#Fish tank filter how to#
#Fish tank filter update#

Mechanical filtration is the most straightforward stage of filtration and probably what you think of when you think of a filter.Įssentially, the mechanical filtration stage strains out any particulate gunk – like turtle feces, uneaten bits of food, and algae – that is floating around in your tank’s water. These different filtration stages each perform different tasks, and it takes all of them to ensure that you’re not only removing waste from the tank but also maintaining water chemistry. Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical FiltrationĮvery filter system used for a turtle tank should have at least mechanical and biological filtration stages, and ideally a chemical filtration stage as well. If you follow the sizing recommendation above of buying a filter that’s rated for two to three times more capacity than your turtle tank, flow rate won’t be a concern. Your filter should be able to filter the entire volume of your tank at least once every hour. The other thing to think about is the flow rate of your filtration system, which is typically measured in gallons per hour (GPH). If you use a filter specifically designed for turtles, you just need a filter with enough capacity for the size of your tank. So, if you have a 50-gallon turtle tank, you should get a filter that offers at least 100 gallons of capacity and ideally closer to 150 gallons.

In general, you should get a filter that offers two to three times as much filter capacity as the size of your tank. The capacities of most canister filters are rated for fish, so you need to scale up when choosing a filter for a turtle tank. Having a powerful filter system is doubly important if you have more than one turtle in a tank, or if you have other fish and plants in the tank along with your turtle. If you only had fish in your tank, you could potentially get away with a slightly underpowered filtration system and still create a healthy living environment.īut that’s not the case with turtles – these reptiles are bigger and produce more waste, so if water isn’t constantly circulating through the filter water conditions can deteriorate rapidly. To help you find the best filter for your turtle tank, let’s take a look at how these filtration systems differ from one another and what that means for your aquatic reptile. So what type of filtration system is best for your turtle tank? If you’re a first-time turtle owner, the sheer number of aquarium filters on the market can be overwhelming.

#Fish tank filter how to#

How to Choose A Filter for Your Turtle Tank While adding plants and fish to your tank can play a role in keeping up the water quality, there’s no substitute for a filtration system when it comes to turtle tanks. Turtles eat more food and also expel more feces and pee, which if not removed from the tank can quickly cause problems for your pet. Just as for fish, it’s important to clean debris and waste out of your turtle tank frequently and to maintain the chemistry of the water.Ĭleaning is doubly important for turtles, in fact, because they create more waste than most fish. That’s not nearly as aesthetically pleasing to look at as a clean tank, nor is it a healthy environment for your turtle. Without a high-quality filter, it wouldn’t take long for your turtle tank to become a sludgy green mess.

#Fish tank filter update#

Last update on / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Do Turtle Tanks Need a Filter? TetraFauna ReptoFilter 50 Gallons, Terrarium Filtration, Keeps Water Clear, 125 GPH, Model:26038 Penn-Plax Cascade All-in-One Aquarium Canister Filter – for Tanks Up to 100 Gallons (265 GPH) –.įluval FX6 High Performance Aquarium Filter, Canister Filter for Aquariums up to 400 Gal. Aqueon Quietflow Internal Power Filter, 10 Gallon,ĮHEIM Classic 2215 External Canister Filter with Media for up to 92 US Gallons