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I'm hoping to do an outdoor pond until the end of September, as I need a better tank and I think this will be a cheaper alternative since I already have the plastic pre-formed pond (100ish gallons I believe).

However, I'm not really sure where to start. The pond will NOT be in the ground, instead, it will be placed on the ground and be surrounded with decorative bricks, and somehow, the turtles will be able to bask (considering floating corkbark, or some sort of ramp in and out of the pond).

I live in NJ and it'll likely be around 85-90 throughout the summer. My guess is I will still need a heater, correct? I also will need a filter, but I don't know what to use for that either. Can anyone link me to a pond filter or heater I can use?

Is there anything else I need to put in there, like something for algae? Got any ideas or tips? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks.

Wait are you planning to keep the turtles outside all year around? That is too small to do that, it will freeze solid. You wont need a heater. Actually its bad if you get a heater and the weather is cold. They will have warm bodies breathing in cold air. Not a good combo. The turtles can stay outside till about October that when it starts staying too cold and I bring mine in.

Your gonna need a uv sterilizer for the pond to control the algea. If you dont get one your gonna have green water.

They will be outside until the end of September. At that point they will come back inside and I will have a bigger tank.

You're saying don't get a heater, even if I bring them in after September?

What sort of filtration do you use in addition to the UV sterilizer?

Thank you!

Nah dont get a heater. They are fine with the lowering temps. I have never used a heater and were going on 6 years and have had no problems. Even this year my turtles were in the water when it got a layer of ice.

Get a cheap pond pump that does over 500gph. Id go for 1000gph. It will keep that water crystal clear. The filter I use is a Tetra Bio-Active Pressure Filter with UV. Love it cause the uv sterilizer is built in. So it saves you with having to hook up and put the sterilizer somewhere.

With the system i use you will not have to clean the filter all year. Only when you take it down in september.

I checked it out...looks like that thing is 350 bucks and for a 1,500 gallon pond? Kinda overkill for me. I'd like to get a bigger pre-formed pond, but I think the biggest I can find around here is like 150 gallons. The reason for not getting a liner or something is my dad doesn't want the thing in the ground (not a fan of digging giant holes in the yard).

Where'd you get the filter, if I may ask? Also, how exactly do these things work? Does it sit outside the pond?

Its for a 300-1500gallon pond. Trust me its not as much overkill as you think. Most people make the mistake of not enough filtration and it should only $250. $150 is what a sterilizer costs by itself. So its about $100 for the filter.

I got my filter at nursery/pond garden place.

You have to buy a pump, that goes in the pond. That pumps the water into the filter. The filter sits outside the pond.

Thank you for the help, I'll let you know how everything goes.

It looks like the pond may go in the ground after all. What would we have to do for the filter in that situation? It essentially looks like a canister filter, and it has to be under the water level. Also, where would I get the pump and the hoses, as it looks like I may have to order the filter online. Thank you.

How you hide the filter is up to you, i guess most build a box around it and put plants around it, some bury it inside of something and have lid to get at the filter.

It doesnt have to be under the water lvl it can be above. The pump in the water has plenty of power to move that water anywhere. You can get a pump online and the hoses. Just do searching for them and see where you can find it the cheapest.