All Turtles Message Board

Christina · Level 2 Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 29 Location: New Jersey

Fluval 4? for a 29 gal tank with 1 baby RES. Any recommendations?

2turtles · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:05 pm Post subject:

My initial reaction to this specific filter is generally negative.

I do not like that it is completely internal, and am not convinced it will be effective at keeping a tank clean due to the design (no room for bio-media).

I think you will notice more of a smell from the tank than others and the filter doesn't offer you many options for modification of the filtration.

What you are basically looking to accomplish is two things. mechanical filtration and biological filtration.

The mechanical filtration will get the 'floaties' out of the tank, but these floaties must go somewhere, and that is inside the filter - they must be periodically removed.

The larger issue (IMO) is the biological filtration. Your turt will live, eat, drink and sleep in this water. This means they will also deposit waste in the water. You will probably be disgusted by the fact that there will be very little solid waste because the turt will immediately eat it.. and any other solid should be mechanically filtered out. But the liquid waste will have a large quantity of ammonia in it which is toxic, dangerous/deadly. Running ammonia through a few screens will not eliminate it. As they say the best way of "eliminating ammonia, is to get it's natural enemy...bacteria". You need a bacteria colony to break the ammonia down into nitrite and furthermore down into nitrate.

This is what every is talking about when you read of 'cycling' a tank. Specifically, getting a good cycle of ammonia breakdown to nitrite and nitrate. Getting a good bacteria colony grown to keep up with the level of ammonia and nitrite in your tank.

Now, you will also have evaporation occuring, which will not remove any ammonia, nitrite or nitrate.. If you have a great functioning tank, you will have near 0 ammonia and nitrite and very low nitrate. the only way to remove nitrate is water changes. Since evaporation is removing the water and not the nitrate, simply topping off the tank every week is not the same as a water change. You should do a 50% water change every other week or so. This will remove 50% of the nitrate from the tank. There is no other way - (that's really not the truth)..

You can work on organic filtration as well, which would involve running a planted tank with organic plants to aid in filtration.

There are also chemicals you can add which help break down ammonia..

While many people like to minimize the importance of filtration, when running a large tank (IMO anything bigger than 10gal), you do not want a giant cesspool of algae, miscolored water or a disgusting smell. Without proper filtration, you will either be faced with regular daily waterchanges or a very sick turt.

You want your filter to have plenty of room for some sort of bio-media which is where your bacteria colony will grow. Possibly some room for some activated carbon, which will reduce the smell and give the water a polished look, and room for the mechanical filtration, someplace for all the floaties to collect without clogging the filter.

I don't think the fluval 4 is going to meet your needs for your 29gal setup.

What petstores do you have nearby?

I would highly recommend staying away from the internal filters, and look more for a 'hang on' or a 'canister'.. I've seen these at Petco and PetSmart locally (New England)

Sorry for rambling on so much.
_________________
1.0.0 Trachemys scripta scripta----1.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta
0.0.2 Emydura subglobosa subglobosa----0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

melsmom · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject:

that was great info .. i'm kinda in that same boat (or tank Laughing

) anyway, i have a fluval 3 in a 20 gal tank. the water is generally clear but smells. aside from adding a carbon filter, you mentioned chemicals. Any suggestions?
_________________
my lil preciosa .. to the left, cute, huh?

Christina · Level 2 Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 29 Location: New Jersey

Petsmart is probably the biggest one near me. I'm leaning more towards the cascade 300 power filter. I found one at petguys.com for 26.99. I'm just not sure how it will fit with the screen lid it has hinges for easy feeding I guess I'll just have to cut a hole in the screen to fit the filter.
Thanks for all your help Smile

2turtles · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject:

2turtles · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject:

Christina · Level 2 Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 29 Location: New Jersey

I already ordered the screen lid I have to pick it up tom. You can put the basking bulb and uvb on glass top?
I have an aqua clear 30 on my tank for my fishies it works fine.

2turtles · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject: