How to Clean a Turtle Tank: Water Changes, Filter and Basking Area

Turtles eat, swim and go to the toilet in the same water, so a turtle tank gets dirty much faster than a fish tank. Cloudy water, a smell, and slime on the basking dock are signs the tank needs attention. This guide covers why you should not empty the whole tank, partial water changes, the filter, the basking area, and how to clean up without spreading germs around your home.

It follows the turtle tank advice of RSPCA Australia and the hygiene advice of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For anything about your turtle’s health, talk to a veterinarian who treats reptiles.

Why you do not empty the whole tank

RSPCA Australia explains that decaying food and turtle waste release ammonia into the water, and that bacteria living in the tank and filter convert it into less harmful compounds. This is the nitrogen cycle, and those bacteria are what keep the water safe between cleans.

It says completely changing the water is rarely recommended, as it disrupts those bacteria and the tank’s nitrogen cycle. So a turtle tank is kept clean with small, regular steps rather than a full strip and scrub.

Hygiene first

The FDA says turtles might have Salmonella germs on their bodies even when they appear healthy and clean, and that the germs can also be in the water turtles live in and on their tanks and containers. Before you start:

Pick your cleaning spot. The FDA says turtle habitats and their contents should be carefully cleaned outside of the home. It also says not to clean habitats in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bathtub.
Use dedicated tools. Keep a bucket, siphon, scraper and sponges just for the tank, and never use them for anything else.
Keep young children away. The FDA says not to let children younger than 5, older adults or people with weak immune systems touch anything in the area where reptiles live, including water from their aquariums.
Wear gloves if you have cuts on your hands.

Every day

Remove uneaten food and any droppings you can reach with a net. RSPCA Australia notes that ammonia also comes from decomposing, uneaten food.
Check the filter is running and the heater and lights are working.
Wipe splashes on the outside of the tank and the surface it sits on.

Many keepers feed their turtle in a separate tub of water so less food ends up rotting in the main tank. If you do this, treat the feeding tub like the rest of the tank equipment.

The weekly water change

RSPCA Australia says replacing 4 to 10% of the tank water with aged or treated fresh water each week is generally recommended, to reduce nitrates without affecting the nitrogen cycle. A heavily stocked or messy tank may need more. Your veterinarian or the filter maker can advise on your setup.

Unplug the heater and filter before you lower the water level. A heater out of water can overheat or crack.
Siphon water out into your bucket. Run the siphon over the gravel or bottom of the tank as you go, to pull out waste that has settled there.
Keep a bucket of tank water aside for rinsing the filter (see below).
Prepare the new water. RSPCA Australia says town water is often high in chemicals such as chlorine, which can be toxic to turtles. It suggests leaving it to stand for 12 hours before adding it, or using a commercial preparation to neutralise these chemicals.
Match the temperature of the new water to the tank before you pour it in.
Refill slowly, then plug the filter and heater back in.

Empty the used water down a toilet or an outside drain, not the kitchen sink.

Cleaning the filter

The filter collects the solid waste and holds a large share of the useful bacteria. RSPCA Australia says it is very important that only tank water is used when cleaning a filter. Otherwise, it says, the beneficial bacteria in the filter can be destroyed and lead to “ammonia shock” in the tank.

Unplug the filter first.
Squeeze and swish the sponge or media in the bucket of old tank water you set aside, just enough to free the trapped dirt.
Do not use tap water, soap or bleach on the filter media.
Do not replace all the media at once. If a sponge or cartridge is worn out, follow the filter maker’s instructions on replacing it.

Turtles are messy, so a turtle tank filter usually needs this more often than a fish tank filter. If the flow drops, the filter is due.

The basking area, glass and decor

Basking dock: scrub off slime and droppings with a dedicated brush and warm water during a water change.
Glass: use an aquarium algae scraper or a clean sponge on the inside. Do not use household glass cleaner inside the tank.
Rocks and decor: lift them out and scrub them in a bucket of old tank water, then put them back.
Lamps: let heat and UV lamps cool and keep them dry. Wipe dust or splashes off with a dry cloth.

Test the water

RSPCA Australia says water quality should be checked every 1 to 2 weeks, and after every water change, using commercial aquarium test kits. It suggests checking temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and hardness. Test results tell you whether your cleaning routine is keeping up.

After you finish

Wash your hands. The FDA says to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water immediately after touching a reptile or anything in the area where it lives.
Clean your cleaning spot. Wipe down any outdoor table, utility sink or bucket area you used, and let the tools dry.
Do not let the turtle roam the house. The FDA says not to let reptiles roam freely through the house, especially where food or drink is prepared, served or stored.

For floors or rugs splashed with tank water, see how to get pet smells out of carpet.

A simple routine

Every day: remove leftover food and droppings, and check the filter, heater and lights.
Every week: change a portion of the water, siphon the bottom, scrub the basking dock and wipe the glass.
Every 1 to 2 weeks: test the water, as RSPCA Australia advises, and rinse the filter in old tank water when the flow drops.
Always: clean away from the kitchen and bathroom, and wash your hands afterwards.

Keep fish too? See how to clean a fish tank. For land reptiles, see how to clean a reptile terrarium.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit is made for pet accidents on carpets and fabrics around the home. Keep it, and every other cleaner, out of the turtle tank and away from the tank tools.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean a turtle tank?

Remove leftover food and droppings every day and do a partial water change every week. RSPCA Australia recommends replacing 4 to 10% of the water each week and testing the water every 1 to 2 weeks.

Should I change all the water in a turtle tank?

No. RSPCA Australia says a complete water change is rarely recommended, because it disrupts the bacteria that break down ammonia from waste.

Can I clean the filter under the tap?

No. RSPCA Australia says to use only tank water, as other water can destroy the beneficial bacteria in the filter.

Where should I clean turtle tank equipment?

Outside the home where you can. The FDA says not to clean reptile habitats in the kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bathtub, because turtles can carry Salmonella germs.

Sources

RSPCA Australia: How do I keep my turtle’s tank healthy?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Pet Turtles: A Source of Germs

This guide is general cleaning information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your turtle’s health, talk to a reptile veterinarian.