Habitat - Indoor :: at a loss-Habitat issues-set up and what to do

[hartelje]

Hello,
I have been going through your Forum for the past few months and trying different things but at this point I am still at a loss:

I have 2 sliders about 6" each in a 100 gallon take with a fluval 406. In my old apartment I had the same set up and never really had problems- I moved about 8 months ago and had pretty much issues ever sense. For the first 3 months things were great- I did weekly small water changes, rinsed out the filter, adding some water conditioner stuff that would help break down waste- and it was fine. About 6 months ago it turned and now it is ALWAYS cloudy and murky. I get about 6 days out of the tank before it "turns" as I call it meaning it starts to smell and smells out my apartment. And most recently (I have a feeling it has to do with the summer sun-and the fact that with the weather our AC is on one day and off the other) but algae has started to grow on the side that faces the window. and I have a heater inside that stays between 75-80.
My filter- on the one side there are 4 tall sponges. On the other half on there are 4 containers-all the way on the bottom I have 2 foam pads- about 2 inches tall flat on the 3 sides and egg crate looking on the other, above that I have 2 packages of carbon (finely ground) that fit in the filter, above that i have 2 more carbon packages and 2 polishing pads, and the top container has biomax in it. I have since tried adding additional carbon cubes, I tried the stuff that looks like pillow stuffing- however I found whenever that was in my filter it always sounded like it was somehow sucking in air. I recently bought a package of Purigen which I read really good reviews- It smelled off when I got it but having never used it thought it was normal and put it in my filter, with in 12 hours the water was SUPER cloudy and my house REEKED. About 24 hours after I put it in I took it out- and now I am battling still getting the smell out. I called the company and they told me I must have gotten a bad batch and they are sending me a new one.

What do I need to do?- is having clear water never going to happen? What should I be using in my tank/filter? What should my normal weekly regimen be? Do you recommend Purigen?

Thank you!

[ljapa]

Do you know what your water parameters are? Ammonia? Nitrite? Nitrate?

Cloudy every few days sounds like a bacteria bloom and your cycle isn't getting established. How are you cleaning your filter?

Now, a 406 for two turtles likely isn't enough filtration. That could be part of your issue.

I'd suggest ditching the sponges and polishing pads in your four containers and go biomax X3 and carbon in the last. That will give you more surface area too grow the bacteria to help.