One of the main reasons you get a pet turtle is to be able to observe them in their tank. It is truly fascinating watching them swim around the tank. Water stains are therefore a big burden, as they completely throw off the aesthetics of your tank. In today’s article, I am going to explain everything you need to know about how to get rid of water stains in your turtle tank.
The main ways to clean hard water stains from a turtle tank is with white vinegar, toothpaste, aquarium cleaner, and water and salt. I will outline each method below. Ideally it is best if you have a razor scraper, but if not, you can use a sponge or a rag.
What causes water stains in a turtle tank?
For starters, it is good to know the cause of the water stains. Water stains occur in tanks where there is hard water. This means that the water refers to water that has a high dissolved mineral content. In particular, it means the water is high in calcium and magnesium.
When the hard water in a tank starts to evaporate, the minerals are left behind because they are too heavy to be evaporated. This cause them to stick to the glass while the water is evaporated above. This is what causes the ugly water stains on your tank. It can also cause your turtle tank to stink. Now you probably want to know how to get rid of them.
To help prevent water stains in your turtle tank, you should use this turtle tank water conditioner.
If there are already water stains on your turtle tank, you should use this glass tank cleaner.
How to clean hard water stains from a turtle tank?
The first step when cleaning water stains in a turtle tank is preparation.
Preparation
Before you start, you must prepare your turtle tank for the cleaning. This means you must remove everything from the tank. Make sure to remove even the pebbles, as the cleaning solution can spill down into the pebbles and contaminate your turtle when you put it back in. I suggest putting your turtle in a plastic tub while you clean the tank.
After you prepare the tank, you can choose your cleaning metho.d There are many different ways you can clean hard water stains from a turtle tank.
The white vinegar method
I prefer the white vinegar method because it is a common household item and is non-toxic. You can start by putting the white vinegar in the microwave for 30 seconds to warm it up. The hot temperature will help loosen up the residue. Afterwards, put it in a spray bottle and spray the tank. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can just use a rag to apply the vinegar to the glass.
Let the vinegar sit on the glass for about two minutes. Afterwards, use a razor scraper or a rag to dislodge the residue. Afterwards, use a clean rag soaked in water to clean off the vinegar.
The toothpaste method
You can also use toothpaste to remove the water stains. Apply a dab of toothepaste on to a wet rag, and then apply it onto the spots of your tank that have water stains. Let it sit for around five minutes.
Afterwards, take a wet rage and remove the toothpaste. This should remove the residue and water stains. If this still doesn’t work, you can try using more toothpaste, or try rubbing it off with vinegar.
Aquarium cleaner
Another easy way to remove stains from the glass is to purchase an aquarium glass cleaner from amazon. There are a bunch of options for under $10. Most just require you to spray the glass, and then wipe it off with a wet rag.
Warm water and salt
If all else fails, or you do not have any of the supplies listed above, you can try the water and salt method. To do this, put a tablespoon of salt into a cup of warm water and mix it around. Then use a spray bottle or rag and apply it to the glass. You might need to scrub hard with a sponge to dislodge any residue that is on the glass.
Final steps
Whatever method you use to clean your tank, it is very important to thoroughly wash your tank afterwards. You want to make sure that any of the solution you used to clean you tank is completely washed away. Even small amounts of toxic substances can cause serious health issues for your turtle.
After you have thoroughly wash your tank, you can then put everything back inside of it.
How to prevent water stains in a turtle tank
As with most problems in a turtle tank, the key is prevention. You should do all you can to prevent water stains from appearing in the future so that you don’t have to regularly clean them.
Below are a full techniques to prevent water stains in a turtle tank.
Get a high-powered filter
While a water filter is not mandatory for a turtle tank, I strongly suggest it. Not only do they help prevent water stains, but they also help filter out harmful bacteria and fungus that might be in your turtle tank water. A filter will naturally clean the water so you don’t have to spend time cleaning the glass.
Water conditioners
Another great and easy way to prevent water stains in your turtle tank is to purchase some water conditioners. These can be purchased for under $5 on amazon. All you have to do is drop them in your water. Best of all, most of them last for two to three months.
Water conditioners help dissolve minerals in the water before they build up on your tank walls. They also help prevent certain diseases in the water such as salmonella.
Conclusion
While you will need to clean your turtle tank every couple of months, there are plenty of steps you can take to prevent water stains from appearing on your turtle tank. If you do have water stains, I hope the steps listed above help you remove them.
If water stains keep appearing in your tank, you should try getting your water from a different source. Tap water is known for having a lot of minerals which can cause water stains. You could also try using well water. If the problem persists, you should try moving your tank to a new location or look into buying a new tank. Older tanks will most likely get water stains more frequently compared to newer tanks.
Lastly, be very careful if you have an acrylic tank, as they can scratch very easily.
