General Care Discussion :: Cleaning

[sdrakeley]

I just adopted two RES from a woman who allowed her 10 year old daughter to care for them. I'm having trouble finding a siphon cleaner that will work without leaking, sucking everything but the dirt out, or simply doesn't suck. Do you have any suggestions?

[Bascomb]

Siphoning out a tank is fairly simple. I don't know how to tell you how one works. The weight of the water causes a suction -- less pressure-- and the water flows out.

[sdrakeley]

I have bought a few siphons but do not like the way they have worked. Is there a brand or battery operated one that has been known to work better? I've also read on here that not having any rocks or gravel on the bottom of the tank might help?

[Bumby's Mom]

Get a Python siphon. It attaches to your sink faucet and uses the pressure from the faucet to suck out the water. Only downfall is that it uses a lot of water. And gravel is bad for turtles, they will eat it and get impacted and can possibly die. Get rocks that are bigger than their head and you will be fine. The Python does double as a gravel cleaner so if you have a fish tank with just fish you can use the Python to clean their tank as well.

[SpotsMama]

A Python is a first rate piece of equipment. I have one with a long tube (25'?). To drain the tank, I use it like a regular syphon and drain water out the back door into the back yard. To refill the tank I hook it up to the kitchen faucet.

For day to day cleaning I use a battery powered gavel vac called Mr. Cleaner. I like it a lot. Here's a link for it:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=12753

For picking up the larger "stuff", I use a little fish net.

And on the gravel, there are two good reasons not to have it in a turtle tank. One is that it's very dangerous - turtles eat it and it stops them up. Second, it's hard to keep clean. A tank bottom with just a few river rocks and decorations is much easier to keep clean.

[industrial_girl_2000]

The python is the best siphon I have ever seen. No batteries or electricity needed....just hook up to a faucet & go!

[sdrakeley]

Thank you for all of your wonderful input. How often are you all siphoning out your tanks? I have noticed that I need to to do it at least 2x/week in order to keep the smell away. I don't really notice a smell but my husband does, and he said we need to siphon and clean the tank at least a few times a week. How often are you all cleaning and siphoning?

[steve]

The larger the tank (and the more water) and the better filter will greatly reduce water changes. I do a full cleaning about once a month, and either a full or partial water change every two weeks. This is for about 75 gallons of water and an XP3 filter.

[snazzy]

for the smell - are you using activated carbon? I had a smell and then started using that and it was gone very quickly. Still have an algae problem though.

[Tenodera]

sucking everything but the dirt out

You have dirt in your RES tank? If so, you should take it out. Dirt is dirty, and if you are talking about the small rocks, turtles can eat it, choke on it, and die from it being clogged in their intestines.

Just thought I should tell you.

[1981camaroz28]

The best thing to get water in and out you can buy at the pet store just ask them for the hose that connects to your sink you turn the knob straight it lets water in the other way it takes the water out. I have 6 tanks at home and it's that best thing ever created if you need a picture PM me I can post it for you to print out