Why is there no algae in my friends turtle tank?

[epond83]

Ammonia doesn't affect turtles the same way (gill function) however it can irrate the skin and eyes at higher levels.

How has the tank now cycled? If there is ammoinia in the water bacteria should be thriving on that by now. I have a turtle with a heat lamp and a UVB lamp and the tank is fully cycled.

Maybe his water has chloramines in it and if not treated will not allow the proper bacteria to grow. Turtles can handle much high nitrates then ammoina, even more so then fish. Even if he does not change the water allowing to cycle whould improve the turtles health.

On a side note for some reason my turtle tank which has been set up for 2 years will only grow brown algea, no other kinds. I'm not complaining just thought it was interesting.

 

[brianhellno]

Ammonia doesn't affect turtles the same way (gill function) however it can irrate the skin and eyes at higher levels.

How has the tank now cycled? If there is ammoinia in the water bacteria should be thriving on that by now. I have a turtle with a heat lamp and a UVB lamp and the tank is fully cycled.

Maybe his water has chloramines in it and if not treated will not allow the proper bacteria to grow. Turtles can handle much high nitrates then ammoina, even more so then fish. Even if he does not change the water allowing to cycle whould improve the turtles health.

On a side note for some reason my turtle tank which has been set up for 2 years will only grow brown algea, no other kinds. I'm not complaining just thought it was interesting.

I'm thinking your right about the chloramines in the water. I know he has to add roughly two to three gallons of water a day to keep the water above the filters intake because of the waterfalls the filters create. Since the tank is a 55 gallon that's only filled about half way I'm guessing he's adding about a 12% solution of water with chloramine/chlorine a day. He doesn't treat the water either so this could greatly inhibit beneficial bacteria growth. I guess the next question is does chloramine/chlorine effect turtles the same way as fish?

 

[scalesandfins]

you need to take the turtles and throw them in the nearest pond. problem solved

 

[brianhellno]

you need to take the turtles and throw them in the nearest pond. problem solved

*sigh* I know... You speak the truth... I didn't make this thread to get a rise out of people or to get people to start hating on my friend (although he deserves it). I made it because I thought maybe he was doing something unique that maybe turtle owners did differently than fish owners that stopped algae growth. It unfortunately turned out that that he's just a horrible reptile keeper.

I guess I shouldn't be asking questions about weather or not the water parameters are bad for the turtle but instead I should be trying to get my friend to start being responsible for his pet or to at the very least give the animal to someone that will take care of him properly.

As time goes on I'll update on the progress in case anyone is interested.