my turtles water is always green how do i keep i clear?

Question

i have a 20 gallon tank and i use alge killer every few days and change the water every week or so i even bought a filter for a 75 gallon tank. if you have any answers how i can keep the water clear i would really appreciate it thanks.

Answer 1

Try using bottled water instead of tap (even treated). Look for algae deterrents for ponds, barley straw keeps pond water algae-free and some places carry pads of it that are small enough for a tank.

Answer 2

Strangely I have never had nasty turtle water! Make sure you ALWAYS feed him in a separate tank or tub, I use a large tupperware tub and place it in the sun for him so he can enjoy the weather, leave a small spot for him to shade himself as well. I leave mine out there for a little while so he's able to eat and then use go to the "bathroom" in the feeding tub, which i empty out after every use and refill every time he feeds. I use a submersible filter and change the water once a week. His water is always crystal clear! with a filter thats made for a much larger tank you could be causing a problem for the turtle, the big ones usually have so much power that it will disturb the water in a small tank too much. rinse the filter on a regular basis so it's using it's maximum power!

Answer 3

Algae killer can help temporarily, but it is mostly a band-aide to the problem. Since algae thrives in stagnant, nitrate-rich, warm water, turtle tanks are difficult to keep clear. Move your filter so that it agitates the surface of the water as much as possible. That will keep more oxygen in the water, and keep it from getting stagnent. Clean the filter daily if you can, until the algae gets better. Use very hot water to kill the spores. The best way is to have 2 filters, one on each side, so it really stirs up the water. I would use a sponge filter along with a power filter. The sponge will collect beneficial bacteria that will help keep your tank clean. It will take a few weeks to get a nice culture going on it, and tap water kills it, so only use conditioned room temp water to rinse it. You can also put activated charcoal and ammonia chips in the filters or in a nylon bag near them to absorb toxins. Scrub the turtles shell gently with a soft brush to remove algae and slime once in a while, and same with the aquarium sides and rocks. If there is a little spot of algae, it will spread in no time! Make sure your UV light is less than 8 months old and your incandescent heat bulb is less than a couple months and is full spectrum...bad quality light can add to algae and can make your turtle sick. Get the biggest cage for your turtle as possible. I prefer big under bed storage bins...cheap and easier to clean! I use a homemade screen top for the lighting. Clean them as much as possible, and use a fish net to catch poop as they make it and excess food...before it fowls the water. Finally, try getting them into the habit of just eating twice a week, and in a different bin, just for eating. They usually poop and pee a lot when they eat, and since they can be really messy eaters, this will contain the mess!

Answer 4

If he sits where the sun will shine in on him every day, you will battle algae all the time. I got a bottle at the pet store that supposed to help break down the waste in the tank. It's called Turtle Clean by BioCare. Seems to me it was about $5. You're supposed to add it to the water according to the size of your tank, when you first clean the tank, and then about once a week after. My turtle's water gets dirty quickly too, but I have to stop and think... what would he be living in if he were out in the wild?

Answer 5

How big is your turtle?
It may be bigger than for a 20 gallon can keep up with.
My son had a turtle in a 10 gallon, and the water had to be changed every 2 days.
Water isn't going to stay very clean no matter what you do. They just go to the bathroom alot, and not a good pet.
Also, they do carry salmanelia!!

Answer 6

I would say aside from everything your already doing just make sure you are not over feeding him. Too much food in the tank will cause it to get dirty faster and will stink to high heaven. If none of that works try cleaning it more often than regular maybe every few days.

Answer 7

You need a good aquarium water filter & you need to change 2/3's of your water every few days.

Answer 8

~*~ The water will stay alot cleaner if you take your turtle out of his tank to feed him. Usually turtles do their business right after they eat too.. Hope this helps!~*~

Answer 9

Assuming this is a domestic dog turtle, no. do no longer dunk its finished body interior the water or it is going to drown and die. do no longer dunk the undesirable ingredient in sizzling warmth water or it is going to burn him. save water far flung from its nostril. placed only truly of luke warmth water on the bottom of a field only sufficient to conceal his ft, in case you should.

Answer 10

You change it frequently. I used to have a turtle and it was the only way.