Habitat - Indoor :: is there a "rule of thumb" for how often to clean a tank

[tjurhs]

Hi guys,

I know there are a bunch of variables, like the size of the tank, how many turtles, the size/type of filter, water changes or not, etc.

but is there some sort of "rule of thumb" that can tell me how often I should be cleaning Thor's tank.

Thor is a 2.5inch YBS. her home is a 20gal long filled 2/3 of the way. it has a river rock bottom. she has a 3 element MarineLand filter rated for 60gal tank.

right now I'm planning to run a Python No Spill System once a month and replace which of the filter's elements unknown time frame, maybe every three months?

[Akikta]

I do a large cleaning of my turtles' tank every month. I've used the Marineland Emperor for a time and I only had to switch out the actual filter cartridges. Is it a hang on tank or a canister?

[ljapa]

Get a nitrate test kit like http://www.apifishcare.com/product.php? ... ads&id=591

The main reason for water changes is to reduce the nitrate level. I aim for below 20 ppm, but I have fish and shrimp in a connected aquarium. If it's just the turtle, consider 40 ppm the highest level you will tolerate and aim for less.

I suspect you'll find that once per month may be too long, but I also suspect you'll find that the python isn't that difficult to use.

I aim for weekly water changes, but it sometimes goes longer. I typically do it on weekends, but I. Issued this past weekend, so I'm pushing a week and a half.

I have a canister filter that I try to clean monthly. Sometimes it is every two months. I think the water changes are more important than the filter cleanings in keeping my nitrate level down.

I do roughly a 25% water change weekly. I'll scrub the algae off the glass about every two or three weeks, depending on how bad it is.

But, you really want to test for nitrate and let that help guide your water changes.

EDIT: As to filter element replacement, my canister filter has sponges, biomedia and carbon. I replace the carbon when I clean my filter. In the year and a half I've had it, I've replaced half of my sponges. In retrospect, I don't think I needed to. Instead, I'd replace them when they are beginning to break down. I've never replaced my biomedia, just rinsed it.

[tjurhs]

with just one 2.5inch turtle in the tank (no fish, no plants, although I do feed those to him) are there any other water chemicals I should be testing for?

[ljapa]

You can get a comprehensive test kit that will test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

When your tank is cycling, you will have ammonia and nitrite. Once that is complete, you will only see nitrate.

Some of your turtle's waste contains substances that turn into ammonia, which is very dangerous. Bacteria convert that to nitrite, which is dangerous but less so than ammonia. Still other bacteria convert the nitrite to nitrate, which you remove via water changes.

Once a tank is cycled, has both types of beneficial bacteria, assuming you have enough biomedia and surface area, you should not need to worry about ammonia or nitrites. Ph is not likely to be an issue for a turtle at the ranges you will encounter.

[L.West]

I do my 55 gallon turtle tank with 2 tiny hatchlings in it every weekend. I drain probably 60% of the water while I syphon out the bottom gunk (if any) with the python. I sorta follow the same routine as I do with my fish tanks.

[tjurhs]

You can get a comprehensive test kit that will test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

I decided to get the full kit, I can also use it to test the chemistry of my aquatic plant tank.

When your tank is cycling, you will have ammonia and nitrite.

what do you mean by "cycling" ?

btw, Thor's tank is at 5ppm, I think he's good

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Todd

[ljapa]

Cycling is the term for when both kinds of beneficial bacteria are established and your tank can fully cycle ammonia into nitrates at the rate ammonia is added.

Google "aquarium cycle" for tins of info.

[tjurhs]

what are good numbers for the other three tests:

ammonia
nitrite
ph

[tjurhs]

Cycling is the term for when both kinds of beneficial bacteria are established and your tank can fully cycle ammonia into nitrates at the rate ammonia is added.

but if I just keep up with water changes and tank cleaning, then do I need to worry about "cycling"

[dumbork14]

what are good numbers for the other three tests:

ammonia
nitrite
ph

ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 0 is the ideal, it can be achieved through water change (may be daily, weekly, monthly, up to you)
ph - anything between 7.5 - 8.5? My ph readings are 8.2.

You need to cycle the water first, otherwise it may lead to deadly complications (blood poisoning, internal organ failures). water that are not cycled properly may also lead to a dirty/smelly tank, even Respiratory Infection, am I right, steve?

[tjurhs]

ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 0 is the ideal, it can be achieved through water change (may be daily, weekly, monthly, up to you)
ph - anything between 7.5 - 8.5? My ph readings are 8.2.

these doesn't sound realistic, sure I can understand aiming for 0, but what are realistic limits that the 4 chemicals need to stay under?

You need to cycle the water first"

what does this mean?

for 2+ years my RES lived in a 10gal tank adding spring or creek water when it was low and getting complete tank cleanings every 3 or 4 months. Now I've taken several big steps to greatly improve his living space, but things seem to have gotten way more complicate???

What I'd like to do is learn when one of these four chemicals approaches a certain level, then do a water change and/or cleaning; otherwise, my plan is to maintain a certain water level in the tank by adding spring water as needed, and weekly check the chemical levels and change out 1/2 the water as need (in accordance with the chemical levels) and/or clean it once a month.

it doesn't need to be more complicated that this does it?

[ljapa]

Once a tank is cycled, your ammonia and nitrite should be zero. That means that as waste form turtle excretion or rotting food is added, the bacterial colony is able to keep up with its ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate cycle.

A reading of zero on nitrate in a turtle tank is almost impossible, and I've read some stuff that implies an overly low nitrate reading can lead to blue green algae, which is actually a bacteria and not good to have in a tank.

Nitrates one of those things where high numbers are bad, and medium numbers probably aren't good. But at non-high levels, you are talking not good like a carcinogen. There will be long term health affects, but nothing short term.

So, what do you aim for? I'd aim to keep it below 20 ppm. Definitely no more than 40. Lower is better, although too low may lead to blue green algae issues. My setup is unusual and my nitrates are between 5 and 10, but that's because I have an overflow in the turtle tank that drains into a refugium where I have plants and shrimp. Plants remove nitrate, but there's no way I could keep plants with my turtle.

Before I put in the refugium, my levels were closer to 10 - 20. Though, there were times it went above that.

Since your tank is already established, if you have ammonia or nitrite readings, you may not have enough biofiltration.

More than likely, you're fine on those two and just have to worry about nitrates.

Sometimes, you can do something to harm your beneficial bacteria: switch out ceramic media, wash your filter material in tap water, or experience a power outage, for example.

In that case, you may see ammonia or nitrites climb. Usually, that won't last too long and is called a mini-cycle.

My tank took almost two months to cycle. I once cleaned gunk on the inside of my plastic filter with tap water (I carefully kept the sponges and biomedia soaking in tank water). That caused a two day mini-cycle.

The main point is pick a nitrate level and use that as a guide for water changes. Like I said, I'd aim for a conservative 20 at a minimum. If you're seeing any ammonia or nitrite, let us know the reading and your setup. We'll get it figured out.

[Rickiew04]

This is some good info. If rinsing Bio-media with tap water is bad, what is the best way to clean it?

[tjurhs]

ljapa, thank you so much for your help! That sounds like a great plan to me, it makes excellent common sense, and is a "rule of thumb" - perfect!

thanks again, Todd