Still cycling tank..

[Wolf3101]

...sort of correct in a wierd sort of way....anyway a hydro5 is a foam filter that you can look up on ebay and buy fairly cheaply. it attaches to a small power head or it can be driven by an air stone.

Your tanks dirty because...

1) you dont have enough filtration. (without the water pressure of a full tank most HOB units limp along at a fraction of their rated capacity.)

2) your tank's filter hasnt had enough time to 'cycle' so that it can break down the fish waste.

3) You need to leave the filter media alone and do more water changes.

NOTE: once you replace the hang on back filter with a proper cannister you'll have to start this WHOLE PROCESS over again.

 

[Mystix212]

Why do you think your turtle has 'too much' room? If I was him, I'd be happier to swim in 125G of water rather than 30G. More water volume = much STABLE water. And easier to keep clean.

 

[Wolf3101]

Mystic...hush...I'm working up to talking him out of the 125....

 

[JEAE21]

lol above..

well the tank isn't "dirty" it's just whity..
i'll give it a few more weeks and see what's up. if it doesn't clear by then..i will be sure that I don't have enough filtration.

i am doing like a 15% water change daily..and trying to mix up the particles in the corner at this time.

well the reason the 125gallon was too big is because he wouldn't use the space. He probably used only 20gallons of the 80something gallons of water that was in it. he would only float, since his neck isn't long enough..and he was mostly on the dock.. i wanted to see my turtle walking on the bottom, not floating around..lol my mom was yelling the first few days that Cola was dead because he wouldn't move..

i might move him into the pond..not sure yet.
i want to obseve him infront of me..not below me. so..


also, will i be able to see scratches if my GLASS tank gets any?

 

[Wolf3101]

Not unless they are really deep ones. I buy a lot of used tanks and run into the problem now and again.

 

[JEAE21]

it seems to be clearing just a little bit.

I mixed his dropping around in the tank, but can i clog the filter by doing this?

and can i use powerheads in tank that are only 1/2 through 3/4 filled?
should I point it down?

 

[Wolf3101]

Sure you can...pointing the outlet down will keep the crud from building up on the bottom of the tank.

 

[crashinc25]

Mystic...hush...I'm working up to talking him out of the 125....

ha-frickin-larious

I guess jumping in with both feet is a good thing, but I think this is a prime example of why working up to monster class is necessary.

I don't really know where or what the 125g is housing right now, but I'd get some filtration and stock in that tank and get some bateria growing in that thing too. 2 tanks with a good supply of bacteria will help.

If you want quick bacteria growth, maybe try biospira from a local LFS. It should be kept in their fridge or cold room. It's pure good bacteria you can add direct to your tank. It might help stabilize more quickly.


I don't know much about turtles, but I'd guess they are disgustingly dirty and crap all over. Just thinking about a turtle with tankmates in a 40g tank just makes me cringe.

As for a glass tank showing scratches. Most of the time, scratches are pretty well hidden, except for deep ones, until you get algae growth on the tank walls. The algae gets into the scratches and makes them really obvious. Just keep the tank clean and the scratches are almost not a factor.

 

[JEAE21]

Is biospira safe with fish & turtles?

lol, it seems like my tank will never get algae..what causes them in the home aquaria? lighting?

and for the powehead..which side should I point it..should I make it that the water force goes towards the filter intank, or on the side that has the filter?

 

[crashinc25]

Biospira was designed specifically for aquarium life. I used it in a 100g tank and it cut my cycling to a week or so??? Well, not technically, but it did a good job at speeding things up. Lighting and natural light causes algae. If you keep your tank lighting to 8 hours or so, algae will be very slow, but will occur. My newest tank took probably 4 months to get algae spots and it's on an 8 hour cycle of lighting.
Powerheads can be used to create a circular flow in the tank. You will find dead spots in the tank where poop or debris collects; that is where the powerhead should be aimed.
Hope this helps.