I am having trouble with my filter in my turtles tank. It is a 15 gallon tank.?

Question

I got a Tetra whisper in tank filter, but it get dirty in a week, even though I replace the carbon filter. I have only a few gallons of water in the tank, ( a few inches tall) and a turtle not much larger than silver dollar. I recently took it all apart, cleaned everything, put in a new cartridge, and now a week later it is cloudy. The people at the pet store have been less than helpful. Can anyine out there reccomend anything for me?

Answer 1

i would say try a whole new filter and maybe read the instructions more carefully
maybe you missed something???
thats the only advice i can give
sorry
:(

Answer 2

turtles are dirty critters. If you can afford it, buy a Magnum filter, they are great! Really reliable and can deal with large capacity waste.

But even with a good, large filter, you will just have to get used to cleaning it often with a turtle, especially in such a small tank.

Also, when you take everything apart, and totally change all the media in the filter, you upset the bacteria balance. Believe it or not, it is good bacteria in the filter that break down the waste, and help keep the tank healthy.

the cloudy water, and stinky water is caused by "bad" bacteria. You need to let the tank and filter "cycle" which means the good bacteria gets a chance to get established.
You can buy a starter for the filter from a pet shop, or online, or use some media from a filter in an established tank..your own or a friends to get it going.

If possible, feed your turtle a bit lighter than normal for the first week or two, while the cycle gets going. Then, when you clean the filter, leave a little of the old media in there. Also, the rocks, gravel, etc in your tank will harbor some good bacteria, and help keep things going.

Only completely clean and sterilize the tank and filter when you have illness or parasites.

Answer 3

Those small filters are adequate for a few fish but turtles produce a lot more waste. You need a stronger filter, a store that specializes in fish could probably be more helpful. It also helps if you feed in separate container

Answer 4

Whisper really isn't a good brand. Go to a good fish specialty shop(if possible) or online and find a good filter. The ones with biowheels are excellent.

Answer 5

in the event that they're youthful you need to no longer have a topic protecting them at an identical time interior the beginning up up compatibility-clever, yet you will prefer to envision you have sufficient area for them later on an identical time as they get massive (as much as twelve inches of shell each and each and each and each!). in case you're determining to purchase the two as adults from a puppy keep, it fairly is beneficial to reveal screen and easily verify to do now no longer %. 2 fantastically aggressive turtles. in case you have had one for an prolonged time and are introducing yet yet another into the tank, you prefer to be very careful. the only that has been there longer will optimal in all probability practice indicators and warning indicators of territorial aggression, wherein case one turtle will ultimately finally end up attacked and/or ineffective (i do now no longer understand how in many cases the latter occurs, yet turtles do wrestle). as long as you keep the tank sufficiently massive (i ought to assert a minimum of 50 5 gallons for the two) and make confident they do now no longer wrestle, they could prefer to be ok. you could feed them in separate packing containers in case you're frightened approximately them being grasping over food, yet as quickly as you start up doing this, you will prefer to keep doing it, as they're going to conflict it out as rapidly as you start up feeding them at an identical time.