If you have an aquatic turtle as a pet, one of the most important components of their environment is the water. Aquatic turtles use water to swim, drink, and even to eat. Therefore, it is very important that you put safe water into their tank. In today’s article, I will explain how to make tap water safe for your turtle.
Can you use tap water for turtles?
Yes, you can certainly use tap water for turtles. However, there are certain steps you should take to make sure the tap water is safe for your turtle.
This is because tap water is usually high in minerals such as fluoride and iron. Some tap water even contains dangerous levels of chlorine.
All of these minerals can cause a chemical imbalance in the water, and can even lead to a dangerous pH level. In order to insure you have safe water for your turtle, you should always condition tap water before you put it in the tank.
How to make tap water safe for turtles?
The key to making tap water safe for your turtle is to condition it before you put it in the tank. There are two easy ways you can do this.
Water conditioner
You can buy water conditioner for your turtle tank online for around $5. This water conditioner helps dechlorinate tap water and also helps balance out other minerals. All you need to do is drop the conditioner in the water and wait a couple minutes. After the conditioner dissolves in the water, you can add it to your tank.
Let the water sit outside
If you don’t have water conditioner, you can also make tap water safe by letting the water sit outside on a sunny day. This is because the UV rays from the sun can help dissolve the minerals in the tank. I would suggest leaving the water outside for at least 24 hours.
While the water sits outside, make sure no debris falls into the bucket, as this can cause the water to become unbalanced.
Using tap water for turtle tank
If you are filling your turtle tank up with tap water for the first time, you might want to test the water with a pH tester. You can buy a pH tester online for less than $10. The ideal pH level for most aquatic turtles is between 6.5 and 8.5.
Is it dangerous to use tap water for your turtle tank?
While tap water will most likely not kill your turtle, it can lead to many health issues if you do not properly condition it. For example, using unconditioned tap water can result in your tank water becoming “hard.” Hard water refers to water that is high in dissolved calcium and magnesium.
If your turtle lives in a tank with hard water, it can lead to calcium build up on their shell. This can cause white calcium deposits to build up on your turtle’s shell. In extreme cases, this can lead to shell rot. Your turtle might even try to climb the walls to escape if their water is hard.
If you notice that your turtle’s shell develops white deposits, you should check out my article on how to moisturize a turtle shell.
Hard water can also cause deposits and stains to from on your tank’s glass. If your tank has this issue, you should check out my article How to Clean Hard Water Stains From a Turtle Tank.
What type of water can you use to fill up your turtle tank?
Aside from tap water, you can also use bottled water to fill up your turtle tank. I would suggest purchasing big jugs of bottled water in order to save money. While it might cost more to use bottled water, you will most likely not have to use water conditioner to make it safe.
Regardless of what type of water you use for your turtle tank, it is very important that you have a strong water filter. Not only does this help stabilize the water chemistry, but it also helps remove debris from your water.
If you don’t have a water filter, it can result in bacteria build up in your tank.
Can I use distilled water for my turtle tank?
While you can use distilled water for your turtle tank, I do not recommend it because it will require more work. If you use distilled water in your tank, you will have to add minerals to the water before you put it in your tank. This is because distilled water is stripped of most minerals.
Specifically, you will need to add iron and calcium to distilled water if you plan on putting it into your turtle tank.
Can I use water from a hose to fill up my turtle tank?
Yes, you can use a hose to fill up your turtle tank. However, similar to tap water, you should also you are a water conditioner to make the water safe. I would suggest testing the pH level of your hose water before you put it in your tank.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article gave you some good insight on what type of water you can and cannot use to fill up your turtle tank. As I mentioned earlier, the health of your turtle is directly correlated to the quality of your water.
Aside from putting safe water in your tank, you should also have a filter to help maintain clean water. You should check the water in your turtle tank on a daily basis to make sure it is not getting dirty or murky. If you notice that your water regularly gets dirty, you might need to invest in a higher powered filter.
Additionally, you might want to remove some live plants in your tank if you notice that the water frequently gets dirty.
