All Turtles Message Board

andralusia2 · Level 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

Hello,
I have a terrible water problem. I don't know what the problem is. The water is VERY cloudy and has poop or something floating around all throughout. I have a strong filter that is the right size. It is an outside the tank filter and it is not clogged. I have 5 goldfish (for food and fun for the turtles) who swim around and eat everything. I bought some "poop degrader" stuff that you put in the water. I don't know what to do. I can't even see my turtles if I am on one side of the tank and they are on the other. It is so ugly, cloudy and stinky. I have changed and changed the water, cleaned the whole tank, tried partial changing of water. Nothing works....HELP!!! I miss watching my turtles in pretty clean water, which only happened the first night I got them. They were so happy then, I know they can't be too pleased now when they can't see two inches in front of their faces! HELP!!! Thanks ahead of time!

EarthVsJazz · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:55 am Post subject:

Ok, What kind of filter are you using. When is the last time you cleaned the fitler. How big is the tank and how much water is you tank. If you can answer that I could give you a better suggestion..
- Ed

andralusia2 · Level 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

The tank is 55 gallons, a little over half way full, I would say about 30 gallons of water in it. The filter is an Aquaclear 300 and is working great. I have already cleaned the filter out once and we have only had it 3 days. We were given the turtles by someone and they didn't have anything for them, so we went out and bought the filter/pump and light and basking dock...things like that. They are much happier turtles now, but I sure can't keep this water clean. We seem to have to change the water out completely every other day or it is so cloudy you can't even see in it. Thanks for your help!

EarthVsJazz · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:19 am Post subject:

I don't know that is pretty strange. Even with my old filter I would still get 3 good weeks before I would have to do a full tank/filter change. If your local pet store doesn't know anything about your local water supply that you should know then I don't have many suggestions. 1. The filter may be cleaned but it also may be clogged. Make sure it is running at fullest extent. Is that filter new or was it also given with the turtles. How old is the media inside the filter? What kind of substrate or rocks do you have ? If they are the small pebbles that are made for fish tanks then I would try something else. I find that turtles not onlu try to eat them but it is hard to get the rocks really clean. You could try some clear water stuff for fish tanks, just be careful and don't use too much. Also , and I'm reaching at this point. Make sure your turtles aren't sick. Make sure that there not breathing funny. Oh, feeding. Might be feeding them a little to much. If the food isn't eaten then it will cause the tank to get real dirty real quick. Ok I have to go to work.

- Ed

andralusia2 · Level 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

Thanks for your response. I am just as puzzled as you are. I have done extensive research and read all I can about this, but am unable to come up with a solution for this problem. The filter is not clogged and it is new, as well as the pump. All we were given with the turtles was the tank itself. We went out and bought a lamp, basking dock and pump/filter. We had rocks in there, but they only made the water problem worse, so we took them out. I don't know why it is getting so dirty so fast, but I clean the filter out everyday because it gets VERY dirty. I may be feeding them too much, I'll cut down on that and see if it helps. I am just not sure what to do about it. Thanks for the advice!

Kitty · Level 3 Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 100 Location: Tracy, Ca

Hello are you still having water problem? There are so many thing it can be. If you can answer these questions for me I may be able to help...
How big are your turtles? and how many?
how often do you feed and how much?
and what do you feed?
do you still have gold fish? how big and how many?
do you have gravel on bottom of tank?
the only filter is a 300? Is that rated for a 30 gallon?
I like to cycle my tank at at least 2 or 3 times an hour..
and the more you change your water the cloudier it gets...
do you have a water softener?
Has any of your fish died? if so, how many and how offten.
These things will help pin point trouble, But I'm thinking you need to change your filter system, or should say add to it. you don't have a biological cycle going in your tank.
let me know whats up and I will help you clear your tank, If I don't have the answer, I know someone that should.......
_________________
There is nothing more exciting than to see baby Turtles, popping up out of the ground, or to find them wondering across the yard.

andralusia2 · Level 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

Hello are you still having water problem? There are so many thing it can be. If you can answer these questions for me I may be able to help...
First, let me say thank you so much! Yes, I am still having a big problem with the water. I know that I shouldn't change it so much due to the biological stuff in the water, but it is so nasty!

