your money and skip the Fluval 406. If you're looking for something cheaper than the FX5, the API Rena XP3 is a good choice.
The media you need for each of these filters and how to set them up is in the thread I linked in my previous post

As mentioned above... get an API test kit and one additonal test for Phosphates. Your tank isn't cycled now... not enough bio media and part of your cloudiness problem. The FX5 will give you the bio media you need to get that tank cycled and deal with the turtle waste.

[Synthogy]

Okay so I've put together a list of what to purchase, please let me know if I am missing something or what I can add on. Also if you know something that works better than anything or the best product of each that you know please tell me as well and if it's everything I will need in order to keep my water clean, fog free, smell free, and long lasting.

1. Fluval FX5 Filter

2. Seachem Purigen ( Not exactly sure how much of this stuff I should buy in terms of mL based on how much I'll need to last me about 6 months ) http://www.amazon.com/Seachem-163-Purig ... 048&sr=1-3

3.Seachem Matrix Bio Media ( Not sure exactly how much of this I should buy/will need to use in terms of mL as well ) http://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Matrix-Bi ... 001&sr=1-1

4. Purigen 100ml Filter Bags to put the purigen inside ( Not sure how many of those I should buy ) http://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Bag-Filte ... 956&sr=1-1

5. Blue FX5 Sponge Pads ( Polising Pads ) http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-FX5-Fine-F ... supplies_1

6. Fluval FX5 Fine Filter Pads ( White Round Pads ) http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Fine-Filte ... supplies_3

7. API Water Testers

[steve]

How big is your turtle? Is it a male or female? I'm asking because a female has larger maintenance requirement than a male.