Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After 4 years of "turtling" I decided to get a filter. (I had always just changed the water ever 3 - 5 days with my Python thingy.)

Well, what difference is there supposed to be? I got a Fluval, plenty big for the tank. I still have to clean the tank just about as often, and now I have the added work of cleaning the filter!

Shouldn't I be able to clean less often, or am I dreaming? lol
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0.1.0 snapping turtle
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
0.0.12 chickens
3.2.0 children
1.0.0 husband

What size tank do you have and what size/type of filter? While you do still have to clean the tank a filter does remove a lot of the nasties.

If it's the right sized filter for your tank, and it's a good kind, then you should be able to clean less frequently. I siphon mine every two weeks or so. And "fish" out any large depris with a small fish net in between cleanings. You don't have to syphon all the water out just enough to where it's clean enough. I recommend just haveing a bare glass bottom. It's extremely easy to clean nicely. Also I have commets in my tank with my turtles. (Feeders that survived) they help keep the tank clean by eating the debris.

You have to let you tank water cycle properly or a filter is a waste of time. You cannot do 100% water changes. You water will never fully cycle. Only do partial changes once a week of 1/3 the water or so and in a few weeks you water should clear.

Here is a site that explains it very well.

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/bcycling.htm

Cycling a tank is necessary for fish but not for turtles.

Why isn't cycling necessary for turtles?

The filter is a Fluval, and is plenty big for the number of gallons. I have always scooped out the obvious "nasties" and as I said, cleaned the whole tank every 5 - 7 days w/ the Python thingy.

I add Pondzyme (bacteria that's supposed to aid in breaking down wastes).

I can't see any difference with the addition of a filter. I still need to clean the tank once a week. Does the filter take out stuff one can't see?
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0.1.0 snapping turtle
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
0.0.12 chickens
3.2.0 children
1.0.0 husband

Cycling your build up the necessary bacteria that break down the ammonia from the waste and convert it to Nitrates. It will help keep your water clear by doing so.

You will still have to do partial water changes (1/3 to 1/2 of the water every week to perhaps 2 weeks depending on the size of the tank and the turtle) but it will greatly reduce your work and is healthier for you animal.

Constantly cleaning your tank and doing a 100% water change only leaves you with clean tap water that has no beneficial bacteria in and then you tank builds up ammonia and is mess. This is not healthy for your turtle.

Why doesn't a turtle tank need to be cycled? For starters, the turtle is breathing surface air. While the beneficial bacteria provided thru standard cycling will certainly not harm a turtle and will help keep down bacteria blooms, it's not necessary. A 100% water change weekly along with a clean filter, decorations, etc is much more beneficial to the turtle.

A good filter can allow partial weekly water changes but you still need to completely change the water out every few weeks. For further information please see www.anapsid.org/reslider.html, exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilesturtles/a/reslidercare_2.htm and petturtle.htmlplanet.com/habitat_waterpurification.html

There are other sites, these are just a few.

Well -- I have read the information on these sites. No where does it say it is better for the turtle than a naturally cycled tank. In fact -- it does they don't even address it.

Turtles do breath off the surface but also absorb oxygen from the water through capilliaries in their nostrils and cloaca.

So swimming around in their own ammonia waste for any length on time is not the best thing in the world for them. If you proper cycle your tank, then introduce your turtles into it. Ammonia will be combatted thus making a healthy natural situation for animal.

Yes, weekly changes are necessary to remove nitrates from the water and of course you should use a gravel siphon to get the broken down material out of your gravel but that is all that need be done in a balanced tank.

If you keep a turtle pond do you do 100% weekly or monthly water changes with that? Of course not. The water maintains itself naturally and the turtles thrive.

Breaking your tank down once a month certainly won't hurt MOST species of turtles (there are several species that MUST have a properly cycled tank) but it is unnecessary and your turtle will do quite well in properly cycled tank.

honuman, we shall have to agree to partially disagree

That is not true. It is good to have turtles in a cycled tank. waste breaks down better and you do not have to 100% water changes. Only partial ones. It is healthier for the animal to have water that is properly cycled.

but...if I only suck out 1/3 of the water per week, there will still be lots of "stuff" in there. It will look dirty and drive me crazy! lol

And, back to the orginal question...what good is a filter suppose to do?
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0.1.0 snapping turtle
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
0.0.12 chickens
3.2.0 children
1.0.0 husband

The filter will suck up large chunks of turtle waste and excess food. You will still need to use a gravel syphon (if you have gravel in your tank) to suck material that settles on the bottom rather than getting sucked into the filter.

Even if you don't have gravel (which you shouldn't have with most turtles) a siphon will get all the gunk off of the bottom. While you do need to do that a good filter will remove a lot of it.

Aha! Ok, so maybe I'm doing something wrong, cause there are no big chunks of anything when I clean out the filter. It's a Fluval 4. What could be going wrong?
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0.1.0 snapping turtle
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
0.0.12 chickens
3.2.0 children
1.0.0 husband

Are the fitler pads dirty? The chunks breakdown to finer gunk in the on the filter pads. So if you have dirt in there that IS the chunks.

Just finished cleaning out one today. No chuncks. There was a bit of gooey stuff at the very end of the spongy thingy, that's all.
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0.1.0 snapping turtle
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
0.0.12 chickens
3.2.0 children
1.0.0 husband