Having turtles as a pet, was all of our childhood dreams. But keeping a turtle as a pet is one of the messiest jobs you can ever have. Though it is messy but not as hard as you think. In fact, if you maintain your turtle aquarium properly and regularly, your hobby won’t become a chore.
If you are going through here that means you are willing to get a turtle as a pet or worst-case scenario that you already got one or a pair but the water of the containing aquarium is becoming cloudy and smells noxious.
No matter what effort you are giving to your turtle aquarium, you can’t cope with the water getting dirty continuously. Your new turtle pet is managing to get the water dirty in a short while again.
But no worries, there are some easiest systems to keep the turtle water clean. Just don’t stop, go through here and in no time, you will know how to keep your turtle tank neat and clean.
First thing first, let’s know why turtle tank water gets cloudy.
Why Turtle Tank Water become Cloudy and Dirty?
Your turtle tank water could be cloudy and dirty in two circumstances.
- Newly poured water of the tank is cloudy
- Old water becomes cloudy and dirty over time
The main reason behind your turtle tank water becomes cloudy and dirty is because it might not be balanced. If anything unbalanced happens then this problem occurs but on the contrary, if you do something wrong while setting up or maintaining your tank this could occur. Usually, the cloudy water will fix itself in a short while unless you keep doing mistakes.
How long Cloudy Water last in a newly setup Tank?
The name of the problem is “New Tank Syndrome” or in short “NTS”. It usually occurs due to the recent change of water or new tank water become cloudy thereafter pouring.
It doesn’t matter if you put freshwater or purified filtered water or distilled water into the newly set up tank. As the water isn’t directly coming from the natural environment which contains fishes and plants and the water is beneficial bacteria-free. Which usually takes some time to grow in the newly set up tank. Thus, the water remains cloudy and not suitable for fish for a time being.
Why the New Tank Syndrome of my Turtle Tank Lasts?
- Chlorine Contamination is Purified Water
Chlorine is harmful when the amount is more than require to germ-free. But chlorine has important usefulness in water. The use of a specific amount of chlorine kills bacteria. Thus, chlorine is used in water treatment plants and systems including in our swimming pool.
But is very harmful for fish and turtle tank. It wipes out bacteria including the beneficial bacteria that are very useful for the decomposition of waste. Thus, purified tap water usually remains cloudy and the reason is chlorine contamination. It takes some time to cycle if you use tap water.
- Lack of Water Aeration
Low oxygen level accelerates the bacteria growth and reproduction. Ammonia and Nitrite levels also build-up for this reason and water gets cloudy. By using an aeration process by an air pump, the Oxygen cycle can easily speed up and made the tank water crystal clear.
- Failure of Filtration System
Maintaining the tank filter system regularly could keep your tank water crystal clear. If the filtration system in the new tank failed then the water can rapidly become cloudy and full of dirt.
While cleaning the filter system always follows to Clean it in T shape. Don’t clean it under a running faucet, it could wipe out all the beneficial bacterial that built up.
Why My Old Turtle Tank Is Always Cloudy and Dirty?
The main reason is regardless of turtles being messy pets. This means they make a lot of wastes and spread these wastes where ever they go. The wastes come from food and their dung.
Usually, turtle dung is being consumed by beneficial bacteria that cultures and from inside your filter system. But when dung exceeds the number that can usually be consumed by those bacteria, the reproduction and growth become much rapid.
Thus, Ammonia and Nitrite levels also increase and starting to build up. Finally, you have got yourself a very continually cloudy tank. It also suggests the problem in your tank is not New Tank Syndrome or NTS.
If this continually occurs then you should check some things first
- If your filter system working perfectly
- If the filter system is enough for your tank
- If you are maintaining and cleaning it properly
- If none of these above then the reason could be that the frequent water change is more than it should.
After noticing the cloudy water, you replaced all or some of the water from your tank. It was then crystal clear for a while but then again it becomes cloudy shortly after. It occurred due to the wipe-out of beneficial bacteria that usually builds up. The less initial water you can change, the better. You should give your tank some time to build up and flourish bacteria.
Another reason could be the plunged pH level of your water tank. Thus, it is very important to frequently check the pH of your tank after every water change. You can use pH strips and a pH tester in your tank. You can use a digital tester for your tank who also indicates the temperature of your tank which is great for your tank maintenance.
If the pH level drops below 6 then Ammonia cannot be metabolized properly. You can also check Ammonia and Nitrite levels frequently to solve this problem.
What are the recommended levels of your tank?
- pH should be between 6 to 9
- Chlorine and ammonia level should be nearing 0
- Nitrite (NO2) level should be less than .5 ppm (parts per million)
- Nitrate (NO3) level should be less than 40 ppm (parts per million)
No matter what happens you should maintain these levels for your tank always. Though turtles are fairly strong creatures and able to endure quite a bit harsh environment.
But you never should let the ammonia level rise in your tank. It is because the high level of ammonia can burn the eyes of your turtles and make them uncomfortable to stay in the water of your tank. If the level gets too high it could make a worse situation for your tank. Though turtles may feel discomfort fishes of your tank could start to die.
What Problem May Occur In A Cloudy And Dirty Turtle Tank?
