General Care Discussion :: Am I doing ok?

[bradmeisel]

Last question I promise lol....I have gravel inside the tank...is it safe as long as the turtle doesnt try to swallow it or should I just get rid of it?

Get rid of the gravel ASAP. You may not see them eating it but they will and it could kill them.

Second, with such a small tank you do not have to worry so much about all this cycling stuff. Just use water conditioner and change the water frequently (just like you are doing). Also, if you don't clean your filter it will start to not work well. I have read this is a no-no, but I run all my filter thru the dishwasher.

I started with a 10 gal then a 20 gallon and then my 75 gal. Only with my 75 gal do I even consider the beneficial bacteria angle. And all I do is keep the top of the three layers of filter subtrate in the tank water when I clean the filter. Also, I fill the tank up directly from the tap (be careful as to the temp). My turtles have thrived since I got them. Lastly, I would consider geting a separate UVB bulb (5.0 -- 26w). It sounds like you have a lucky turtle to have an owner who cares as much as you do. I wish you and your turtle the best

[str1p]

i would remove the gravel. you can argue that there is gravel in the wild and yatta yatta but in keeping it as a pet, you want to prolong the animals live as much as possible and remove any "possible risks" just my $0.02 O_o

[jay2487]

@brad, they are keeping fish in the tank as well, just doing water changes won't prevent toxic levels of ammonia from killing the fish. Wouldn't you say that he should make it as comfortable as possible on the fish as well as the turtle? Plus if the tank was cycled he wouldn't have to do as many water changes. Plus the turtle would be drinking water high in ammonia which will increase his ammonia output and could damage his organs. I would cycle if your keeping a tank with anything that puts off ammonia waste period. It's to easy to not do it.

[bradmeisel]

I agree if there is a problem with the ammonia. I am not especially worried about feeding fish. Just keep a water test stick handy. With a 10 gallon tank the big problem is keeping it clean. I wouldn't waste too much time and energy on anything else as that is alot of work by itself.

I think changing the water often is the most important thing you can do to maintain your tank. With a 10 gallon tank water changes need to be done very frequently. If you don't rinse and clean your filter the water change will be much less effective in keeping your tank clean.

If he kept some of the old water on the side when he did a complete water change would that keep enough bacteria to make a difference? Maybe he should consider that.

[jay2487]

The water doesn't hold but the bacterias waste gases mostly, it is not a good way to cycle. He could however clean the filter as much as he wants as long as he doesn't completely drain and clean the substrate and decor as a lot of bacteria live on them and would easily keep the tank from recycling. My major quarrel with cleaning the filter is that he has city water so I wanted to make sure he doesn't clean with that. Just tap it out and rinse it in old tank water is the best way to clean. I haven't replaced a filter in a long time but I do have to lightly clean one every once in a while due to it restricting flow.

[bradmeisel]

I use city water in queens, NY. I think you are right and it would be better in the long run to clean the filter substrate with tank water and then the bacteria would live.

[wbedoya]

Remember my tank is very new so the last thing I'm worried about right now is a dirty filter since thats new as well....I'm gonna change the water right now but before I do it I wanna make sure I do it correctly..So these are the steps I will take so please let me know if I'm correct...Ok so I remove 70% of the water....can I leave the fish and turtle inside the tank while I change the water? After I take out the old water but before I add the new water add a dose of that conditioner in tank, then pour the new water and That would be it for today correct?

[bradmeisel]

Yes, you can leave the fish and turtles in the tank. Just be careful to check the incoming waters temp because when you add water from the tap it can be very hot or cold (i've done both).

Add the water and then add the conditioner. I add half the water then half the condititoner then the other half and half.

[wbedoya]

Hey Guys...a little update on my turtle aquarium....Well I finally got my heater and its amazing....the water temperature is currently at 80 degrees and before I installed it earlier today it was around 71 72 degrees which wasnt so bad either but now i dont have to heat the house so much to keep the tank warm lol.....its a bit cold too, its around 52 outside (I keep my tank inside)....I also got an angel fish which I'm very happy about as well....It makes the tank look so much better lol.....Ok the negative stuff is I finally bought a uvb light (have a heat lamp already) and used it in a clamp but used it for one day only cause on the second day it wouldnt turn on....I exchanged the clamp and tried the light again and it started working again but exactly after one day it wouldnt work....whats goin on here? is there a special clamp I should get for a fluorescent bulb that generates uvb?

[jay2487]

That sounds like the bulb may be getting hot or the clamp lamp has some kind of safety that shuts it off when it gets to hot. YOu must have got a good UVB if thats true because mine hardly puts off any heat. I have to use two different lamps. May try a different lamp or return the bulb for a new one. You could turn that heater down a little too.

Also when adding the conditioner, I always add it all right after I drain before I refill the tank. I'm sure it works either way but the bottle says it instantly conditions and I worry that the chlorine can also instantly kill plus you know it's well mixed when you pour 10 gallons on top of it. I'm sure it doesn't really matter and Brads half and half method probably work fine. Another way to be completely safe would be unplug the filter until the tank is refilled and conditioned that way no unconditioned water ever gets to sit in the filter box. I have no idea if it really matters though but just to be safe. I keep about 30 fish with my turtles so I worry about water quality more than most on here as turtles aren't near as sensitive.

[wbedoya]

Well remember I told you I was gonna get a powersun? well Instead I decided to go with 2 bulbs....The heat/UVA Bulb has been doing its job, however, the UVB bulb which I purchased a few days ago worked fine on the clamp for 1 day and like I said, I returned the clamp and the same thing happened the following day with a second clamp which was the same clamp really ....One thing I didnt mention that could possibly be the problem is that the clamp says for "incandescent bulbs"....maybe it doesnt support UVB bulbs...another thing I didnt mention is that right after the UVB bulb would stop working, I tried the UVA bulb on the clamp and it would work fine...I'm guessing its a compatibility problem....By the way The UVB bulb is a repti glo 10.0....I guess before I try anything else I should try the repti glo 5.0....What do you think?

[jay2487]

I have a reptiglo 5.0 26w, I have it in the cheapest clamp lamp lowes had and it has never turned off. It has to be a bulb defect. I would return the bulb and try to get another one. Otherwise we have the same setup, a UVA/heat bulb and a second just UVB so I think it should do fine. There are UVB bulbs that are hot enough to use for basking as well but that 5.0 26w is not it.

[bradmeisel]

I mirror what Jay said. It is most probrably the bulb. I also have the cheapest light clamp with a reptiglo 5.0 - 26w. I used a 13 w for a year and then found out it really wasn't doing anything, so be sure you have the 26w and I heard the 10.0 is too strong for your turtles eyes so go with the 5.0.

[Zeusy]

I agree it would be best to save money for the biggest tank you can keep in your home possible, nuff said.