You may want to turn off the filter in your tank at night to reduce the noise, save energy, etc. However, it is never a good idea to turn off your tank’s filter unless you absolutely have to. It’s all to do with ensuring that your turtles are kept safe and healthy in an environment they expect.
As you know, the filter in your turtle tank is key to maintaining a healthy environment for the turtles. Turning it off at night could disrupt the balance in the tank, thus endangering your turtles. They need very specific tank levels – from temperature to pH.
Therefore, in order to ensure that your turtle tank is perfectly balanced for your animals, simply leave the filter on at night! If the noise is a problem, then you might have to consider putting the tank in a different room.
How do I cool down my turtle tank?
Your turtles need a perfectly balanced tank, especially temperature-wise, to ensure that they can thrive in the environment. Most of us tend to worry only about the tank getting too cold; however, turtle tanks can indeed get too hot, too. If the turtle tank is too hot, then the turtles run the risk of getting burnt and will likely avoid their basking area due to this.
Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to lower the temperatures. First, you can start by controlling the temperature of the heat lamp (when possible). The lamp could also be too big or too hot for that tank, so ensure that you have the right one.
If the tank happens to be particularly hot because of the season, then you can gently add cold water to the tank. However, in order to avoid shocking your turtle, only change the temperature of the tank by about three to four degrees at a time, and do so gradually.
Do turtles like bubblers?
Since turtles are relatively calm and slow-paced creatures, many of us tend to believe that they do not do much. However, that is not the case! In fact, turtles happen to be very playful creatures. They love playing with their owners in many ways. Although your turtle is unlikely to play fetch with you, there are things that your turtle will enjoy doing.
One of the best toys for turtles is a bubbler. It is something new for the turtles to discover. Many have found that their turtles swim up against the bubbles, playfully interacting with them.
Therefore, it could be a good idea to put a bubbler in your turtle tank and allow your turtles to play with it a few times per day. We all need a little fun occasionally – and while a handful of bubbles may not like much to you or me, it’s a world of difference in a turtle tank!
What does an air pump do in a turtle tank?
In short, air pumps push oxygen into the water. They are commonly used in aquariums, and people often also place them in their turtle tanks, but are they necessary? Maybe not – meaning it might be worth considering how you set up your tank before you go ahead and invest in too many extra gadgets!
Turtle tanks do not necessarily need air pumps. Turtles do not breathe underwater, and instead go to the surface when they need to take in air. You would only have to install an air pump in your turtle tank if the tank also contained fish. However, if it is just your turtles in there, then the air pump will not be doing much.
Check with the aquatic center you buy and adopt from as to whether or not an air pump is really needed – the likelihood is, it’s not.
Do turtles like flowing water?
As we have seen, turtles can enjoy movement in the water, especially in the form of bubbles! When it comes to the flow of their water on a day to day basis, however, they tend to prefer things a little gentler paced.
Generally speaking, turtles like calm water. They do not need you to provide pumps or other things in your tanks that will help the water to flow.
Some have found that putting water fountains in their turtle ponds adds something extra for them to play with and use, but in tanks, you do not need to worry about creating flowing water, as they are far more likely to appreciate calm and relaxing conditions.
Can a turtle live without a filter?
As you know, the water filter is in your turtle tank to maintain the water quality. Your tank needs to be clean, with good quality water, to ensure that your turtles stay healthy and happy.
You could, of course, maintain a tank’s water quality without using a filter. However, in order to ensure that the water is healthy and clean enough for your turtles, you will have to clean the tank and change the water far more frequently. Therefore, it is best to have a water filter installed as an absolute priority.
However, if you do not want to fit a filter for budgetary reasons, then it is important to note that you can maintain the tank without one. That being said, it is not advisable to keep your turtle tank without a filter, especially as they are messy creatures that will filthy up the tank in a manner of days!
You will have to clean the tank far more frequently, which will become difficult for you and your turtle to manage. It is best to avoid the problem and opt for a quality filter outright.