- Damaging turtle’s eyesight
- Shell infection
- Turtle’s ear infection
- Skin infection and fungi
- Respiratory disease
- Parasitic worms
- Digestive disease
Some ways to boost the bacteria cycle in your tank are described below.
1. Vacuum Aquarium Frequently
Having an aquarium vacuum is not that necessary unless your messy pet in your tank such as a turtle. It really helps a lot in keeping the tank clean. A vacuum cleaner can do both, vacuums up bits of waste from the bottom of the tank and perform a partial water change every time it is used.
While vacuuming the tank bottom, you should never allow causing the fluctuation of ammonia that might cause harm to your turtle and fish. A special hose-like gravel vacuum is easy to clean a turtle tank’s bottom.
Keep in mind it is not that important to have a vacuum in for tank unless it is too big, more than 75 gallons. In the bare tank, it is not even worth having.
2. Working Fishes
Working fishes means those fish that eat algae and consume leftover foods and waste from the bottom of your tank. Algae Eater, Catfish, Plecos, Otos and Ghost Fish are these kinds of fishes. These fishes are great at keeping your tank water balanced.
Some think to add shrimp such as Ghost Shrimp into the tank. But it is not probably a good idea as turtle tends to eat those normally.
Also, it is recommended to use just only to have one or two working fish first because turtles try to eat anything smaller than them and they might get a nip if it is a bit bigger. On the contrary, more fish means more ammonia production and that means the rise of the ammonia level in your turtle tank which is also not a good idea.
Keep in mind adding fishes to your tank requires adding aeration to your turtle tank. You will also need to give your turtle tank hideouts, stones and plants for the fishes’ inhabitant with the turtle.
3. Use of Water Conditioners
Using water conditioners on a cloudy tank is one of the easiest and fastest solutions to solve cloudiness. It can get your tank water condition balanced in the shortest time.
It is also a cheap solution. You can find tables which you can put in tank water to dissolve and viola, it will reduce chlorine from the tank water on its own.
4. Bacteria Supplement
There are some solutions that contain starter culture of beneficial bacteria. These kinds of solutions work great for New Tank Syndrome. These usually boost the growth and reproduction in your tank to balance the water for turtles and fishes as fast as these can.
These are also good to use after immediate cleaning and the replacement of water. Use it after each half water change or filter cleaning is also recommended in your tank. You can use them while keeping your turtle inside as their poop consumption accelerate bacteria’s growth.
5. Adding Canister Filter with UV Sterilizers
Though it is the opposite of bacteria supplements and water conditioners, UV sterilizers also work better when you have excess bacteria than you need in your tank. Almost all canister filters have UV Sterilizers. Rather than initial tank cycle works, these are very much efficient in keeping your large tank crystal clear.
Killing harmful floating algae, bacteria, viruses and harmful pathogens all together from the water flow is its main work. Usually, microalgae spores cause green water and free-floating heterotrophic bacteria cause cloudy water.
Water is being continuously purified in much more amount through a Canister Filter. The water gets purified mechanically and biologically by the different filter trays. It ensures clear water of turtle tank for a bit longer period.
Keep in mind that UVM lamps that are usually used for turtle basking cannot be used to do sterilization of your tank water.
6. Adding Plant to the System
Normally most aquarium plants take ammonia and nitrate as food. Thus, adding some plants might help you with the maintenance to keep your water clean.
All aquatic plant species will do the work but the floating ones will do much better. It is because floating plants have much more access to more CO2 from the atmosphere for nutrient exchange.
Also, beware of what plant you use in your turtle tank as the turtle might take it as a snack. Not all aquatic plants are ok for turtles but toxic sometimes. Thus, you should choose between two types of plants and its way.
- Quick growing plants which are toxin-free.
- Or other plants through a divider or by a connecting aquarium
Here are some species of plants that you can use in a turtle tank
- Amazon Frogbit
- Hornwort
- Giant Duckweed
- Dwarf Duckweed
- Water Lettuce
Depending on the species some turtle might be interested or not to eat these plants.
7. Feeding in scheduled time
No more overfeeding is the easiest piece of general advice to maintain the tank. It is one of the main causes of dirty tank water in turtle tanks. You can give 2 years old or younger turtles nutrient-rich food 3 times a week. For the older one, you can reduce the number to one.
Veggies are low in calories but will make less waster in your tank where else fish meat and other nutrient-rich foods might make more waste for your tanks.
It also depends on turtles too.
- Red Eared Sliders are herbivores and make less waster than other turtle species.
- Alligator snapping ones are less active. Thus, require less frequent feeding.
- Softshell turtle has a higher metabolism and needs to feed more often.
- Scheduled Regular maintenance
- Clean the treys of the Canister filter at least once in two months
- Vacuum the tank bottom two to three-time per month
- Sterilize water at least once a week especially after feeding
- Perform 30% to 40% water replacement every week
Final Words
It is not that hard to keep your pet turtle’s tank clean. It just needs some work and maintenance regularly.
Keep the water clean should be your priority if you love your pet turtle. As they are a bit messy you can’t but unaware of your tank’s water being dirty and cloudy. Just try to follow the steps mentioned above and you might get your loving pet turtle to live more years than you can expect.