Habitat - Indoor :: Filter

[hopearus]

I am really confused about filters. I have 2, still very small RES's in a 20 gallon long tank. They seem to do best when the water level is just under the halfway point. I keep seeing recommendations for the Aquaclear 110 filter, but in the pictures I have seen of the ones for sale, it looks as if that filter is not submergible. It looks like it attaches to the rim of the tank. Am I correct? Since my water level is not even quite halfway, is this a filter I can use? My filter just stopped working, the ZooMed Turtle Clean Filter 318. I did not care for it anyway and planned to get a new one soon. I bought a new one last night on the recommendation of the sales person. Unfortunately the filter is to long and to powerful for my little turtles. I am still very new to RES care. I bougt them for my son without knowing just how much care they needed. Now I am trying to learn how to make them as happy and healthy as possible. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Here is what I have in my current tank.

2 baby RES
20 Gallon long Tank
Heater set at 77
Basking area
UV Lamp
Large Rock

I am currently looking for the smooth river rocks but have been unable to find any at any of the various pet store I have in my area. Please help with the filter question, I do not want to leave them without one for a long time. Thanks!

[Az^FolkSinger]

recommend is 2 or 3 times the capcity of the tank IE 20 gal tank = 60 gal type filter... I personnely like the AquaClear flilters... it mounts on the outside of the tank and has a water fall into the tank..which to me stirs up the top water to keep it clear. and my tank is clearer than what the other filter i had has done....... I would also recommend filling the tank up to 3/4 of the way because the turtles do love to swim any ways i know mine does. but not high enough that they can excape due to they are excape artists I notice you do not have a uvb light that is very improtant due to they need that to proceess the calsium <sp?> and other vitumins <sp?> please read through this site it will give you all the important info that one needs to have a health and happy RES
peace love & light
Carey

[cam722]

In my opinion, the Aquaclear 110 is too powerful for a 20 gallon tank. You can get one of the less powerful models..

Drs Foster and Smith Then click on more info and you'll see what the recommended tank size is for each filter. As Carey said, get one rated for 2-3 times the size of your tank. You can also get extension tubes for the Aquaclear so they reach further in the water for lower water levels.. I'd suggest raising the water though. Do you have anything for your turtles to cling to in the water? If not, that may be the problem with them not liking the water deeper. Smaller turtles love hanging on to plants and other things, they also feel safer with something to hide in while at the top of the water, so you may wish to give that a try.

[hopearus]

Thanks for the replies. I was not sure about the UVB light because my turtles receive lots of natural sun because of their proximity to a window. I live in Florida so the sunlight can be pretty intense. Of course, considering that it was a store salesperson that told me that because of this I did not need UVB, maybe this was incorrect information.
I was also wondering about the growth rate of my turtles. I have had them for about six months now. They are both still very small, but one of them seems to have shown no growth, while the other has had some very noticeable growth. The bigger turtle was larger than the smaller one when I purchased them, but now it is more apparant. Could this have to do with the sex of the turtles or should I be concerned? They are both active and appear to be in good health.

[cam722]

being near a window is not sufficent for proper UVB rays and also could be dangerous as the sunlight can heat the water too much. Something you need to learn, don't listen to salespeople

You can since you live in Florida, when the outside temps are in the 70s, take your turtle outside for some natural sunlight a few times a week. Make sure you do not take them out in a glas container for the same reason I mentioned earlier, you could literally cook your turtle. If you keep them out there in a container, make sure they have a place to hide and get some shade. Also, don't leave them unattended as they are great escape artists.

As for growth, you want it to be slow and steady, that's good Check out the what to feed and not feed lists. Too much protein can cause rapid growth which isn't good for your turtle. Can cause many many problems externally and internally. Yes, size difference can have to do with the sex of the turtles also genetics. Males are smaller

[marisa]

AquaClear 110s are great...if you put them in a tank that's the appropriate size for them (they filter 500gph, which is quite powerful). A well-meaning member tried one in a small tank and had nothing but frustration.

I'm using an Aquaclear 70 in a 20-gallon long, and it's working really well. The media may lift for a bit when you first using it, but once it gets wet/saturated, I have had no problems with it.

Power filters such as the Aquaclear do hang on the side of the tank, which gives more swimming room than the filter I think you were using. A higher water level would be better for your turtles (and the filter would work better), but you can use an extension tube to run it with a somewhat lower water level (it will be noisier, though).

Regarding the difference in size, they can have different growth rates. But if you're feeding them together, is the larger one getting more of the food? If so, it would be better to feed them separately so the smaller one gets a fair share.

What filter did the salesperson recommend to you that isn't working well now?

[hopearus]

Thanks to all of you for your help. I just went out and got a new filter. I purchased the Aquaclear 70. The only problem is that it is so loud. I have the tank filled 3/4 of the way up with water as others have recommended. The tank is upstairs in my sons room and I can hear the filter downstairs. I hope we learn to tune in out. Especially my son, who sleeps in that room. It looks like I will be needing to get a UVB light so I will be doing that soon. I posted some pictures. I am still working on the tank but any suggestions are welcome.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hhopearus ... .dir=/56f5

[cam722]

I'd suggest putting the water a bit deeper. The only way to make it quieter is to modify it as I believe steve and marisa have done, you can search the forum for how they did it. Did you get an extension tube for the aquaclear? If not, you're going to have to keep a close eye on the water level. Since you have a tiny hatchling, you might want to think about some floating plants for it to cling to near the surface. Little ones get tired easily and they also feel safer with something to hide in.

Other than that, everything looks great...

[hopearus]

I tried searching through the forums for the modifications that you mentioned steve and marisa did but so far I have had no luck finding them. As you can see from the pictures, I had a hard time getting a good shot at the bigger turtle. She is not searly as friendly as the small one. She tries to nip me when I take her out to clean the tank! I did get the extension tube. I am going to fill the tank with some more water. Maybe that will also help the noise level. As far as the floating plants go, are the plastic plants ok? I plan on getting a couple of real ones after I do some more research in to which ones will be best for them, but for a quick and temporary fix I was wondering about the safety of the fake ones. Again, thanks so much for all of you help!

[cam722]

Yes you can use fake ones.. anacharis is a good floating plant for them and they also eat it. Pretty much any aquatic plant you find in a pet store will work with turtles. Just remember anything put in there could end up eaten, so keep that in mind with the cost.

Here is the post on the modifications:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1405

[marisa]

I've been able to modify/quiet the Aquaclear 50 (it's unbelievably quiet) and the Aquaclear 110 by siliconing plexiglass to the lip of the filter. BUT, I don't think this can really be done well with the Aquaclear 70 because it has a bit of a ledge on the lip. And Steve's solution of drilling holes on the cover and attaching plexiglass that way would be difficult to do because the cover on the 70 doesn't have that overhang that the 110's cover has.

I'm still working on a way to quiet the Aquaclear 70...

[doomsdaybob]

hopearus,
One of the best places I've seen for river rock is the Home Depot or Lowe's. Check the garden section for tumbled rock. You can get anything from pea gravel on up to about softball sized at some of the larger stores. Just make sure to wash it real good. I bought a 20lb bag for a fraction of the cost of 5lbs at Petco. My wife used the left over for her flower pots (keeps the cats from digging in them).

[marisa]

May any rocks that you put in the tank larger than your turtle's head so he's not tempted to nibble/eat them.

[marisa]

Hopearus, are you still with us?