Habitat - Indoor :: New tank setup, can someone help?

[yan]

Hi, I’m recently setting up a new tank for my 17cm long RES. Wonder if someone can give me some advice? The tank size is 90cm x 27 cm x 38 cm high, water level is 15 cm. The filter is a Tetra Expower 60. I’m beginning to worry that the filter might not be strong enough for a turtle that size. Debris still remains at the bottom, or are those supposed to be cleaned manually. This is the first time I use a filter, I got a feeling that it should be able to clean everything out like a vacuum cleaner. The worse thing is, I got new tank syndrome, would stuff like Reptisafe help to speed up the cycling process? My turtle is sick at the moment, should I still put her in the new tank or should I keep her in the old one? Hope someone can help, thanks!

[Nettle]

A rule of thumb for tank size is 15 liters of tank per 1 cm of shell (10 gallons per inch). Your tank is only 92 liters (24 gallons), which is entirely too small for your turtle. You should have a 255 liter (70 gallon) tank. ((17cm = about 7 in))

New tank syndrome can be aided by Cycle or Reptisafe, but it usually resolves itself in a few days.

Do you have a good basking area with heat and UVB bulbs with a temperature around 32C (90F)? What's the water temp? It should be around 24C (75F) degrees.

How is she sick?

[yan]

I do have a basking area, but still under construction. The guy in the shop told me to use a 60w spotlight over the tank. He also told me that the new tank syndrome is gonna take more than a month to clear, which really worries me. He also told me not to change the water, which I doubted!
She has some kind of infection on her skin and lost her appetite. She is under antibotic (Baytril) treatment at the moment.

[mat012]

The filter will not clean everything. You will still need to net out some debris on occasion and use the vacuum (syphon). There is a thread called tank maintenance survey that lets you know how often others clean their filters/tanks etc. It might help.

Repitsafe is a water conditioner, right? I think you are thinking about Turtle clean. I believe these are similar to bacteria boosts found in the aquarium section of the pet store like Cycle. I have used them with good results and other seem to like them as well.

I think you could put her in the new tank, but get a test kit and test for ammonia. If it is too high do at least a partial water change. Dont clean or change your bio media and you should be ok. Hope she feels better soon.

[marisa]

If you're going to test the water, test also for nitrite and nitrate. If your nitrate level is high, you can bring it down with a partial water change.

[yan]

I took her to the vet again today, he said she's ok now, and can be off medication. I think I can place her in the new tank in a couple of days.
Thanks for your advice guys!