Habitat - Indoor :: Jordtim's build thread

[PridgNYC]

3 bags of the fluval carbon and the rest floss right now. On the doors, I decided not to remove the center piece as it does seem to provide some support and joins the two halves of the cabinet together.

[VeipaCray]

I was just thinking an alternate thing to do would be wider doors that met in the middle... so the two doors were on the original hinges and butted together in the middle when they were closed.

[VeipaCray]

Oh and heads-up your water is going to get cloudy again once you introduce your turtle. This will be the onset of the nitrifying bacteria bloom and an indication that the cycle is starting. Nothing to do... it will clear up by itself in a few days once the bacteria colony establishes itself.

[PridgNYC]

I think for now, I'll probably use the zoomed hood which sits right on top of the glass on the right side, the guy I bought the tank from threw that in as a freebie along with the large turtle dock which you can almost see below the lights on the left.

[PridgNYC]

Oh and heads-up your water is going to get cloudy again once you introduce your turtle. This will be the onset of the nitrifying bacteria bloom and an indication that the cycle is starting. Nothing to do... it will clear up by itself in a few days once the bacteria colony establishes itself.

Yes, I know about that, saw it in the first tank as well. I'm thinking it is almost time to switch media and introduce Jordtim to her new home.

[PridgNYC]

Oh and heads-up your water is going to get cloudy again once you introduce your turtle. This will be the onset of the nitrifying bacteria bloom and an indication that the cycle is starting. Nothing to do... it will clear up by itself in a few days once the bacteria colony establishes itself.

Would it help to throw the bio-sponge from my old filter into the top of the stack?

[VeipaCray]

Would it help to throw the bio-sponge from my old filter into the top of the stack?

Definitely. It will speed up the cycle process.

[valladin82]

I plan to use sand in my new tank so I have a question. Is that some sort of sponge on the intake of your filter to prevent the sand from getting in the filter? I admittedly don't know much about how to keep from burning my motor out if I do use sand.

[PridgNYC]

Jordtim is in her new home. I still have more work to do so stay tuned.

Exploring her new home

Is that the bottom of my basking area?

Hello, nice to meet you. (I know she isn't really seeing herself, but it's a good caption)

[valladin82]

Looks awesome. I like the simplicity of it.

[VeipaCray]

Looking really good. It appears that you have one happy

[PridgNYC]

I plan to use sand in my new tank so I have a question. Is that some sort of sponge on the intake of your filter to prevent the sand from getting in the filter? I admittedly don't know much about how to keep from burning my motor out if I do use sand.

It is a big handful of polyester filter floss (pillow stuffing) that I made into a pocket and pulled up over the filter intake. The suction holds it in place and it prefilters any sand before it gets into the filter.

[sflemin2]

Looking great! Water cleared up nicely

[PridgNYC]

Added a little more decor, and I don't think what my wife saw the other day was actually an egg (she hasn't been studying this as much as I have lately). I got some close ups of the cloaca and front feet, but I am pretty sure we are looking at a boy instead.

I added a couple of air stones, but the 40gallon whisper pump that I was using in the 10 gallon tank couldn't handle them, so I need to get a better air pump if I am going to use them.

A full view of the tank (before adding the airstones and one more floating dock)

The cloaca is very far down the tail...Male?

Good shot of the cloaca/tail

Clearest pic I could get with natural light of the front claws...

Notice the front claws...

[valladin82]

That definitely looks like a boy to me. Awesome tank. I just set my 40gal up. I'm gonna be slowly adding things to mine too. Posted a thread for it.