Equipment Review and Discussion :: Upgrade help!

[laceface57]

Hiii! Currently I have two turtles, one 3 inches and one 3 1/2 inches in a ten gallon tank. I know, I know, that is very very tight for two 3 inch turtles. That is why I am upgrading sometime next week to a 55-75 gallon tank. Right now I have two tetra filters on each side of the tank: together they equal up to a 40 gallon tank. However, after a couple of days the tank gets sooo cloudy and dirty, even though there is no debris around, and it makes me very sad. I am really sick of completely cleaning the tank so quickly, so I would like recommendations on what kind of filter I should get for my VERY messy turtles. I don't have much of a budget, but I will get what it takes to keep it clean/clear for a very long time. (Keep in mind I am getting a bigger tank!)

I also have another question. How often SHOULD I completely clean out the tank? Like completely water change, cleaning all equipment, and scrubbing the sides.

Thank you so much for your time and help! I love my two turtles very very much. I saved them from just being dumped into the local duck pond from my sister, and I want to make them as happy as they make me!!!

[Chrisbarnett]

Well, If you can, get the 75 or larger. You'll need it with two turtles.

And I would recommend a Canister filter like a Rena Filstar XP3 or a Fluval 304. I know you said you are on a budget, but these kind of filters are necessary for keeping a turtle tank that large.

You want a filter that filters your water at least 3x the amount of water you have in the tank, preferably more, up to 5x. Think Gallons Per Hour.

Hope it helps, I assume they have a water heater, basking dock, heat lamp, UVB lighting, and all that?

[laceface57]

Yes they have allll of that.. it's just the filtering I have a problem with..

[SpotsMama]

Good for you for upgrading the setup! Your turtles will appreciate it.

On the filter, I'd suggest an XP3. It's a very good canister type that's easy to setup and easy to clean.

On the tank, go for the largest one you can afford. Those little guys of yours are just going to grow. If the budget is stretched right now, you might consider a big rubbermaid tub or a stock tank. They make very nice turtle habitats and are much less expensive than glass aquariums. Down the road when you're rich (!) you could then look into getting a big glass aquarium.

How often you need to change the water is dependent on your setup - how big the tank is relative to the size of the turtles and how strong your filter is. Once you get the big tank and good filter, then water changing gets a whole lot easier. For example, I've got a 100 gallon tank with one 7" turtle in it. I use an XP3. I clean the filter once a month (takes 30 or 45 minutes) and clean the tank and change around 2/3 of the water once a month.

You can tell how often to change the water by testing. Kits are available for testing water quality in the fish section of the pet store. A good kit is the Master Freshwater Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmeceuticals. With it you can test ph, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. There are instructions in the kit telling how to interpret the test results. The tests will tell you when you need to change the water. For my tank, even after a month the test results are still good but I go ahead and change some of the water anyway just to keep it fresh for Spot!

When you get the large tank, think about also getting a Python. It's a device for removing water from a tank and replacing it that is very simple to use. Without it, changing the water can be a big chore. I use my Python like a syphon to drain water out of the tank into the back yard, then attach the Python to the kitchen sick to refill the tank again.

[mikee]

lace57 -- When dealing with turtles you have to think in terms of gph not the sizing of a fish tank. Turtles need at least 5 times the volume of water exchange. If you have a 75 gallon you have to think 5 times that or greater. Turtles doo a lot and require a lot of filtration. In one of my set ups I have a 350 gph on a 29 gallon tank. It does just great. gph gph!!

[Bascomb]

I agree with mikee about the water exchange. Five or more times is my suggestion also. Sizing your tank to a fish size is like sizing your pig pen to a dog pen. Five times is the place to be. b.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I know you are on a budget, but buying the nice canister filter now will save you upgrades in the future and once you have it, it's rather inexpensive to maintain and makes your life so much better! Look for sales, esp in the online links page, when we find cheap filters, we put them under that forum.