General Care Discussion :: new turtle help?

[steve]

Does the HOB have any bio media and fine foam media? And how much water is in the tank? Those factors could all contribute to any cloudiness.

[binji]

the filter has bio and mechanical, yes, as long as chemical (which ill probably replace with more bio soon). the tank is almost completely full; there's about 3 inches from the surface of the water to the top of the tank

[steve]

Could be that there's not enough media, prolonging the cycling. Next would be what is being fed... there may be too many nutrients left in the water.

[binji]

it's a pretty hefty filter, plus he has the other 2 smaller ones. i do feed him in the tank though and he likes to leave crumbs, some of which i cant scoop out after as theyre too small

[steve]

The smaller ones aren't really doing much aside from circulating some of the water. Is the larger filter rated 3x for your size aquarium?

[binji]

i thought it was just 2x? i can order another filter to run with it though

[steve]

Usually 2 to 3. Have you done any water testing before?

[binji]

i test the ammonia fairly regularly. it's right now below .25 ppms, and ive been using prime to keep it comfortable

[binji]

vaguely related, but if i grew enough anacharis to maybe make a forest type deal and planted it in the tank or let it float, would he be safe to forage it as he pleased? i gave him some earlier for the first time and he went wild for it, so would he eat too much of it or just nibble when he felt like it?

id like to cut down on how often i feed him his pellets because he does have some visible shell deformities that look like theyre caused by high protein in his diet (so every other day probably, and offering greens daily), and he makes a massive mess of his pellets

id also maybe like to do a sand/flourite mix, or just use sand, and try to do a bit of aquascaping. i know he'll just dig it all up, but i would like to put live plants in his tank and give him something to dig in or mess with to enrich him

[steve]

If it freely floats, it will clog up the filter as little pieces are created. It might also make the tank water look cloudy too. My turtles didn't really enjoy the anacharis though, but you can experiment with it. Some also use duck weed. I'm not sure about flourite, is there any benefits you've read about?

[litefoot]

Myself I would stay away from the fluorite. It's about the size of small to medium aquarium gravel. Turtles are just to curious and may eat some causing a blockage with no good ending. Sand yes very small will not block a turtle up if eaten , better yet go bare bottom. Flourite is a great substrate for plants that need a rooting system. Anacharis does just as well floating as rooted and with turtle's it will not stay rooted long. They like to see whats under it if anything , that's a turtle thing. Aquascaping for decoration with a turtle does not work just let the turtle put them where it wants. Also live plants will add extra maintenance and you know how we all just love doing that. I know I keep live plants and it's extra work. Bottom line live plants and turtles it will just be a food source not decorations along with more maintenance that's your call. You can look in photo gallery for , Piggleys tank, for some plants I use at times. Outside around tank are safe plastic and 90% in tank are live that is when my plant tank can keep up with Piggley.

[binji]

i take care of plants in my other tank and theyve been no hassle for me. if theyre growing, theyre helping keep the water clean, plus he does really seem to enjoy eating anacharis. id like to plant other things as well, like sword and anubias (which turtles hate the taste of and which also float just as well). even if he does "rearrange" id still like to keep some plants in there. also i find it really cute that he likes to move things,, and im never in my room so he doesnt have much enrichment outside of whats in his tank right now so having plants and something to dig in would do him good

ive also read most turtles hate the taste of fluorite, but ive had some success with sand substrate and live plants so either way is fine.

ill keep growing out the anacharis. hopefully ill be getting a bigger tank for him soon and will be able to set something nice up in there for him to destroy lmao

[litefoot]

Great you are familiar with plants in a fish tank. The way turtles dig may give you headaches being one of the disadvantages of fluorite when disturbed it will cloud your water. Some can overlook that because it will last the life of the aquarium. Others I know use ADA aquasoil it has great results for plants but with any good substrate will break down over time , turning to mud. Some to keep a turtle from digging into it cover with large river rock but that now takes away from the look if that is what you were going for.

Good that you are observant , Piggley just keeps moving things around until he gets me to understand where he wants it then he leaves it alone. He's got me trained very well. I agree giving a turtle things to do in it's home is a must , turtles never get tired of digging things up , so curious. Ever try hornwart , I find it not as messy as anacharis and cleans the water too ?

Your turtle will love you more by giving it something to destroy , it's a turtle thing.

[binji]

ive never grown hornwart myself, but i did look into it a while back for the betta tank and decided against it because water of a certain pH makes the needles spiky instead of soft and i didnt want him to rip his fins but it seems like itd do well in a turtle tank! ill probably get some sooner or later

i think i can overlook fluorite being cloudy because i dont keep the tank for aesthetics, but it can bother some turtles so i may just stick with sand and liquid ferts (i think seachem flourish is turtle safe?)

and piggley sounds adorable!! he sounds like a little interior designer omg

[litefoot]

I use a wild hornwart which is much tougher than the store type and Piggley has no problem with it , also on it's own grows very fast . That's after it's cleaned well and put in quarantine a few weeks.

Used the seachem flourish and the "MSDS" is safe when following directions. Over use could make his eye lid's swollen being so thin and sensitive just carefully follow directions and all will be good.

Yes Piggley is , now a days it's just one turtle which gives us more time together. Having a stock tank on the ground with my chair next to it allows my hand in the tank playing with him. We watch Tv and he enjoys me reading to him. It brings out all his personality's and he has many...