Habitat - Indoor :: How often do you clean your tank?

[therizman1]

Just wondering how often everyone cleans their tank.

[jenaero]

I clean whenever it looks like it needs it. Sometimes a partial change, sometimes 100%. Usually every 2 weeks.

[marisa]

The 20 gallon and 40-gallon tanks I try to change weekly, or at least a 50% water change after a week and a cleaning the following week.

I haven't done a 100% water change in the 110-gallon since I set it up in January. BUT, I do do a 30-50% water change weekly. (And I test for ammonia and nitrite as well as vacuum the rocks).

[soopermum62]

I chose once a month, but it is closer to 6-8 weeks. I have a 150 gallon tank and a 90 gallon tank with pond filters. I add anywhere from 3-8 gallons of water a week to each tank. (depending on how dry the house is)
The last 100% change on the tanks was This past Friday night and I did a nitrate/nitrite and ammonia test on them a couple of days before and I was at zero for all 3.... So I could of gotten away with a partial water change and suck the crud off the bottom of the tanks. But I wanted to get the mineral deposits scrubbed off so I did a 100% change

[Coco]

Sorry if this is posted somewhere but could someone tell me about vacumming the rocks... what type of vaccum to get, how much, etc? Sounds like it would make cleaning so much easier!

[soopermum62]

Get a "Python No Spill Clean and Fill" they are a bit pricey, but well worth the money.. You can also make one from parts and a garden hose.

[therizman1]

I definitely have to agree with soopermum, the Python No-Spill has to be the best invention ever. I can remember when I was younger helping my Mom clean out her fish tank, and having to take buckets of water back and forth, and always spilling some, and always trying to get the syphon to work right. The Python is super simple, you just hook it up to your sink, and then either drain or add water, and when you are done, it drains its own hose. You can get the 50 footer for about $50 at online retailers.

[resowner33]

i would agree with everyone about the python, i recently purchased one and it's amazing how much faster and easier it is when cleaning the tanks than the other syphon hoses i've used over the years and carrying all the buckets back and forth,( really a back saver) i bought mine 2 weeks ago online @ drs fosters and smith for 39.99 plus s&h for the 50 ft one. As for how often i clean the turtle tank, usually once a week, no more than 10 days apart,usually about 30% water change, he/she sure can make a mess, but he/she is well worth all the time and money i expended so far, when i figure out how to post pics, i will post some pics and then everyone here that's been so great about answering my questions can see their knowledge and insight has really helped this baby turtle to thrive and what i think is a really great set-up, minus the "clubhouse", which i'm still researching on how to best get that done

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

Hmmm. for me i just use a regular gravel vaccum. My tank is right next to a sink so i dont have to go that far. i hooked up a system so that i could fill the tank with my sink by using the gravel vaccum and sliping it on the sink.

[Coco]

I know this sounds really dumb but is the vaccum used to vaccum up the crap off the gravel/rocks/bottom of the tank or is it used to take the water completely out or for either?
I expected that I would remove 2/3 of the water and then vaccum up the stuff off the bottom but it sounds like it is used to remove water in large quantities as well. Maybe I just don't get it - thanks for your help!

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

I use mine for both. first i syphin all the crap out of the gravel. then I syphin the water out. well that sounds kinda cunfusin so here i'll try this. I siyphin out the water with it. and while i am syphining out the water i am vaccuming the tank at the same time. Dose that make any sense?

[mitchy04]

errr .... i clean my tank every 3 weeks to 1 month ... 1 turtle in it and when i clean it i take everything out and clean it throuoly.... i use a hand pump to take the water out and i just fill up buckets of water and dump it into the tank ..... wut most of you are using to fill up your tank sounds alot easier cuz it takes me a good 2-3 hours to complete everything

[soopermum62]

I drained, cleaned, filled, rinsed filters, scrubbed mineral deposits,&algae on 2 tanks in 3 hours the other night with the "python"
As I have said before I have a 150 gallon tank(101 gallons of water) AND a 90 gallon tank (75 gallons of water)