General Care Discussion :: Using tap water

[MLepelletier]

I was wondering I have had my turtle for about a year now and have always used spring water...

I will be going to a 55 gal tank which will be expensive to fill (My wife and I do a complete water change every other week )

I used tap water yestuday to fill up the 39 Gal tank and every time they went under water they were shutting there eyes alot

So I pulled them out and put them back into there temporay tank 10 Gal

How do I find out if the tap water is not good for the or how do I treat it?

Also where do I find that questionare to fill out about the turtles?

[jenaero]

Not sure what questionnaire you're talking about so I'll answer your other question.

Sounds like the chlorine in the water was bothering them. I've always used tap water but I use ReptiSafe water conditioner. Basically you can use the same stuff you'd use to condition the water for fish.

[fric]

I've always let the water sit over night before putting everyone back in (the turts and fish) the few times I've drained and cleaned my pond. When I change my beta's water I use tap water that has been sitting in a gal milk jug under the kitchen sink. I've never used any of these water treatments in either case nor have I had any casualties or turtles with sore eyes. My first beta lived 4 years ... fric

[cam722]

First, why are you completely cleaning your tank every other week, is it that dirty? I think you're talking about the questionaire regarding urgent care. It's a stickie under the topic Urgent Care.. Just click here... [url=http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2142]Urgent Care Questionaire
[/url]

[marisa]

Letting the water sit for 24 hours will let the chlorine escape, but not chloramine (which is increasingly being used to treat water in some areas). A water dechlorinator that eleminates both chlorine and chloramine would take care of the problem, assuming that's it. Reptisafe is one, there are others (just read the labels).

[MLepelletier]

How big is your turtle?
One is 2in ond is 3in

How long have you had it?
Both about 1 year

What is the water temperature?
75-80

Are you using a water heater?
Yes

How much water is in there?
29 Gal

Are you using a water conditioner?
No

Are you using any filtration?
Yes 50 Gal filter


What is the basking temperature?
?

Is there a basking light?
Yes Heat lamp about 6i inches away

Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on?
Yes, two

Is there a UVB light?
Yes UVB and UVA

What have you been trying to feed it?
I feed about 3 pellets each twice a day

When was the last time your turtle ate?
This morning

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?
29 Gal

Is the tank near a window?
Yes but getting moved now becuase of green alge forming

Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?
Moderate

Have you read the Basic Care section?
Yes

Have you searched the forums for similar situations?
Yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?
No



I guess I'll have to use spring water for now untill I can make a run to a Petsmart ( closest one is 1/2 hour away )

We are changing the water every two weeks becuase at that long it is cloudy enoung that we are unable to see thought it (might be the filter I plan on getting an 100 Gal filter within a week or two)

[steve]

MLepelletier,

Check out Big Al's online. They sell their own general purpose water conditioners. Chlorine/Chloramines are not deadly to RES, but will harm other aquatics (fish, snails, ect) and is a potential skin/eye irritant.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/pro ... t_id=28257

Pick up a filter that can take Biological media (like ceramic rings). An XP3 or an AquaClear 110 can accept this type of media. You will need to use a water conditioner (Dechlorinator) if you want to the filter to be as effective as possible.

[RESCHIU]

First, why are you completely cleaning your tank every other week, is it that dirty? I think you're talking about the questionaire regarding urgent care. It's a stickie under the topic Urgent Care.. Just click here... [url=http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2142]Urgent Care Questionaire
[/url]

Is changing water often bad for the turtle? , I currently have about 5 gallon of water inside 10 gallon tank, I changed one gallon of water everyday and do big clean every week, is this too much? I just think that since there are only 5 gallon of water, I should do cleaning more often since it became dirty faster as well...(I had two filters by the way)....

[cam722]

Is changing water often bad for the turtle? , I currently have about 5 gallon of water inside 10 gallon tank, I changed one gallon of water everyday and do big clean every week, is this too much? I just think that since there are only 5 gallon of water, I should do cleaning more often since it became dirty faster as well...(I had two filters by the way)....

Under your circumstances with a 10 gallon I don't think it's excessive, just a lot of work. I just found it odd that with a 55 gallon that it would have to be changed that often. Which was answered by the fact that there is more than likely a filtration problem.

See, one benefit to having a larger tank (an appropriate size for your turtle or larger) is that you really don't have to clean it as often, and that goes with having the appropriate filter for the size tank too.. sure helps keep down the work load.

[marisa]

With the size tank (10 gallons) and amount of water you have in it (5 gallons), I don't think you're cleaning too much. The smaller the tank and the less water you have, the more you have to clean (and you're limited in the type of filter you can use as well).

[MLepelletier]

Well that did it, I did a complete water change yestuday and now they are back to normal.

Although the first thing Spot did (thats the smaller on the other one is named Fatty) was go right to sleep in his soap dish. Its almost like the closinging of the eyes was more of a "I'm just tired" thing.

Oh well they are back to there normal swimming and begging this morning

[khobbs]

I have a 29 gallon and I only have to change my water like every 3 weeks or so, but I probably add fresh water to it every other day because it evaporates. I have a 50 gallon filter, but it pumps 200 gallons an hour. I just got it and it seems to be doing pretty well. It's a Marineland Penguin 200. Maybe you could try that.

[knite]

My turtles have gotten used to tap water. I've always used with none of those water conditioners and junk. I believe that your turtles will get used to the tap water in time. Of course, I don't change the water in my tank everyday but maybe 1/4 of it every week so they are not at all exposed to tap water everyday.

[lazixixi]

I use tap water for my turtle in a 20gal, and he's never had problems.

[jeggy]

i use tap water in my 65 gal. no conditoner. no leaving it out overnight either. straight from tap.