General Care Discussion :: Tank Care

[Winterchick]

My boyfriend and myself have had our 2 baby RES for almost 4 months now. We take some of the water out, and put new water in once a week. Twice a month, we take the filter, heater, floating rock,fake plant (to help them hide on the rock), and the tank and we clean them. We keep the turtles in a separate container while we do this, and the process is usually an hour or a little more.

My question is, is this ok? I see some people on here saying that you shouldn't clean the filter unless it gets plugged, and not to clean everything at once because of certain bacteria growing. I am uncertain of what we are supposed to do. The last thing we want to do is hurt them, but we think by cleaning everything, it gives the turtles a better life. We notice when everything gets really dirty, including the water, they are more sluggish, and as soon as we clean everything, and they get put back in the tank, they are swimming and seem more active.

So are we hurting them by cleaning everything at once, or are we doing the right thing?

[Kemul]

Cleaning the whole setup twice a month is a big chore. What's the size of your
tank and what filter do you use? What's inside the filter (what media do you use)?

The important part is filter. It's alright to clean everything else. As for the filter,
you shouldn't clean the biomedia using anything else other than tank water.
Biomedia is the place where beneficial bacteria lives. The bacteria run nitrogen
cycle in a tank, in other words keeping the water healthy for creatures to live in.

Search this forum or the internet for "nitrogen cycle" and you can learn more
about it.

[bradmeisel]

the cleaner the water looks the better. If you could change all the water every day it would be best. if you do not clean the impeller and area it sits the water gets cloudy and dirtier fast. it sounds like you are right on track. Until you get a large tank 55gal or over don't concern yourself with all this beneficial bacteria/ tank cycling stuff.

When the water is crystal clear, I swear I think I see my turtles smiling and defintiely more active. It just a bit of a chore. When they are little, (pre 18 months) cleaning everything (i use dishwash liquid rinsed very well) at least once a month is great. I find if you don't clean everything, it just gets dirty alot faster for the same work almost. Emptying the whole tank and cleaning it (in the bath tub or big sink) does alot towards keeping it clean. With a small tank, it is very difficult to keep up with the dirt that accumulates.

I agree with Kemul that cleaning the media (sponge or whatever) in tank water is beneficial but at their age you should prolly replace the media completely espaecially because I assume it is not a large filter.

Good luck with your new lifelong friends. They have been alot of fun and a little more work to have for the last 2+ years.