All Turtles Message Board

KetchupSpud · Level 1 Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 6

So, I've read on this board that the Fluval 4 Plus is a big hit with a lot of you. It seems great to me because I'd love to not have to worry about the annoying water splashing sounds all the time. My question is, what, if anything, do you need to use in addition to it? I was running the Magnum 350 with a BioWheel. The Fluval seems to just have a sponge. Do I need carbon? How does it get rid of ammonia? My vet told me that my turtles got sick before because there was too much ammonia in the water, so I don't want to do that again. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

PS - Merry Christmas!

Tiffany · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:42 am Post subject:

I love mine, but I cut the sponge and put in a bag of carbon and bio media. It works great keeping my 40 breeder musk tank and all the junk she puts out clean.
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3 sulcata,11 red ears,1 yellow belly,1 melanistic slider,1 map,1 western painted,2 3 toe boxies,1 striped mud,2 japanese pond,2 common musk,1 russian,1 ornate wood,1 FL Cooter,7 annam pond,2 back wood,1 Malayan box,1 Red belly

weeturtles · Level 1 Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

I use the Fluval 4 Plus and change the water on a 20 gal. tank about every three weeks once the water starts to turn green and so far I think it's great. I do have one question and that is if I purchase an additional set of supplies/filter and allow the original set to to dry out until the next use will that help kill the green mold that grows on everything. I try to scrub it all off but it seems that after using these items for so long the mold get in all the corners and in the filter where you can't clean, so will allowing these items to dry out for a couple of weeks kill the mold inside the filters? Also I completely scrub down my tank every three weeks and my three (RES) turtles are very happy campers. They are about two years old. Smile

Tiffany · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject:

First off with three I would go with a bigger tank, a 20 gallon seems to small. I use the rule of 10 gallons for every inch the turtle is long, a 5 inch turtle would need at least a 50 gallon tank. The green is algea and where there is water and light you will have it. The only way to get rid of it all together is get land turtle's. You can use a bit of bleach and a ton of water and that will kill it for a breif time. It does not hurt them and is only ugly to some people. I personally leave it be.
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3 sulcata,11 red ears,1 yellow belly,1 melanistic slider,1 map,1 western painted,2 3 toe boxies,1 striped mud,2 japanese pond,2 common musk,1 russian,1 ornate wood,1 FL Cooter,7 annam pond,2 back wood,1 Malayan box,1 Red belly

weeturtles · Level 1 Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

I know what you are saying about a bigger tank but my four inch turtles are happy and healthy and seem to get plenty of excercise in their 20 gallon tank. Plus, I can't lift a tank that is any bigger, so will hold off until absolutley necessary.