Habitat - Indoor :: A few noob questions

[getit62366]

Hello everyone! I am new here and to turtles so i had a few questions I would like to ask you guys and gals that have a little more experience. I have two res approximately 1.5 - 2" they are currently in a 20 gal long turtle tank. I bought a 75 gal this weekend and a fluval fx5 to make a bigger home for them for the next couple of years(until I can talk my wife into a BIG tank!). So my questions are:

1. Will the be ok in a tank that big at their size now? I will provide rest areas near the top.
2. Will the fx5 be too much for them?
3. What kind of lights shoulding I be using? I have a Exo Terra Repti-Glo 5.0 Compact Fluorescent Tropical Terrarium Lamp for UVB, I am confused as to the UVA, basking lighting, and timing of lighting.
4. Would it be ok to have some small danios and comet goldfish in there with them?

I will post pics tonight or tomorrow as I am doing my research at work today. Thanks in advance for your time and help!

[ljapa]

I can't speak to the FX5.

That tank should be large enough for a bit. You will still want to watch for aggression and be prepared to separate them.

As to lighting, check out the lighting section of the main site:

http://www.redearslider.com/index_lighting_basking.html

Besides the UVB, the other need is heat. I used a ReptiGlo and an incandescent light for months when my son first got his. A timer works great. Ours is set for 13 hours on and 11 off.

Be prepared to lose the fish. Our turtle started in a 20 gallon tank with black neon tetras. When we moved to the 55, we added regular neon tetras. About a month later the regular tetras started disappearing at night. I moved them out. The black neons are still there and just fine.

Goldfish may not be the best. Nutritionally they are not good for the turtle, though I forget the specifics.

[getit62366]

Thanks ljapa!
So a UVB bulb and a incandescent flood would be ok?
I will take out the gold fish, and I am prepared to lose the danios to the turtles!

[Kansasslider]

The Fx is fine but if you want you can adjust the flow rate.

[VeipaCray]

1. Tank size is good for now... you'll probably end up with two tanks in the future to separate them.
2. No problem. I have a FX5 AND a XP4 on my 75. Both are running full force and no issues in that size tank.
3. ljapa is correct.
4. Turtle lunch.

[getit62366]

Thanks Everyone! My UVB bulb went out yesterday so I'll be replacing it, with a reptiglo 10.0. It was the only one I could find today.

[Kansasslider]

5.0 might be better just keep the 10.0 a little further away.

[getit62366]

Ok, will do on the 10.0! Thanks!