How to Clean an Aquatic Turtle Tank
You love your turtles--not so much that you want your home to smell like them, though. Completely emptying and cleaning the tank once a month will prevent this. And, it's necessary for healthy turtles. But EGAD, what a pain in the neck! So... what's the easiest way to clean the tank? Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- A plastic siphon tube system
- A battery-operated water vacuum
- Gloves
- A toothbrush
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Paper Towels
- Turkey baster
- A pitcher
- Organic waste degrader
Instructions
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Place your turtles in a place where you can watch them: a room, a large box, or a kiddy pool. Make sure it is about 75 degrees. Attach the siphon hose to the battery-operated water vacuum. Place the other end of the hose in a bathtub, sink, or out a window if you have a yard you don't mind watering.
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Turn vacuum on and allow it to empty your tank. While the turtle tank empties, take any docks or other accessories to the sink. Scrub them with a toothbrush and white vinegar. Rinse them very well.
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Rinse out your filter and the media inside, using only water.
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The tank may still be emptying. Take advantage of this time to clean the inside walls by removing algae or other stains. Use a toothbrush and baking soda for hard water stains. Use a paper towel and white vinegar all around the inside of the tank.
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Remove the siphon tube from the vacuum once the tank is empty. If there is a small amount of water left in it, that's fine. Siphoning systems come with attachments for your faucet. Attach the tube to your faucet, and begin filling the tank with clean, warm water. Hey, why not check on the turtles, now, too?
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While the tank is filling, put all your accessories back in the tank. Anyone with turtles knows that they will redesign the tank, as soon as put them in, anyway.
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Add some organic waste decomposer according to the directions on the bottle once the tank is filled. Do you still see some floating debris at the edges of the tank? Use the turkey baster to suck them up. Empty them into a pitcher. Now, you will have a picture-perfect clean tank. So remember to put the turtles back in!
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Tips & Warnings
A 10% water change once a week helps maintain sanitary conditions.
The larger the tank, the cleaner it stays. Aquatic turtles, such as Red-Eared Sliders, require about 10 gallons per inch, from head to tail.
Feeding the turts in a separate tank can keep the tank clean longer. So can removing any organic waste (left over food, or turtle feces) each day.
Do NOT use chemicals such as glass cleaner to clean the inside of your tank! This can cause serious injury or death to a little turt.
Resources
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Comments
View all 17 Comments-
i have had my painted turtle for about 5 years...always used tap water to fill the tank... i drain and clean the tank about every 6-8 weeks...the dumb thing is huge and looks like it will outlive me...probably around 8 inches long and thats just the shell...anyone want a turtle???
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the water temp is only reading 70ish and it should be higher. you'd think that warmer water wouldn't be good, but apparently it is. i dunno. all i do know it is that it isn't stinking as much today if not at all. huh?? puzzling.
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what is the water temp? we have not used a heater all summer... usually warmer water grows more bacteria... ????
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Larica, we use tap water and have treated it with the drops and the tablets. I really believe it's because the water isn't being kept warm enough. we're going to try to replace some of the water with warmer water and go from there. possibly get a second heat lamp if necessary.
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Kirsten call my cousin at the hammonsasett nature center Russell miller he deals with all this stuff daily and the nature center never smells. Remember where we had paiges party. He might be able to give you some helpful tips. He had been doing this for years and went to school for environmental studies. Good luck
