Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am trying to setup a musk turtle habitat and was told to use sand instead of gravel. I set up the tank and had trouble getting the sand to settle. I needed a filter and bought a submersive one from the place that sells the turtles. They told this is what they use in their tank and have no problem with the sand. I get my filter home, put it in the tank and sand goes everywhere. Now my tank is so blurry and it will probably take a day to settle back down. How in the world am I suppose to use a filter if it stirs up the sand. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!

Hi.

You need to get the dust and other imperfections out of the sand. The best way to do this is to put the sand in an old pillowcase and run it under water. The pillow case will hold in the sand and filter out all of the dust.

I do it a different way, I put the sand in a bucket and then fill it with water. Once the water turns cloudy, dump the water out and fill the bucket again with water. Repeat the process several times. Eventually the water will remain clear even when the sand is stirred.

Post again if you need more info.
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
1 Corn Snake
1.1 Water Dragons
2 African Frogs
1 Toad
1.0 Degu
1.2 Chihuahuas
0.1 Cat

Thank you but I kept searching the internet until I found exactly what you told me. I rinsed it in a bucket and it to forever to get clean sand but now my tank is clean and ready for a turtle