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How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:07 pm
by Starscream
I am ordering my tank covers and I want to fill the tank mostly up. That would put the water within half an inch of the top with covers. How much weight do I need to hold the covers down?

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:42 pm
by cutepanda86
I reckon that would depend on the size of your turtle. How big is the :mrgreen: ? ;)

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:44 pm
by Starscream
Right now they are just babies. I am looking for the future, full grown turtles. Im getting half inch acrylic, but if I need to hold more weight, I can get thicker.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:23 pm
by cutepanda86
Well the good news is that the babies won't be an issue but unless you know if you're getting a female or a male, I'd start with the 1/2 inch.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:47 am
by Starscream
Start? The 1/2 x 2' x 2' are 60$ each, I need 2. If I go to 3/4 x 2' x 2' , it goes to 100 $ each.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:30 am
by Kansasslider
1/2 should be heavy enough.If not you could always mount some type of hold down tabs.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:31 am
by cutepanda86
Kansasslider wrote:1/2 should be heavy enough.If not you could always mount some type of hold down tabs.

Thanks Kansasslider.

Starscream - you'll need to adjust for things like this in the future. Tank upgrades, filter upgrades, and all the fun stuff that goes with it. Unless you have a giant tank and filter now, be prepared. :)

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:32 am
by Starscream
I have a 240 gallon tank now, 8 feet long, lol. I ALWAYS plan for the future. That's why I am trying to find out how strong adult turts are even though mine are just hatchlings. I only want to have to buy these custom covers once.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:12 pm
by cutepanda86
Well then you certainly are covered. That is a large tank. How are you supporting it?

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:04 pm
by Starscream
It has a stand under it. It all weights about 2500 pounds. 2 fx 6's. White sand. 4' x 2' backing area. Yes I did buy that for 2 baby turtles lol. Total I think that it ended up being around 260 gallons if you included the basking area.

So the tank is 8'x2'x2'. The 4'x2' condo sits in the middle. On either end there leaves a 2' x 2' area. That is what I am putting the covers over.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:35 pm
by cutepanda86
Wow. I'm guessing there's a concrete floor underneath. Lol.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:39 pm
by Starscream
Oh yes, a concrete slab.

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:54 pm
by cutepanda86
Good call. ;)

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:43 am
by steve
What about egg crate as a screen?

Re: How strong are turtles?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:09 am
by Starscream
That would work well steve, I am mainly worried about whether or not I will have to add weight on top of whatever I use to keep the turtles from pushing it up and escaping when they are older.