Habitat - Indoor :: i need a new way to clean my tank ,please help

[mike&nikki]

there has got be be an easier way to clean my tank. i have a forty gallon tank with large and heavy river rocks. my tank gets cloudy in no time at all so i empty it out with a five gallon bucket pour all the water out side witch is kinda a far walk while carrying five gallons of water seven times (i dont fill it to the top) then take out all the large rocks scrub them down take the tank outside wash it out with the hose then carry it in after its all cleaned up the i have to clean the filters i have a whisper40 and a whisper60 runnin at all times then i have to fill it up again seven more times get all the filters running lights back in place and get all the rocks back in there so that the rocks cant fall and hurt them. i am doing all this like once or twice a month. is there an easier way? how do you guys clean your tanks?should my tank be getting this dirty this fast. it takes me like two hours or more to clean this tank and believe me it gets old fast even tho i love my res please help me to find a better way of doing this

[killrmack]

Well more filtration always helps add a sponge filter inexpensive, if you dont already feed outside the tank give that a try, and how often do you do these cleanings

[megcornell]

First, for the water changes, buy a python. It's a long suction hose that can both empty and refill the tank by hooking up to a sink nozzle. They come in 25 and 50 feet depending on how far away the nearest sink is. It's seriously the greatest tool for tank cleaning in the world.
As for why the tank is getting so dirty- one part is that all those rocks trap debris inhibiting the filters abilities to clean. Take most of them out and just leave 2 or 3 for your RES to push around. If you're making the basking area out of rocks- stop. There's a chance they could fall crushing the turtles... you'll be safer (and give more swimming room) if you buy a floating dock. What are the GPH's of your filters? It should be 2-3x the size of the tank. If this isn't the case, you'll need a stronger filter. Finally, what sizes are your turtles? If they're too large for the tank, they're simply producing too much waste for the 40 gallons of water.

[DocShay]

I used to cover the bottom of my tank in river rock, sure it looks nice - but man will that stuff get dirty quick.

I now have a clear bottom, with a few plastic plants and a "fake half log". I need a stronger filter, I only have a filter made for a 70 gallon tank, and thats how big my tank is.

[kgielda]

I just bought a Python tonight. I was tired of the buckets and whatnot. I printed out the ad on petsmart.com and took it to the store. Online the 25 foot kit is $28.99 and in the store it was $39.99!!! They will do a price adjustment from the online ad. I can't wait to use it this weekend.

[industrial_girl_2000]

You will LOVE your python. I have a 90-gallon tank & I use the python to suction out 100% of the water & to refill again. No hauling buckets. EVER. Awesome!!!!

[turboturtle8]

I defiently reccomend the python works VERY well

[mike&nikki]

well i have two filters one that is for a 60 gal and another for 40 gal. i never thought about the bigger rocks collecting so much dirt it makes sense thou. right now my res s are only about 3.5 inches so i will soon need a bigger tank. i do feed them in there tank ill have to try feeding them in another tank to see how that works out. i have a medium size floating dock.i got it after i lost pluto my first res hatchling R.I.P. pluto. it sounds like i really need to get a python. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR POST.