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how big/what substrate should I use?

I was planning on cutting a hole in a 10 gal tank and rigging it inside my large tank some how. My turt isn't fully grown yet, actually I dont know if she is actually a she yet.... Just planning ahead. Any ideas?

what way are you thinking of rigging it? i think dirt would be the best substrate to use, imho.

Wow, you are thinking ahead! Will you even be using the same tank when your turtle is an adult? You could suspend a container above the water on one end of the tank with a ramp for your turtle to get to it when she wants to. (I remember seeing interesting pictures of this.) I've seen a 50/50 mix of sand and organic compost recommended as the substrate.

I was thinking about having it 1/2 to 3/4 inside the tank, not touching the water, then having some sort of ramp into the nesting area. And, I thought if it turns out to be a male, he'll still like to dig around, right? I'm not sure how to attach it or anything, just in the "i wonder" stage. I'm assuming I should buy the dirt.. top soil maybe?

thinking about it now, will the dirt/gravel/substrate make the water murky?

It will if enough gets in the water.

well, I assumed that... I guess I should've said 'how do you make it so the dirt doesn't get in the water'.

im thinking of boxing off a fraction of the tank using plyglass or a strong plastic and glueing it to the tank .. non-toxic glue of course .... therefore fill the new water-free space with soil and make sure u build a ramp so she can access the space easily ... also make sure water cant get into the soil .... u have to use waterproof glue or else sheap glue will break away .. use silicon works best

hi in the past
I have taken 2 sheets of plexi glass and spaced them in the bottom of my tank creating 3 sections I used aquirum silicone to seal it bought from the local pet store (same stuff to repair leaking tanks with) in the 1st section I used sand the middle one longer than the 2 ends held the water and the last one was more sand I had a screened top on it I housed a small turtle a frog a lizard and guppies,as well as crickets for feeding uv and uvb light and a small heat rock the water contained a small submersible filter (did not clean good so on the side with less sand I cleaned back out and hung a small canister filter) this was a small crude set up and now I know very unhealthy but I did enjoy it,my children watched frogs and turtles and lizards snatch crickets and the crickets laid their eggs in the sand right at the glass sides what a neat way to see and hear nature and learn. we loved the sound of the water and the crickets...,I would like to re build the terrium type setting again now since I have more knowledge but b caz I know better now that will never happen caz it would have to be the size of a house to give everything the proper room lighting etc. I guess the point was you can add glass to seperate water and sand lol