What is the PROPER way to Clean an Outdoor Pond Turtle?

Question

Okay..So I have a minor disaster. I have a hard shell turtle pond in the ground. (Currently only One turtle, No Fish or plants) Its small about 120 gallons. The pump fell over while I was away for the weekend and the water pumped out into the ground, the turtle pond raised up out of the ground and I have to remove the pond and reshape the hole. Anyways, when I do this, I want to completely drain the rest of the pond, scrub it down, the rocks too and basically start over. What is the best cleaning solution for scrubbing the inside of the pond, the rocks and the pump and other equipment. Their is algea on everything.

Hubby seems to think I can do a shock treatment like a pool (turtle removed out of pond of course first) and then there is a product to neutralize the chlorine so I can put the turtle back in? Is this true? If so what are the products? He seemed to know what he was talking about until I got him inside LOWE's and then all of sudden he "forgot" what he needed and now apparently I am on my own to do this task?

So How do I clean this pond without harming my turtle? If you have links to show me the products too I would appreciate it. I have Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart around me.

Thank you in advance for your answers!

Answer 1

Oh the TROL-s on this site,

I was just answering your email..so I will answer here. A scrube brush and elbow grease. You never want to use soaps or chemicals, unless its a sealent for ponds.

Do you have a cement pond, a hard pond liner that goes in the gound, or do you use a black liner in the ground.

Turtles need no chemicals to live in water but when you put the feeder fish in to have him chase and eat for his meals  then use a decholr called 'amquel'. This way the fish will live past a an hour.

To keep my pond clear I use liquid barley and algea destroyer. Keeps it clear along with my pondmaster 1000. I have 5 sliders and my pond has never less than 100 fish and no more than 200 at one time.

I feed romaine lettuce , butter lettuce grapes, tomat oes 4 to 5 times a week for thier eyes and the fish for protein and calcium. I know so many people on this site will say goldfish are bad and fatty but when I got these 36 yrs ago thats all we had besides tadpoles I would catch. There still here and NEVER, I have been blessed.

I give garden worms, meal worms, snails, crickets, flies, crayfish and dried cubed tubliflex or blood worms 4 times a week.  I spend to much on 5. My pond is 150 gallons. People will also say these guys are not social yet if they have plenty of room and food..as you can see by my pic's they all get along just fine!.

In the winter I put in 2 heaters in. Plus a rep light if needed. I live in Orange County, California. I have a150 gal pond from Sears it has a plastic pond liner.

I buy all my pond products from 'drsfostersmith.com' great prices and people. They have m-F a on line chat for every kind of pet with every kind of vet available for any situation with tank,pet or reptile. They have helped me alot!

44 yrs in fish

36 plus yrs with sliders, Mom of 5

Answer 2

Bleach or vinegar only costs about $1 a gallon, use bleach on the rocks and the vinegar on the pond liner,the bleach may discolor the liner if it is black but vinegar wont,mix the vinegar with baking soda to make a paste,then scrub on the liner,rinse them all really well afterward and then fill it and plop that little b*****d turtle in there.