Cloudy, Smelly turtle water...?

Question

i got a red eared slider w/ a 20gal. tank, no rocks, a turtle landing, some plastic plants that float around, a UV lamp, a heat lamp and a 30gal pump. i recently switched out a 10 gal. mechanical pump for the 30gal. mechanical/chemical pump. ever since the swap i notice the water getting smellier and cloudier faster than before. i do partial water changes, full water changes with the same results.

Answer 1

2 words BIGGER TANK

RES need at least a 55 gal tank when they are full grown and i suggest using 2 filters as it will keep the water cleaner

Answer 2

Depends on the size of your turtle?  How big is he?

If he is bigger than 2" that tank  is not even big enough for him.

If you have a filter thats not working you are either over feeding those dry pellets or like I said your turtle is to big they foul the water cause the p**p so much. They need fish like they eat in the wild ..give crickets and snails and meal worms fly..but their main diet in the wild is wild guppies, minnows and goldfish.

You need a filter that willpump the most gallons per minute. Get a Penguin or Marineland filter.

Walmart sells a 55 gallon tank with hood, light and decent filter for $153.00. You would need to buy some extra stuff, but that is a cheap tank set up with a good filter. You still need the rep light and large enough gravel they can’t swallow., and a dock…and fish and rep food. Start saving!



I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries..

I have had my 2 girls for 36 yrs. Plus an 8 and 5 yr old and now a 2 yr old... Been in a pond for almost 7 yrs now.

**The bigger the environment the bigger the turtle. You know they get to be 12" if cared for properly?

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA for 8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they need to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always.

Their water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot.

You need a good filter system! Gravel larger than they can swallow.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in the tanks and watch them disappear! This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also!

They need leafy greens( Romaine, Butter lettuce. Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.

You probably already know that they get sick easily, shell rot,respitatory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing,blowing bubbles from his mose, swollen eyes..so many illnesses.

Answer 3

full water change and get rid of that contaminated pump or soak it in clorox  bleach. Then flush it in a pan under a running water for min of 20 min.