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Anyone think I could get away without a filter for a 300 gal indoor stock tank? I've looked all over at various filters and the whole thing kindof confuses me. I was thinking, it is a LOT of water and will only house two 5inch res (possibly one more later on). Could I get away with just doing partial weekly water changes/bottom cleaning instead?

The thing with water that's not circulating is that it gets stagnant, and stagnant water gets crappy, with tiny bits of debris in it if you look. I think your partial water changes would be rather frequent. You could try it, but I think a filter would be healthier for your turtles. Also, if you have a heater/heaters in the tank, a filter that's circulating the water would distribute the heat more evenly and there wouldn't be cold spots in the water.

darnit..didn't even think of that. Of course I'll have heaters...Either way, I think I may have to go the first few days without a filter til I get everything set up. So much to do.

I guess I'll be on the hunt for filters. I just don't want anything that's gonna take me an hour to figure out how to set it up or clean it. Also, I need something that can sit on the floor beside the tank instead of underneath...I don't suppose you have any suggestions? I guess I still have to triple the rating eh?

I would get 2 Aquaclear 110's for the simplest setup. I'm pretty meticulous when cleaning a canister so it takes much longer to clean than the 110.

Sounds like pond filter to me, although my XP3 is on the floor next to my stock tank. A pond filter is something that I'm very close to getting myself, so unfortunately I have no experience to recommend one at this point. I think another member who uses them likes Pondmasters, though.

If you choose the Aquaclear route (would probably be OK for a while and then could be used as a supplemental filter), make sure the filter fits over the rim of the stock tank. They do not fit well over the rim of the 100-gallon Rubbermaid stock tank without doing a little altering of the tank.

ok. Thanks a bunch

I went to the store to return that light I bought. I asked one of the girls about filtration. She helped me find a submersible pond filter rated for 1000 gallons! For less than $200 too.

That is what I like my Pondmaster, rated for a 1500 gallon pond and I paid $107.00 for it. It is easy to clean and keeps my tank nice.

Trust me, you need a filter. I've used the stock tanks for animals and also when my dog was alive for her as a little cool down tank, and it gets nasty fast. Especially if you have heat on it. You'll need a filter but if nothing else I was thinking of like those pond filters for the stock tanks that people put out in their yards. Maybe those would work because they work just fine for whatever fish they put in those things.

also i put my guys food in his basking box. Which is out of the water. he goes up gets a bite then goes into the water to eat. It cuts down drastically on the cleaning needed. no food sitting in water = no rotting food
I do still have a filter and a heater of course -