Habitat - Outdoor :: Which way do I go?

[DanielRES1180]

I personally made a giant memo out of this issue, because I don't know which way to go on several questions, and I keep on forgetting the points.
Anyway, I got involved in a home improvement project when I brought up the issue of the possible turtle habitat in the backyard. We ended up knocking down a rotten old deck there, and a bare space got left behind. Now my mom was planning to make this into some sort of garden when I jumped in, so now I'm stuck making the whole layout of the project (or the blueprint so to speak). I got everything all banged out as to how big the enclosure should be (I settled for a 6 by 6 foot space) and the layout of the garden, but I'm having trouble with the details of the habitat.
Do I go for one large habitat (320 gallon capacity) having two males, or go for two smaller habitats (one would be 220 gal, the other 100) in the same space? After that gets cleared, do I use the previously planned stock tanks, or do I use pond liner and configurate some splendid little habitat divided some way (if the latter of the previous question is the option)?
After I clear out these questions, I could get rolling with something and buy the needed materials to do everything.

add-on: BTW, if anyone knows, how many gallons fit in one cubic foot? That would help me alot in knowing how large I should make the pond (on basis of cubic feet), if that ends up being the option.

[DaddySkittles]

I am most certain that one cubic foot is equivalent to about 7.5 U.S. gallons.

[SpotsMama]

Wow! So many options! You can really get creative on this project!

I've heard it discussed that if you divide the pond you can have fish on one side and turtles on the other - or aggressive turtles on both sides.

Here's a site that talks about the pro's and con's of preformed ponds versus liners:

http://www.gardensupermart.com/tips.asp

That's all I've got to say!

[steve]

There are many options for that type of space. 2 (or more) preformed ponds could be linked together though a large pond-liner pond could be very nice as well. SpotsMama, thanks for the link...

[DanielRES1180]

After quite some time, I have reached a decision.

First off, I will have two separate ponds made out of pond liner, that will have a capacity of both 100 and 220 gallons. Still both will be joined by a brooklet which will circulate water between both habitats.

Here's how it might work. One pond wil be purposely set on a slightly higher elevation than the lower one, so the entire enclosure will be on an acute slope. The filter will dispense its water into the higher pond, which will eventually overflow. By means of the brooklet, this excess water will flow into the lower pond.

Here's the kicker. Somehow, the intake to the filter will be extended into this lower pond, to grab the water from there and pump it back to the filter in the higher tank, where the cycle starts again.

What do you guys think?

[megcornell]

That sounds like an elegant set up. You could use a sump pump to get the water back to the first pond if necessary I suppose. I just wonder if the intake is strong enough to flow up to a higher pond? And are you planning on confining one turtle to each pond? I was a little confused about that....

[DanielRES1180]

....And are you planning on confining one turtle to each pond? I was a little confused about that....

Well, not exactly. Since I have two males and a female, there's always a threat that things will get ugly sooner or later. In effect, I'll have to separate the two males, isolating one by himself (where the 100 gallon pond comes in), and leaving the other male with the female, hence the larger pond.
As I see things right now, I've pretty much determined which male to isolate (see second Stooge, 3.5") , since he keeps on messing around with the female. So that leaves the other turt with the female, this one a more mind-his-own-business turtle. I hope he stays that way too .

[Spookster]

I like the two pond setup. You could create a little jungle in between if they wanted to go across of if they get aggressive you could block the path. Or better yet create the two separate pond areas connected by a small shallow canal. Yeah lots of possibilities.