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hi,
i've recently started having a algae problem in my turtle's tank,
i have about 6 or so inches of water in her tank with a few slabs of sandstone for her basking spot, i never had a problem with algae until i placed both my uvb bulb, and heat bulb in the same area so i know the algae is just going crazy now with all the light. is there something i could purchase, some type of water additive that can eliminate the algae growth?

Hey, there are a few things that you could do to conquer algae. One way is with floating plants with roots, these will help to absorb the nutrience that algae needs to survive.

Also introducing air into the tank can help because the nutrience clings to air. But some turtles dont like air, just so you know.

Also i'm worried, 6" of water is a little low for an aquatic turtle. How big is yours?

i've had her for about a month, she's about a inch and a half from the top of her head to the end of her tail.

how bout from tip of shell to tip of shell, dont count the curve. RES's need about 10 gal per shell inch. What's your complete setup currently? lighting, temps, heater, basking area?

okay, i'll have to add more water, but i have a 20 gallon long tank, submersible heater i keep it at about 78 degrees, uvb bulb, heat bulb, water filter & for her basking spot its a few sandstone slabs piled up that she swims on to.

do you have any reccomendations for creating a better basking spot, have you ever used the plastic turtle docks?

Is the algae just growing on the rocks or is it turning the water green? If it's just some on the rocks it's not really a problem unless you just want it gone.

it was just growing on the rocks where it is exposed to the lamps, but when i checked a few minutes ago after being at work all afternoon the algae has started to form on the bottom of the tank around the perimiter of the rocks

I've got some on Spot's basking dock and on some of the rocks and decorations in the tank. It rubs off pretty easily but it doesn't bother me and it doesn't bother Spot so I leave it alone. I think the feeder fish eat it - there are some huge minnows in there - real survivors. If it started turning the water green then I'd do something about it.

If your turtle is so small, you can always get a few snails to help eliminate some of the algae.

Other than that, all you can do is just get one of those 2-piece magnetic cleaners (one piece on the inside of tank, other piece on the outside, & you can move it around to scrape the inside of the tank without getting your hands wet).

My turtle dock, the submirged end is covered in algae, but the good looking green kind, if the brown takes over, then i'll clean it up... As for the snails, who knows how many i'll find today when i go home.

okay maybe i will pick up some snails, what kind or size should i get?
will the turtle try and eat them?

The turtle will eat snails. Maybe not all at once. The snails are good for him - they contain calcium. However, a word of warning about snails. Apparently they multiply like rabbits. Some people have reported being overrun with snails. If your turtle can eat them fast enough to control their population then you'll be fine.

okay thanks,
just a couple more questions.
how many do you recommend i get?
what should i do if they do multiply like crazy?

Someone with snail experience - can you respond?

No experience here, but your assessment is correct with what others have posted. It does also depend on the species of snail (re: size, reproduction)