How big are your turtles?
1 is 4 inches, 1 is 3 and 1 is 2.5

and how many?
3

how often do you feed and how much?
feed once a day, a good sprinkle of each

and what do you feed?
pellets and dried shrimp

do you still have gold fish?
no, they ate them all, but will get more

how big and how many?
small goldfish, had five

do you have gravel on bottom of tank?
no, I did, but it only made the problem worse, so we threw it away

the only filter is a 300?
yes

Is that rated for a 30 gallon?
rated for 50 US gallons (we have a 55 gallon tank that is only half way full We also have a 75 gallon tank that we are going to move them too soon, but it is being repaired. I know the 55 gal is too small for all three, but it is what we have to work with for now)

do you have a water softener?
no

Has any of your fish died? if so, how many and how offten.
no

These things will help pin point trouble, But I'm thinking you need to change your filter system, or should say add to it. you don't have a biological cycle going in your tank.
let me know whats up and I will help you clear your tank, If I don't have the answer, I know someone that should.......

Thanks so much again! I sure hope you can help!

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1232

If you have only had the tank a few days then you are looking at a balance issue. Tanks need to have a balance of good bactiria to eat the bad. Did you run the tank for 24 hours before adding your turtle? This helps get everything started off good. Then, believe it or not, you should put some of the old icky water in there.

When you clean your filters you don't want to do such a good job that it kills all the good stuff. Some people use the tank water to rinse off the filter. I like using bio balls. You can find them in the fish tank section of your pet store. They look like a hard version of a koosh ball. When I put my babies out in the pond I use a bio bag.

When you do a water change you should only switch out 1/4 at a time. This should be done weekly.

andralusia2 · Level 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

Thanks for your advice and I understand what you are saying, but it is hard to do that when the water is always so nasty. If I only change some of it, then it is not clear at all. It is cloudy all the time. So nasty that you can't even see through to the other side and this only takes a few days to become this nasty. I am not sure if there is hope to keep this water clean!

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1232

It will continue to be nasty until it can develope a balance. By doing water changes that frequently you are adding to your problem.

I would also recommend that you NOT use the poop degrader. Extra chemicals like that can add to your problem as well.

Kitty · Level 3 Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 100 Location: Tracy, Ca

Hi
I agree with deesygirl you need to establish a balance in your tank, but your filter system is to small. lets say you have 30 gallons of water in your tank.
your filter turns over 50 gallons an hour, I like to turn my tank over at lest 3 times...less work for me..LOL you have 3 turtles,that are bascily swimming in there own toilet so you need to flush more offten..... sorry for the pun.. but true. your cloudy water sounds more like mucky water, if you can't get another filter, then rinse out your filter pads daily,( your filter pads or pre filters are like tea bags, they start to sweep into the water.) if you have a bio wheel DO NOT EVER EVER RINSE OR CLEAN IT....that is the key to your cycle, but cycling your turtle tank is not a must...Turtles have lungs not gills, unless you keep pet fish in the tank, the cyclling has no real importance to turtles,( I can explain cycling a tank, and why you cycle later if someone wants) there are different types of cloudy water, 1 is waste ( food, plants,stools, ect.) 2. is to much oxgen in the water. 3. bactira caused by an unblanced tank. 4. floating algea, to much waste and light. I'm sure there is others just can't think of them off hand. another help to clear your tank is if you use a feeding tank. something easy to fill with water and dump when your done. put your turtles in the feeding tank to eat and when they have finished put them back in there tank, you would be amazed at how some foods muck up the water. If your water stinks then you need to change it, some tanks get cloudy after you change it. not mucky but cloudy, this usaly clears in a day or two, it usaly is a combo of oxgen and small dust particles. Also cloudy water can be caused by to powerfull of a filter..Meaning to strong of a flow, pushing all the waste around and right past the filter media, back in to the water, never letting it get caught by the filter. I hope this has helped you. good luck, if this doesn't work, we will just have to take another good hard look at your set-up.
_________________
There is nothing more exciting than to see baby Turtles, popping up out of the ground, or to find them wondering across the yard.

andralusia2 · Level 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

OK, I am going to try all your suggestions and I will get back with you in a week or so. Thanks so much for your advice, both of you. I really appreciate it!

Kitty · Level 3 Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 100 Location: Tracy, Ca

your wellcome, and good luck, but don't wait a week or so. keep dropping in and ask any questions you may have, this is the place to get help...
_________________
There is nothing more exciting than to see baby Turtles, popping up out of the ground, or to find them wondering across the yard.