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I just purchased an 80 gallon tank for my 2 turtles and wanted to know how other large turtle owners clean theirs out. Any tips would be helpful so i dont spend hours wrestling with a 300 pound tank.

-Brian

A lot of people use the python no spill cleaning system. It's on my Christmas wish list this year...or birthday, I guess one comes first. Right now I'm still hauling buckets of water. Syphon it out, and dump it back in. It takes forever and it's messy.

For an 80 gallon tank - you're going to want a Python!

Missibsu, how far away is your tank from a window or door? Until you get a python just find a garden hose and put one end in the tank and the other out the door/window. As long as the end out the door/window is lower then your tanks water line you should be able to get a siphon going, and there you go no more buckets.

And do you know if your house has a wash tub (basically a big ugly sink found in the basement or garage or laundry room ect ect)? If you do you should be able to attach a garden hose right to the faucet and then hold the other end in the tank and have someone adjust the temp as you fill it, so the heater has minimal work.

I definitely recommend a python. Heck I use it for my 20 gallon fish tannks too. Makes clean up a lot easier. Do you have your tank up off the floor? I also got myself a nice step stool so that I could reach in the tank better to clean off the glass.. saved a lot of backache and sore arms let me tell you Oh and make sure you do have a bucket for putting the filter and accessories to be cleaned.

N4784N R4613 wrote:Missibsu, how far away is your tank from a window or door? Until you get a python just find a garden hose and put one end in the tank and the other out the door/window.

I considered the outside faucet, but our water has a lot of iron in it and it makes the water yellow. I tried it once, and it looked bad. The filter got most of it out, but then it wasn't good for the filter. It turned everything in the tank a yellowish rust color that had to be cleaned. We're almost at a month and counting till my birthday, and mom mentioned getting one (the python) again today. My hope is to have it in my hands a little early so I'll have it for the next cleaning!

Definitely go with the python if you can. Clean up is a breeze with that. Bigalsonline.com has them at a pretty good price - about $45 for the 50foot length. I actually got mine through them on sale and paid only $36. I've seen it for about $55 at the pet stores.

Hey I just read this, I never knew what that python thing was called! I have one! Never thought of using it for turtle tank! YAY now I can fill it up more now

Thanks a bunch