Turtle Help

[n3ont3tra]

My dad is having some problems with his turtles, and want me to find out how to get them healthier, and why he's having these problems. So, the setup:

55 gallon
gravel
standard lights

turtles:
1 Eastern Painted Turtle (~5")
1 Red Eared Slider (~6")
1 Musk Turtle (~2")
1 catfish (not the usual cories)
1 crayfish

The tank stays at 72 degrees.

ph is "low".

The tank water is green. He did a 50% water change and it didn't help.
The turtles have some kind of slime on their skin.

How do we get rid of the green water and make the turtles healthier?

I've suggested getting another fiilter and getting some better test kits. I'm pretty sure there is ammoonia and nitrite...
help?

I know the tank is overstocked but he doesn't believe me.

 

[candyraver]

My dad is having some problems with his turtles, and want me to find out how to get them healthier, and why he's having these problems. So, the setup:

55 gallon
gravel
standard lights

turtles:
1 Eastern Painted Turtle (~5")
1 Red Eared Slider (~6")
1 Musk Turtle (~2")
1 catfish (not the usual cories)
1 crayfish

The tank stays at 72 degrees.

ph is "low".

The tank water is green. He did a 50% water change and it didn't help.
The turtles have some kind of slime on their skin.

How do we get rid of the green water and make the turtles healthier?

I've suggested getting another fiilter and getting some better test kits. I'm pretty sure there is ammoonia and nitrite...
help?

I know the tank is overstocked but he doesn't believe me.

That tank isn't even big enough for 1 turtle...I have 2 red ear sliders in a 300 gallon stock tank...
& Gravel? Do you know turtles can swallow gravel....& as for a filter,man,you need the greatest filter ever just for 1 turtle...there's sadly a lot of changes that have to be made,& when you were giving measurements...there's no way you meant 5 inch,6 inch& 2 inch?? It's 10 gallons per inch of turtle...

I'm sorry I sound harsh,but this is cruel...it really is

 

[n3ont3tra]

Anyone else?

 

[leec]

Dont forget the UVA/UVB lights for the shell!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Forgot to add - we let the turtles out when it's sunny so they get some sunlight.

 

[my fat fish]

Anyone else?

what else do u need to know you will have problems to to overstocking and terrapins are messy animals there messy when eating and when pooping they need big well filtered tanks like candy said

also do your turtles have a basking area?

 

[n3ont3tra]

They have an area that they can get all of the way out of the water with. No light over it, though.

 

[Turtle_Neil]

They need a UVB light and a heat light for the basking area, a tank of around 120G (needs at least 90G of water), and a large external filter rated to twice the actual amount of water in the tank. Does the tank sit in direct sunlight? This could well be the reason for the green water, but certainly overloading the tank and filter (it's half the size it needs to be for just the turtles!) is your main problem. Also, what is the feeding pattern like as you may also be overfeeding.

Hope this helps and you can get things sorted and soon!

Neil

 

[n3ont3tra]

Welcome to the forum, Neil, and thanks for posting!

Bought an external filter. It should get here in a few days, I think.
The turtles are generally fed pellets, and sometimes earthworms.

EDIT: The tank actually gets a lot of sunlight - it's in a big furniture store, right near the doorway. We put a background on the back, but it looks like we'll need it on the sides as well.

 

[Turtle_Neil]

Thanks

How many pellets and how often are you feeding? Do you offer any greens at all?

 

[Rhykiru]

well, if its near a door way, is there a window there that lets sunlight in? If there is, that does nothing since uvb cannot pass through windows. I would suggest investing in a good uvb (5-10 grade) as in the long run, it will be better for them ^^

 

[Turtle_Neil]

well, if its near a door way, is there a window there that lets sunlight in? If there is, that does nothing since uvb cannot pass through windows.

Actually, all UV light cannot pass through glass, and it's transmission is also severely reduced by water, but it is light in general that promotes algal growth in tanks, as if it were only UV then there would be no problem anyway seeing as how fish tanks tend to be glass themselves! The UVB light as you said needs to be 5% or above, and over the baskign area along with a heat lamp

 

[n3ont3tra]

So should I get something like this:
ZooMed ReptiSun 5.0 UVB bulbs
to put in the strip light already on there

and then this:
Clamp Light
with this bulb:
Zoo Med Halogen

 

[Turtle_Neil]

The ReptiSun 5.0 is fine, just make sure you get the right length for your fitting, the clamp lamp is great, but leave the guard off, but that bulb is a waste of money tbh, just get a normal (not energy saving) household spot bulb for really cheap from your local hardware store? Here we call them reflector bulbs, and they come in various sizes like R63, R80, etc... Not sure they'd be the same there tho

 

[n3ont3tra]

Okay, I think I know what your talking about...

The filter should've arrived on Friday, along with a UV sterilizer.
I called him and he said that the guy that was supposed to deliver it couldn't find the address. It's the only furniture store in the area. How hard could it be??
I'm not sure if he still got it or not...