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Well I recently just got a tank and I was wondering whats at the bottom of you tank.Anything diffrent not something you see everyday?

I use nothing at all

well thats what I am using now nothing so I am hoping to see what other rec turtles owners are using.So For now I think that I am going to go with river rocks

How about Large Gravel and River rocks


If you want it to be easier to clean put less to nothing in the bottom.

Also, IMHO, the river rocks that are black and brown look nicer.

I use river rocks, some larger rocks and some synthetic stones that came from a crafts store (they're white and light green and are aquarium safe). I don't cover the whole bottom with them, just have enough so that my RES can push them around/rearrange them. For me, the light colors are good because they contrast with the black stock tank and make seeing the debris easier.

update:Well Now I have my 1 inch RES in a 10 gallon tank with a real plant large gravel a basking area and a back drop.

I used to have fish gravel in the bottom. But as he got hungry I noticed him nipping around the rock. So I went to Wally-World and in the crafts I bought some river rock for about $.96 for a bag.

I put the rock around his plant and a little treasure chest I bought. My Mom helped me and we decided not to put any under his filter. So we don't have very many to clean. Sometimes his poo gets stuck between the rocks but we just scoop 'em out and wipe 'em off.

I like some of the backdrops I've seen. My Mom put one of her carvings behind his tank.

I just picked up river rocks, at a river. half are white whith black specks and the other half are black with white specks.

I have a bare bottom, of the tank, of the tank that is, I used to have river rocks on the bottom but the turtles made too much noise with them, I am thinking of making some kind of mat with the river rocks glued to it so that I can take the whole thing out to clean it, I am still brainstorming though.

they like to rummage through it, so a mat wouldn't be fun to them. how big is your turt and your tank? maybe fewer rocks would be OK?

currently my turts have alot of swimming room and don't seem to be interested in the rocks unless they thing there's food down there... those little pigs.

Mine is bare at the minute - though like the look of the river rocks, just have to find somewhere that sells them!

It is easier to clean now, but I have also decided to start feeding in a seperate tank to reduce the mess in the big tank (perhaps until I save up for an external filter - damn he is messy!)

I have river rocks.

Has anyone, or does anyone use an aquarium vaccuum to clean the bottom of the tank? If so what are your opinion etc, and are they worth while?

Just a thought to aid cleaning, as mess at the bottom - especially if there is nothing else there, is a little unsightly!

(though I have since decided to feed in another tank - so hopefully that should help as well)

I know people who use a wet/dry shop vac. Not sure if this is the same as an aquarium vac. Just be careful not to fill it so much that you can't lift it up to where you dump it.