litefoot wrote:To me a canister filter is better for a turtle. Most canister's flow rate are equal to or much better than other filter unless comparing undersized type . Its allows for more swimming room and can have more media in some . Also most allows you to use any media setup that you like , not like those pre-made media inserts that cost an arm and a leg. Filters are sold with media for fish not turtles so one must adjust for a turtle . Also a turtle depending on size needs 2-5x's flow rate of fish. What amount of water you have for your turtle not tank size and what size is the turtle ?
Do your homework if you are looking at one some rate them at pump output and some rate at filter circulation (gph) . Also you want at least three trays so you can do mechanical , chemical and biological. One with the largest media area will only help you with the maintenance ! Some sound great but have very small media areas. Don't go to low end think about future upgrades. Use several price trackers once you know what your turtle needs. If you can wait holiday sales are coming up.
My setup is an FX6 of 125 gallons water , which being old school and love having a cycled and maintaining a cycle , it has over 5 gallons of filtration volume . Most all biological with a good amout of course foam as a pre filter for it. Keep's tank cycled always with the proper percentage of water changes every two weeks and filter cleaning once a month . Piggley has some pic's and videos in the photo gallery you can see my water.
litefoot wrote:If you plan to keep what you have up and running as a quarantine tank or over winter your turtle inside , depending on the climate zone . I assume because he's grown much larger that the filter you have can't handle the messy load , maybe experiment with the media instead of a new filter . Sometimes you can get more out of an older filter. Did you see the media thread as suggested in my first post ? Play with what you have to see different results. Something like // first a course pad then a medium pad directly under it at least 1/2" of each if you can fit that in or even little more ) , then some bio media and at the last stage of cleaning use some carbon for any toxin's and about 100 milliliters of purigem for organic removal for your 50 gallon tank. You can get pre-made bags of that purigen for $8 and that size can treat up to 100 gallons water or buy in bulk and place in a media bag . It will last about 4-6 months until it turns black. Do not trash it purigen can easily be regenerated several time's making it so very cheap to use. Will help to give you crystal clear water. This setup along with proper percentage of water change's for your 40 gallons of water may help. If it gives you what you want will save you some money on a new filter. Above is just one setup of many // experiment and may find a setup that works even better for your setup. Being all setups are a little different and you have a heavy bio load for that amount of water with the size turtle you have may tweak above some for a better media setup.
Then if the "no name brand" still can't help with different media setup , then go with a better filter. A lot depends if you will keep tank after he goes to the pond for how much of an filter upgrade you truly need now if any ?
If you use carbon you do not need any water conditioner's. I don't use any. They say safe for reptiles but not all are safe for all types of reptiles just read some of the "MSDS's" on conditioner's.
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