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She just woke up from a luxurious nap on her basking spot (which she is rapidly outgrowing!) and dunked her head in twice to drink before diving in.

Cool!

Just when you think you've seen all there is to see.

That's why we don't add chemicals to their water.

What do you think of Tetra AquaSafe Plus?

No! Ask yourself this, Would you drink it?

Principal ingredients: Sodium hydroxymethane sulfinate, chelating compounds, polyvinyl pyrollidones, seaweed biopolymers, organic hydrocolloids. Many of these have not been tested on humans, please be careful when handling them.

Kansasslider wrote:No! Ask yourself this, Would you drink it?

Geez. So what's the substitute? It's only a tablespoon I put in. Please advise of substitute, because I want the best for her!!!

What do you guys use to condition the tap water?

She's growing robustly (not too fast; not pyramiding in the least). So amazed by her. She's got this amazing rock sculpture that she can now climb to the top of. Not possible a few weeks ago! Very healthy and strong and loved. Has a little rock cave she can no longer fit inside, LOL. She tried it, though.

We use carbon in our filters or pass the water through a drinking water filter.

Careful with those tight squeezes. They can get trapped trying to get into impossible places.

Kansasslider wrote:No! Ask yourself this, Would you drink it?

I wouldn't drink it straight. If it was in my water, heavily diluted, kinda like what I'm reading about Dasani water for humans, I'd survive. I'm not a bad Turtle Mom.

steve wrote:Careful with those tight squeezes. They can get trapped trying to get into impossible places.

She's not going to get stuck in that cave, but thank you for the caution. She can't fit in it all all. Only peek!

I am very aware of the stone sculpture, however. It's hollow and when I'm fixing her tank up with fresh water, sometimes it scoops up and floats, so I make sure it's secure at the base before George gets in.

Kansasslider wrote:We use carbon in our filters or pass the water through a drinking water filter.

Well the 2nd filter I had was equipped with a carbon filter, but you people said that's not a good filter because it doesn't "move" water well enough.

I can't see dunking her in tap water that's not been conditioned. I've never read any advice to the contrary, frankly, except here. We're healthy living, but not vegans. Sometimes, chemicals get in us. We can minimize it, of course, but...

Update: she did it again! I notice she drinks from the top! She just climbed up on the sculpture and took a drink! (Can't believe she's not big enough to climb atop this thing. Whoa!)

Thanks as always for all advice!

She has to be out of the water to drink, and in water to eat. Neat!

Which filter? A good filter would serve 3 purposes and only canisters can do it all effectively:

Mechanical - collect small garbage you can see and moving large amounts of water is key.
Chemical - treat and condition the water, like removing impurities and adjusting pH. A small pouch to change regularly is good.
Bio - helps with the breakdown of bacteria and waste. A compartment filled with this is usually enough.

What part of the advice don't you agree with? Using water conditioners? If you want to read how it started, this is good: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33826

Personally, water treated with carbon is preferable. Next would be water from a large municipal supply.

I can't see dunking her in tap water that's not been conditioned. I've never read any advice to the contrary, frankly, except here. We're healthy living, but not vegans. Sometimes, chemicals get in us. We can minimize it, of course, but...

I'm just offering advice. Take it or not. Your turtle can't make the decisions on what it eats or drinks but you can.

Gonna get a filter. Thanks, ya'll.

Impulse Shopper wrote:Gonna get a filter. Thanks, ya'll.

What size is your tank?