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Hello everyone.

I'm brand new to red eared sliders, and I have a question.
I have two small ones (about 2 inches each) in 30 gallon tank with waterfall filter, basking ramp, light, gravel etc.
I have read that red eared sliders will pretty much devour/uproot almost any plant in their enclosure.
So I have came up with a "solution"?
How about if I keep hornwort, which is very easy to grow, in separate enclosure, with slits for water exchange, submerged in thank? Since it grows very fast, I could let my turtles graze on extra growth, and in "return" hornwort would help me keep nitrates low...
Any thoughts. comments, critique will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Hi, welcome to the site! RES are very inquisitive and like to forage, so they will rearrange a lot of things.

You can do a separate tank or rather have some of divider but your tank is too small. You should also remove the gravel or keep it away from the turtles.

Thank you!
I have already secured 55 gallon tank. They will need more in the future, but I think for now it will do.
Regarding gravel, what should I use instead? River pebbles or sand? I am afraid that the second one can be difficult t clean....

Sand should be easy to maintain, at least easier than gravel. River rock (use only pieces that are larger than their head) can look nice too, though I would use it sparingly. Why don't you make that 30 gallon into a planted tank?

Damian wrote:Regarding gravel, what should I use instead? River pebbles or sand? I am afraid that the second one can be difficult t clean....

With sand, various pieces of junk will rest on top of it. All you have to do is siphon said junk right off the top.

Gotcha. Thanks. Can I use "commercial" sand? Like the one they sell at home depot? I think its called playground sand or something like that.

Yes, you can use play sand but it usually requires more initial cleaning. If you can find it, pool filter sand is less dusty and easier to clean.

I'll try local pool supply store...right now, bottom of the tank is bare....