One of the main reasons people don’t like keeping turtles as pets it’s because they are messy. A cloudy turtle tank water is not an uncommon thing when you keep turtles.
In fact, if you don’t have proper filtration, it’s something you are going to see daily. It’s a deal-breaker for some folks.
Most people buy turtles because they think turtles are easy to keep. They are, but only if you set up everything right.
How to keep turtle tank water clear is one of the main struggles of beginner turtle owners. It shouldn’t be.
It should be easy enough for you to focus on the important things. Enjoying your pet turtle!
In this article, I am going to show you how to keep your turtle tank water clear. It’s what I do in my turtle tank, as well. It’s what you should do, too, if you want to raise a healthy and happy turtle.
Let’s get started!
How to keep your turtle tank water clear?
I keep three red-eared sliders. I’ve kept other pets as well, including dogs, cats, and fish. But, turtles will always stay as my favorite animals.
From my experience, red-eared sliders make their tank water dirty, rather sooner than later. Especially when you have more turtles, as I do.
Water quality is important for every living being, especially for those that live in.
Turtles spend most of their time in the water, so they need to have clean and clear water in the tank. Unlike fish, turtles are not that sensitive to water quality.
However, that doesn’t mean that bad water quality can’t hurt them. There are many ways to make your turtle tank water clear.
Here are some of them:
1. Set Up a Larger Tank
When it comes to turtle tanks, the bigger the better. Turtles are messy animals.
They eat a lot, and they poop a lot.
Smaller tanks quickly get polluted from the uneaten food, or the waste turtles produce. I’ve kept turtles in smaller tanks, and in larger tanks, as well.
Cleaning a small tank means cleaning the whole tank while cleaning larger tanks can be as small as a partial water change.
Choose whatever works best for you.
2. Find Good and Reliable Filtration System
Without a filter in your turtle tank, it will be hard to maintain constant water quality. It can be done, however, it requires daily maintenance.
It’s time-consuming, and most importantly it’s an unnecessary task. Make yourself a favor and set up a good filtration system.
If you want to learn more about turtle filters check out our article on that topic: Do turtles need a filter?
3. Do Water Changes Regularly
You should do water changes whether you have a filter or not. But, with proper filtration, it will be far less than without a filter.
Water changes are an excellent way to keep the water quality on point.
4. Feed the Turtles in Separate Place
Uneaten food is a real problem in turtle tanks. It quickly pollutes the water. Try to feed the turtles in a separate container to avoid an additional mess in the tank.
5. Vacuum the Leftovers
If you can’t feed your pet turtle in a separate place, it’s wise to vacuum the leftovers as soon as your turtle finish with eating.
6.Add Plants in the Tank
I’ve seen planted turtle tanks before. I’ve tried, and it didn’t work. My turtles always see the plants as food. You should try, at least, as plants consume nitrates and they are an excellent way to keep the water crystal clear.
7. Add Air Pump in Your Tank
In general, turtles don’t need air pumps in their tanks. They breathe atmospheric oxygen as people do.
However, aeration in your turtle tank is never a bad idea, as it makes the water clearer.
Final Thoughts
As you have seen, there are many ways to make your turtle tank water clear.
Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong.
Just make sure you do everything you can to make yours and your turtle live easier.
After all, our pet turtles deserve the best.
We have a big pond behind our house with lots of turtles and I enjoy watching them and feeding them turtle food in the mornings, some of the turtles have a very heavy moss growing on them even to the point of covering them and it looks heavy is this normal or is there something I can do for them