Habitat - Indoor :: is it my filter?? help

[fungke]

Hello,
I have a 40 gallon tank filled 3/4 and was using a Whisper 10 filter. I was happy with it except for the fact that I would need to change the water and wash the tank every two weeks. I have been saving up for a better filter and when it came time to buy, rather than buying the recommended ones on the forum which are expensive, I was sold by the sales person on getting something smaller. I wound up getting an EHEIM 2215 which he said is more than enough.

it has been two weeks with the new filter and although the water is not as dirty, it is still getting there. I was hoping to get a filter where I don't have to change the water as often. 1/month is reasonable. the salesperson said getting this eheim 2215 would mean that i would only have to change the water every three months.

am i getting wrong info?
how often do you all change water?

[fungke]

i have the eheim 2215 and the fluval 2 plus. working together.
if i tried to exchange for a different more powerful filter, would it help make my cleanings less regular?

my turtle eats in the tank and there are 4 small rosy red minnows that share it.

[grey goose]

That filter, with the 2 plus should be OK for that size tank.
You will have to do partial water changes (about 20-25%) weekly until the bio builds up in the filter. Check the ammonia levels frequently till then.
Then do partial water changes every 2 weeks, and clean the filters once a month. Don't forget to use water conditioner.....

[fungke]

so you mean to tell me that the water will never stay clear?
furthermore, if i do water changes? how much water conditioner do i use then? if i get the chance to replace my curernt filter with something "better" would i notice a difference?

[megcornell]

The better the filter, the cleaner the water basically.
But it also depends on how large the turtle is in relation to the tank size. If you have a 6 or 7 inch turtle in a 40 gallon tank, that's more stress in terms of waste than having a 3 or 4 inch turtle. If the tank is too small for the turtle you're going to have to do more frequent water changes regardless of the filter present.
As for conditioner, follow the directions on the bottle as different brands are at different concentrations, so each requires a different dose.
I believe greygoose's post said your filters should be good for a 40 gallon tank (again, so long as the turtle inside it isn't TOO large), but there's a period of time with new filters when the beneficial bacteria builds up, during which you have to monitor things more closely... but afterwards you can get by with partial water changes as needed and cleaning out the filter pads 1x/month.

[grey goose]

Eventually, the water will clear up, once the new filter "cycles". It usually takes 4-6 weeks. You MUST use water conditioner to remove the chlorine from tap water. If you don't, the chlorine will destroy the beneficial bacteria in the filter. You can get it at any pet store. Follow the directions on the bottle and don't over do it.
40 gallons is a relatively small tank for a turtle. Plus turts are ALOT more messy than fish. Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to keeping the turtle healthy. No filter (or tank) is maintenance free.

Look here:
http://www.redearslider.com/index_water_quality.html