General Care Discussion :: Tank cleaning/water changes

[chrisinva]

How often do you guys do a full tank cleaning??

What is involved in the tank cleaning?? I have been carrying my 10 gallon to the bath tub to rinse it out and wash the stuff off.....As the tanks get begger this won't be possible

How often do you just change the water??

I am working on getting my 30 gallon set up done (with new canister filter) and was wondering how often I will need to do these things

[mistersampo]

How often do you guys do a full tank cleaning??

What is involved in the tank cleaning?? I have been carrying my 10 gallon to the bath tub to rinse it out and wash the stuff off.....As the tanks get begger this won't be possible

How often do you just change the water??

I am working on getting my 30 gallon set up done (with new canister filter) and was wondering how often I will need to do these things

I have one of those 5 gallon water jugs. I use one of those aquarium vacuum hoses you get at the pet store to siphon water into the jug. I then carry the 5 gallon jug to the bathtub and dump it out. The jug also serves as a great way to refill the tank as well. I find I have to change no less than a fourth of the water every week. Some weeks, depending on several factors, I have to change it more often. I know for a fact, however, that my filter is not powerful enough. I probably completely clean the tank about 6 times a year, pulling out all the rocks and scrubbing them with a brush and some soap. CLR the tank to get the calcium deposits out. Sometimes I have to use CLR and a razor blade to scrape off the calcium. It's pretty ridiculous.

[pajamatree]

I have to clean my tank once a week. It's a hassle. I scrub the tank and the plants and the filters. The whole process takes about two hours.

[chrisinva]

I have to clean my tank once a week. It's a hassle. I scrub the tank and the plants and the filters. The whole process takes about two hours.

Please tell me about your setup and why you clean once a week...I also clean once a week because my tank is 10 gallons with 2 turtles

[spaceapple]

I also have a 10 gallon with turtles and clean it once a week. I just use my siphon close enough to the sand to suck up gunk, but not sand. I usually have to take out my driftwood and clean it with a toothbrush (it's still fairly new). I also wipe the inside of the tank with a paper towel. I give the filter and plants a good cleaning only about once or twice a month.

[pajamatree]

I have a 10 gallon tank with two turtles. I have an old filter that is more ideal for fish than it is for turtles but with the expenses of food and whatnot, I haven't been able to buy a new filtration system. I'm not sure why the water gets so murky so quickly, I've been thinking it's because of the uneaten food that's left in the tank after feeding.

I've been having this problem since I bought my turtles and I have no idea what to do, either.

[mat012]

I have a 70 gallon filled with about 55-60 gallons. I use a python and change about 30-50% of the water and rinse out filter pads about every two weeks. I top off the water with a gallon or two during the week and every week I wash out the prefilter (on the intake tube) and stir the sand a bit. After that I usually run a magnum hang on the tank filter to filter out any gunk that gets stirred up. It is pretty effective, not superb, but quite good at polishing the water.

I have never done a full clean out, although I used to when I was using a smaller 10 gallon tank. Then I would clean out the tank almost weekly and completely change the water. I had a small filter then and it needed it.

[chrisinva]

What is a python?? I don't know much about filters and stuff

[Fuzzy Hamster]

I also use a python for water changes. Greatest thing since sliced bread for cleaning detritus on the bottom of the tank and then adding adding fresh water. Mostly they are used by fish people since they do a great job of vacuuming gravel in fish tanks, but also work just as well for sand and in between river rocks (using just the hose with out the big tube).
http://www.pythonproducts.com/aqprod.html

[chrisinva]

I also use a python for water changes. Greatest thing since sliced bread for cleaning detritus on the bottom of the tank and then adding adding fresh water. Mostly they are used by fish people since they do a great job of vacuuming gravel in fish tanks, but also work just as well for sand and in between river rocks (using just the hose with out the big tube).

That is really awesome...I'm not sure exactly how it works but I want one

[Bascomb]

Chris-va, mis-po, pa-tree -- From what I can gather from your post is that the tanks are too small and the filtration is not adequate. You should have at least 10 gallons per inch of turtle and the water exchange should be at least 5 times the volume of water in the tank. New tank syndrome is most probably the cause of the cloudiness. keep the biological filtration in tact and do 50 percent changes until it clears up. I have several tanks and I only clean them out every 6 months. They stay clear after the initial start up. Smaller tanks are more difficult to get cleared up. The more water and the more filtration is the secret. b.

[chrisinva]

Chris-va, mis-po, pa-tree -- From what I can gather from your post is that the tanks are too small and the filtration is not adequate. You should have at least 10 gallons per inch of turtle and the water exchange should be at least 5 times the volume of water in the tank. New tank syndrome is most probably the cause of the cloudiness. keep the biological filtration in tact and do 50 percent changes until it clears up. I have several tanks and I only clean them out every 6 months. They stay clear after the initial start up. Smaller tanks are more difficult to get cleared up. The more water and the more filtration is the secret. b.

I have a 30 gallon tank I just bought and am shopping for a Fluval or Rena canister filter on Ebay as I type this

[DebbieJean]

I do a complete water change and tank cleaning every Friday night.

[Bascomb]

Folks -- If you have adequate tank and water with a filter that pumps at least 5 times the volume you should not have to do all that cleaning. The bacteriological filtration will clear up your water. You make 50 per cent water changes after you get started up until it clears up. Almost all tanks cloud up when getting started and it is called '' new tank syndrome'.' You have to get your bacteria going and it will clear up. I have posted an explanation of how that process works in the past. b;

[SpotsMama]

What Bascomb says is correct - the better your tank and equipment are, the less effort you have to spend cleaning. It's one place where buying quality really matters.

most of us, however, have to gradually upgrade our setups over time until we reach an ideal level. I'd highly recommend getting a good water quality test kit (a good one is the Freshwater Master Test Kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) to guide you in how often to change water and clean the filter. Some of the really bad stuff that accumulates in an aquarium is invisible (ammonia). You can tell if you have ammonia (or other bad chemicals) using the test kit. In addition to appearance and smell, the test kit will help you to determine when you're due for a cleaning.