Habitat - Indoor :: 250gal Setup Progress - Picture Heavy

[papoopeepoo]

Sorry to hear about the turtles' aggression problems. I don't know of any solutions other than separation in the same take or another one.

The tank looks great!

[steve]

I think a sheet of acrylic with some holes drilled into it could work as well. Though for a large tank, the eggcrate is more sturdy. If I had a large tank to divide, I would use black eggcrate and add some glass strips to hold it in place.

[jason2713]

Black would be the color I'd choose, plus with the crate, if I add fish, they could freely move back and forth which may be a good thing for their well being lol. I dont know. I'm still thinking I'm just going to give her another smaller enclosure and let Cojack have free reign. Besides, she's not the one causing all the ruckus.

On another note, I was changing out the water using a siphon to empty the tank after I added the 100lbs of additional sand. It took 5 hours to drain. I then reversed the siphon so that it added water. I **thought** it would take 2-3 hours, so left the house and came back to the entire basement flooded. I have been dealing with the musty smell now since Sunday. If anyone does this, and wants some tips from me....let me know. I know way more about getting the water up, and musty smell out of carpet than I ever wanted to know.

[cutepanda86]

I like Steve's idea and I like that the fish could move about freely.

Oh dear. When it comes to water (I'm probably overcautious) I always watch it. I don't want turtle water on the carpet (especially when I'm cleaning the tank - turtle poo and carpet - big no no in case you were wondering. ;P) but also because I put aquarium salt in my tank. Not sure what that will do to the carpet but better safe than sorry.

[jason2713]

I steam cleaned the carpets 8 times with rug doctor, in between each I put an entire box of baking soda. Y'day I steam cleaned the carpets with hot water with 10 lemons squeezed into the water making it very acidic. Then let that sit for 2 hours, took a spray bottle of lemon water over it again and scrubbed it into the carpet. Let that sit for 2 more hours. Then steam cleaned them again. Put baking soda again over night. The entire time I have all the lights on, the A/C running, and dehumidifier running, and fans with a window unit running. After all this over the past 3 days, its finally working. I can eat off this carpet.

After I vacuumed the baking soda up this morning, I put down a nice baking soda/fabreeze mix, left the A/C on, lights on, dehumidifier on, fans on, and also put my air purifier which lays out ozone in the room. I'm determined.

[cutepanda86]

Well good for you. I'd have pulled it up and pitched it out by now. lol

By the way, what food would you eat on the carpet?

[steve]

Sorry about the accident. I would probably just get rid of the carpet. Does your basement floor have a drain?

I'm always within visual distance when I'm draining/filling the tank. Something always goes wrong... a clip looses its grip, the tube develops a crack, the hose adaptor leaks, etc. Use a powerhead to drain the tank next time, it will be a lot faster.

[jason2713]

I got some new additions to the tank. I'll be done tomorrow and snap some pictures. I'm super excited!!

[cutepanda86]

Awesome!!

[jason2713]

Added some fake plants, about 20 feeder fish (gold fish)




AND!



TWO NEW CUTIES! I went to buy a bigger hood for my UVA/UVB bulbs and saw these two. Their colors and shell patterns are pretty, just couldn't resist. I've separated Sophia. Cojack seems to be fine with them.

[jason2713]

Sorry about the accident. I would probably just get rid of the carpet. Does your basement floor have a drain?

I'm always within visual distance when I'm draining/filling the tank. Something always goes wrong... a clip looses its grip, the tube develops a crack, the hose adaptor leaks, etc. Use a powerhead to drain the tank next time, it will be a lot faster.

well I got the smell out, and the carpets have been steam cleaned literally 20 times with the rug doctor. They have never been so clean, I got virtually every stain out of this basement. I'm good now.

[cutepanda86]

Adorable little cuties!! Nice little add with the plants.

[jason2713]

I'm going to have to take a video of how Cojack is nudging the little ones under their a$$es when checking the new ladies out. She's still getting used to them. I may add Sophia back once I get her fed and plump over the next several days. It'll be supervised visits.

I feel like a parole officer.

[cutepanda86]

She might be looking out for them. Cojack seems like a real sweetheart. Parole officer is a good way to put it.

[jason2713]

I think its funny how tiny these 3"-4" RES look next to her. She's a monstrocity. She's been just nudging them gently, but with her size, she is almost flipping them over each time. It's funny to watch. Other than that, Cojack goes on the right most basking area, and I've peeked in to see the small additions on the root looking middle piece. I'm going to put up the UVA/UVB light soon.