Equipment Review and Discussion :: Zoo Med 318 Turtle Clean Filter

[DIANTE]

I have the Zoo Med 318 Turtle Clean Filter and it doesnt clean the water like most of the tanks on hear there is fish and turtle poop all over the bottom. It says on the box that it is for tanks up 30 gallons and my tank is a 10 gallon and its only half way full. I posted this not as rant but i was wondering if i was doing something wrong. I was wondering if there is another filter i could use with it so the water would be crystal clean like most peoples $15 - $20 price range

[megcornell]

How large is your turtle?
If he's too large for the tank the issue isn't the filter, it's just you have too much turtle for the tank and you'll need a larger tank so that the waste is more diluted.

[DIANTE]

How large is your turtle?
If he's too large for the tank the issue isn't the filter, it's just you have too much turtle for the tank and you'll need a larger tank so that the waste is more diluted.

hes only two inches

[megcornell]

Some people siphon out their turtle's waste whenever they see it to help reduce how dirty the water gets.

As for the filters, I've never dealt with hanging filters so I can't really help there, when I had a 10 gallon tank I used a submersible fluval filter and that worked out wonderfully.

[DIANTE]

Some people siphon out their turtle's waste whenever they see it to help reduce how dirty the water gets.

As for the filters, I've never dealt with hanging filters so I can't really help there, when I had a 10 gallon tank I used a submersible fluval filter and that worked out wonderfully.

too much

[Vivi]

you could always scoop out the poop yourself. use one of those net things for fishes.

[emma]

I end up doing a 100% change with my 20 gallon tank every week. That just gets rid of the poop and everything in there. Or I siphon the poop out with the Mr. Cleaner I have.

[octpusgirl8]

No filter is going to pick up the debris on the bottom of the tank. Having good water flow can help, but you need to siphon out that stuff manually. A turkey baster would be just fine for such a small tank.

[Lovor]

Yes, like everybody said, filters are not designed to filter debris from the bottom like food remains, poop etc.. You have to get yourself one of those siphons. The are many kinds, you need one that hasn't got net at the end, net is for fish aquariums and small stones cleaning. Large debris won't go thru the net.



It has a valve so when you move it down the valve is open, and when you move it up, the valve closes. A couple of up and down strokes and the water flow between the aquarium/ tank and bucket is obtained. "Vacuum" the debris, clean the bottom, and afterwards refill the vacuumed amount of water.


Bye

[mikee]

Lovr -- The ten gallon is a starter tank but if your turtle is only 2 inches that is marginal. Turtles require about 10 gallons per inch. The filter should exchange the water at least 5 time per hour. Along with that you will need to vacuum out the tank when the bottom gets dirty. A weekly 50% water change will help until your water filter gets going.