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Ok, I'm close to tracking down a 200+ gallon used stock tank for a good price in my area thanks to craigslist.com. Now, could someone please outline what I will need once I have the massive thing? Please describe the filters/equipment and how they attach. What are a few plants that would be good to plant around the perimeter? Honestly, if I have to buy an expensive piece of equipment now then it's got to be the filter. The heater can wait until much closer to winter. The turtles here do just fine in the summer and the sun should heat the water nicely. Is there any problem putting it near a house? The shade of the house might keep it a little cooler, but I imagine roof runoff would be bad. Please help me out!

You will still need a basking area, water heaters and water filters. I think water heaters are absolutely necessary because water temperatures can be unpredictable in small amounts. For filtration, you can choose a large canister or a pond filter. I have no idea what the media options there are for pond filters, maybe RES Tampa can chime in Canister filters have extension tubes, so they should be fine to use.

A protective enclosure would still be necessary to keep your turtles in and predators out.

Ok... what are those homemade filters all about for ponds. You know, the ones that for larger ponds use the 300 gallon stock tanks for biological filters. Can those be done on a smaller scale with a smaller container when the 300 gallon tank is the actual pond?

you can go buy a 2000 gallon pond filter for 65 bucks or build one like im going too and im going to build a new tank too :] save me the money

Ooo... do tell? How do I make one? How much are the materials? And give me a brand name of the 2000 gallon pond filter that is $65.

Check these sites out:

http://www.skippysstuff.com/biofiltr.htm
http://www.skippysstuff.com/minime.htm
http://www.iturnrocks.com/files/diyfilter.html
http://www.runnerduck.com/pf1.htm
http://www.mikebentley.com/ponds/homemadefilters.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/pond.htm

So, what kind of pumps have to be used with these? I understand that all the filters homemade or store bought have to have a filter.