Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:01 pm Re: What do you think is a good size tank?
My vote would be for a 120 gallon 5ft long tank is have this tank and belive me it took some time for me to find one they Really are kind of rare, from what I was told they are a older sized tank while some company's still offer its just not common anymore 80 percent of people are buying aquariums for fish and fish don't mind if the tank is taller than it is wide as long as they have the gallons where as turtles want the spaciousnes to glide around and when you limit length and add hight you just don't get the same effect, personally some of these tanks they offer these days are much to top heavy for me weight towering into the air Instead of distributing the weight. When I went on a search for my tank going from a 20 gallon long for 2 turtles I pretty much knew what I wanted gallon wise like you are saying then I went to a website I found on Google that listed every common size of aquarium ever made from there I calculated the weight with water and substrate and was amazed at how much weight I was looking at i figure between my tank substrate stand filter Atba I have nearly 2000 pounds, and I had a place I wanted to put it in my living room on a upper floor of a ranch home and while people will say that oh you won't have problems with that kind of weight and but I'm sorry a ton is alot of weight period let alone for a floor in a house, I couldn't think of another place in my home that housed anywhere near that weight in such a small area so it was a no brainer I had to go as long as I could to try and distribute that weight and to acomidate the turtles.. I ended up getting a 120 five ft long with a stand for 100 bucks on craigslist yes its scratched and yes your turtles will scratch it more but when the water is filled you can't tell a thing. I was then advised that 120 gallons was not enough room for two full size turtles so I built a full sized Atba over the aquarium and i figure now since I didn't clutter inside the aquarium they should be okay for life or let me just say that's all they are getting after building the stand Atba and decorating I have hours and hours in this and I don't dare at the money up, these turtles are living the life and will get better care than 90 percent of turtle owners give so if it is a few gallons short they won't know the difference
For perspective my initial thought was to get a 75 gallon but was told I would have to upgrade again so I changed my mind, then I said ok I'll do a 90 gallon then not a problem but then someone told me that there is no footprint difference in a 75 a 90 or 125 gallon tank they Are all 4 ft long 2 ft wide and extra gallons is added by adding to the hight... I actually bought a 90 gallon before I knew about the 125 and had the turtles in it and it's just not the same as my 120 5ft an extra ft doesn't seem like a lot but in aquarium world a ft is a huge difference
All in all buy the biggest aquarium you can afford BUT take into account what the turtles need and what your home can store personally I wouldn't go bigger than 150 on a upstairs floor if your thinking of using the basement then I say go as long and as many gallons as you can as long as it will go down the steps lol
Think long though not tall you will be more pleased with the outcome, and I would also suggest Craigslist there are some serious deals to be had and like I said they will scratch up your tank regardless of being new or used... Most local aquarium shops will reseal a aquarium for 30 to 50 bucks by me so if your worried about that just buy one drop it off to be resealed and you still will be 100's below a new price
