Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: New owner of a RES. Need help please

[kiq1112]

Hello, my name is Kristiina (from Estonia) and almost a week ago i got by surprise a new family member. Her name is Stella and she´s 4 years old. I´ve read a lot abot RES´s, but still i have many questions. My tank is 145 liters, i know it´s not a lot, next month, she will have a bigger one, but i also got a filter (500 liters/hour). I think it´s not enough, because the water is every day very dirty, i have to clean the all the time (once a day). I change out about 30 % of water, but it´s still dirty. Also the faeces are everywhere. I don´t feed her in the same tank, i have a separate one. I´m really concerned about her health. I just don´t know what do do anymore. Maybe someone can share experience. Also i wanted to know how often should i feed her? Once every day or 4-5 times per week? And i read once, that one owner cleans her RES, how ? Thank you

[steve]

How much water is in the tank? What type of filter... does it go inside the tank or below it? Do you know when she poops? Is it soon after she eats? You can feed her everyday, though it greatly depends on what and how much. What's her diet like?

Welcome to the site!

[penelope]

Welcome!
After you feed her, you can leave her there for a little while and see if she poops and then put her back in the tank.
If the filter is one one end of the tank, you can try moving it closer to the middle, along the back, maybe that will get the water moving more. You can also keep a net handy and scoop up the poop as soon as you see it. Check the media in the filter regulary to make sure it isn't clogged, just rinse I with water. No need to change it every day.
Do you have anything on the bottom of the tank? Sometime it makes it harder to keep the tank clean.
There are just so many things, it is hard to say where to start. I think the filter is the first thing to check.