levels

Question
I have a 55 gal tank with one turtle in it. I recently went to replace some of the water and checked the levels for the first time and they are all very high. I bough EasyBalance to stabalize the the pH and alkalinity levels and added the required amount. Nothing changed. I just added the required amount again and still no change. Please help!

Answer
Hey Alicia,

Sorry no one else answered you sooner!

Turtles are generally okay in a wide range of water, however, if you're worried there are some easy steps to take to change the water for the better.

First, it sounds like there is a TON of waste from your turtle in the substrate. Take your turtle out and place him in a bucket with some of the old water in it. Fill your tank half way with water and stir your gravel. Once all the nasty gunk is floating around in the water, quickly get it out before the waste settles again. A Gravel vacuum (6$ at walmart) helps out a ton during this! Rearrange your gravel to be sloped again, and place your turtle back in once the water is clear, and at the right level. Add Amquel and NovAqua instead of EasyBalance. These are usually a bit more expensive, but work a hundred times better. I keep live fish that breed, and these are the products I use. They're safe for my frogs, so they should be safe for your turtle. Another idea to help keep the tank clean is to get a filter to circulate the water. With running water, your turtle will feel more at home, and the filter will help break down waste to avoid water spikes in the future.

Hope this helps, and good luck! Best wishes.