All Turtles Message Board

Alshon · Level 1 Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

I'm happy to say for my anniversary present I received a 55 gallon tank with undergravel filter. I fully washed it down and cleaned it and set it up. I allowed the water to cycle a day before I threw in my fish and gently added Duddy (baby painter turtle). Unfortunately I noticed after 2 days that there is a disgusting smell emitting from the tank as if the water were 2 months old instead of two days. I don't recall there being any kind of Carbon or anything with the filter and its really more like a air pump. though its supposed to be a undergravel filter. I have some carbon and sponge stuff for my box filters and I was wondering how the undergravel filter should be working.

clc4912 · Level 1 Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 21

An undergravel filter is good to have but is by no means a replacement for a water filter. All the undergravel filter is going to do is pull the solid waste through the gravel to the bottom where it can break down. The tubes with the air stones simply are a way to pull the water from the bottom. This in turn pulls the waste through the gravel. You still need to filter the water with either chemical or biological media to remove the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels.

Two days is not enough time for the water to become that polluted. I would guess that perhaps some of the items placed in the tank were not thoroughly clean. How big is the turtle and how many fish?

I would recommend getting a water filtration system as soon as possible. With just an undergravel filter, that tank will become dangerous to the fish and turtle in a relatively short period of time. You will also notice that it will appear dirty quite rapidly.

Alshon · Level 1 Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

Turtle is about 2-3inches and I only have in a algae eater, a pleco, a moon, a barb, and a giant Danio. The water smells sort of like caramel but all the fish things were washed thoroughly with clorox bleach and rinsed, air dried, and re-rinsed just like at the pet store I work with. Thank you for informing me I need a another filtration system, I'll pick one up asap.

clc4912 · Level 1 Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 21

I am sure you are aware that with a turtle in the tank with those fish, it is a possibility that they will become a meal for the turtle, especially when the turtle reaches a larger size. Just a consideration to keep in mind.