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MY NEW 90 GALLON TANK!!!

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:06 am
by MikeReda
I just moved my two RES (about 2 years old each...I rescued them from a VERY bad situation) from their cramped 10 gallon tank into a new 90 gallon. :D They were about the size of 50 cent pieces when I rescued them, but they are now at least 4" and 3.5" if not bigger. I wanted to get the larger tank for a long, long time, but I finally went to PETCO and got it. It took about a month before they got the order right and stopped selling the stand to other people when it arrived, but I just got it today. I had first tried PetSmart, but nobody would even look at me there, let alone help me. The PETCO people were really nice and attentive, but they really screwed up my order three times--it took a month to get it all correct instead of the week they had promised, but as a result they gave me almost a 50% discount on the stand. I got an oak stand and tank, and the stand cost me $279.00 (regularly $499), and the tank was about $300. I paid an extra $130 or so for a Fluval 404 canister filter for 100 gallons or less, and another $30 for a heater. In all, it was a damn lot more than I ever thought I'd spend on these turtles, but I've grown to love them, and the tank looks GREAT in our apartment. Right now I have two clamp lamps, one with a 60 watt bulb and another with a UVA/UVB bulb. My turts (Marge and Homer, although I'm not sure of their sexes yet) are LOVING it. They just moved-in today. I plan to build an enclosed box-type dock with a ramp that will sit over part of the tank (I saw a similar pic on this forum), but for now I have a floating, hollow log anchored with string and suction cups so it stays under the lights. My turts had devoured about 1/3 of their old floating turtle dock in the old 10 gallon, so this was LONG overdue. Also, I wanted to be able to show my face in TURTLE TALK again :wink: , so I'm glad I got the bigger tank.

FYI, the turts are barely visible in the HUGE tank, but if you look close you can see them. ALso, there is a bit of romaine lettuce floating around in there. Enjoy the pics, and I would appreciate any comments or suggestions about lighting or building my own dock.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:04 am
by Spookster
Very nice. I like the roman looking structure. If you need some ideas on an above tank basking area my tank is a 90 gallon and I built one above the tank. Pictures are in my signature.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:34 am
by sonyj
Great looking set up!! I'm sure they are just loving their new home right now. :D

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:33 pm
by gloveman
wow......awesome

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:50 pm
by steve
Excellent upgrade. Spookster and Tinyslider both have great pics of the above tank basking area. They also look like they can make an escape if they tried and the lights might be a bit too close for them, though I really can't judge anything from the pic. I'd get a screen for the top or lower the water levels a bit... they must be fun to watch in all that water.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:54 pm
by TinySlider2
Looks great! I'm sure they love it. They look very happy. Thanks for sharing with us!

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:32 pm
by BullDog
Nice setup and Pics!

Sounds like you got a good deal on the tank! I've been looking for a 90 gal and could only find sump tanks...

PostPosted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:52 am
by missibsu
Nice set up! Thanks for sharing your pics.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:47 pm
by marisa
Nice set-up and turtles. :)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:07 pm
by ninja_turtle
totally wicked! :wink:
(line from "the incredibles")

the setup looks great and they're very nice pictures.

do you put a lid over the tank? what is the distance between top of the tank and the docking log? it looks the turtles could climb out?? (or i could be wrong.)

Climbing out...

PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:14 pm
by MikeReda
Thanks, everyone, for the nice responses. My turts are still LOVING their new home. I got a few questions as to whether or not they could climb out of the tank. I don't think they could...they would have to stand up completely vetical on the log just to have their heads reach out of the tank. I actually feed them in two separate bowls which are more shallow than that, and they rarely even try to climb out of the bowls. They tried once, while begging for food, but didn't succeed. As of now, the top of the tank is open...eventually I'll buy a lighted hood for half of it and maybe build a basking dock over the other half, but the floating hollow log thingie works great for now. I had to tie it to the lights so it stays in one spot. The turts climb on top of it, and they sleep inside it...they only have to stick their heads up through the holes to get air. They are so much fun to watch...better than TV now. Thanks again.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:48 pm
by missibsu
I have seen mine stand almost vertical while proping themselves against the wall of the tank standing on their dock. With the small ledge around the top of the tank, I wouldn't be surprised if it is enough for them to latch on to and pull themselves out. They are strong, and I am not sure I would risk it. Might check into a cover soon than you planned, lol.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 am
by ninja_turtle
yup, they've got some turtle power! when my ninja was still living in the container, he would place his paws on the ledge and pull himself up and stretch his neck really long to peek outside. they're curious animals, too.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:32 am
by steve
Even though you think they can't... they can be determined climbers and they can stack on top of each other as well.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:14 pm
by cwoods22
I love your turtle set-up. Wow, they are really two-years-old??? Our RES is two years-6 months and is getting HUGE!! Must have been a really bad situation!