General Care Discussion :: $700 budget for my turtle setup, help me shop! Please!

[bondturtle]

Please check my post below.. and help me shop for necessities and extras and luxurious items for my turtle.. Thank you in advance!

[bondturtle]

Right now I am looking at 2 filters... no idea which is best.. I like the second and third one because I think it will create a waterfall style filter.. will my turtle prefer that? Which one is more efficient? which one needs to be changed less often? which one would you suggest if price wasn't really a factor. You can see from my earlier post (with pictures) that my new aquarium is very odly shaped on the top, and I don't know if all filters could be fit onto it.. let me know you're opinions please:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441777968&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574488339089&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1168883235777
http://www.aquariumguys.com/tetratecpower2.html
http://www.aquariumguys.com/penguin350b.html

[Kai.]

why don't you edit?

[N4784N R4613]

Well, first off what size is the new tank? If it is 50 gal. or over, you definetally want to go with a Canister Filter. The one you have posted is a very good brand, and in the case of filters, bigger is ALWAYS better.

[bondturtle]

sorry Kai.. little over ewxcited, didn't see I could edit. I never post on boards and don't know the features.

Thank you N4784N R4613 for your help..
As you can see in the pictures on my previous post.. the aquarium is kinda weird.. the guy at the pet store told me it was built for turtles. It's a jebo.. and I calculated the volume of the lower part where I can fit the water, and it seems like it's about 45-50 gallons.

Is the canister difficult to operate?
Also could I put both of them?
I really had my mind set on have somekind of waterfall effect.
Also should I put in a fogger? do turtles like that?
What about those tubes under water that make bubbles.. I think a pump for oxygen.. do I need that?

If any other people can help address these questions I would be very greatful. Thank you so much!

[N4784N R4613]

Is the canister difficult to operate? Not at all. Once you get it primed it is good to go. It is also easy to clean.

Also could I put both of them? DEFINETALLY!

Also should I put in a fogger? I also thought this would be cool. Check out my topic I posted a few mouths ago... http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... highlight=

What about those tubes under water that make bubbles.. I think a pump for oxygen.. do I need that? No, you don't need it, but it doesn't hurt. It also helps keep the algae down(the right basking light promotes the growth of algae), and reoxygenates the water. So a nice air stone, or air decoration, would look nice and help the tank out a bit.

[SpotsMama]

On the filters, I can't speak to numbers two and three on your list, but I can say that the XP filters are wonderful. I've got an XP3 in a 100 gallon tank that's filled maybe 2/3 with water. It keeps the water clear and sparkly. It was easy to set up and easy to maintain. I've got one 6 1/2 inch RES and 4 big minnows in there.

You can make something like a waterfall with an XP. It's got an output bar that can go horizontally across the tank. It has holes in it. You can place it below the waterline, in which case it creates some turbulence, or you can put it above the waterline and it creates a spray. That's the way we have ours set up.

By the way, I saw the picture of your new tank. Nice!

[asemilla]

i would check ebay if your going with the xp cause we got our xp4 for 183 and at petco petsmart they run over 200...so look around.

[SpotsMama]

My XP3 was just under $100 from the on-line Petsmart, which is a lot cheaper than the bricks-and-morter Petsmart. Just be careful if you buy on ebay that you don't wind up with a used filter that may have problems. If you can get a new one that would be great.

[asemilla]

yeah the one we got is a new one there are some online stores that are selling them new and cheap....athough we havent gotten it yet....i will let you all know if is in good cond....i'll be every mad if its not

[Kallistos]

Is it one of those 40 gallon "turtle tanks?" Meaning, is there an opening on one side for a hang-on filter to be put in?

I think most of your questions can be found by searching BUT, this is what brands this board reccomends for the most part.

Filtration: Rena filstar or Aquaclear 70-110
Heater: Marineland Stealth
Lighting: Reptisun 10.0 or T-rex Active U.V. heat

[bondturtle]

Thanks alot guys. I think I will go with both, as long as all that turbulance doesn't annoy my turtle.. maybe I should shut one of them off at night so he can sleep peacefully.

Also as you can see on my previous topic post, my aquarium is kinda oddly shaped, and I'm wondering why it's made this way.. maybe it is meant for the lower part to hold one of those hanging filters? Because if I fill it to the top capacity.. I'm convinced my turtle can easily climb out (thus the name bondturtle, he's made some pretty impressive escapes and tried to sneak under the stove.. don't want that happening again)

Also.. how about those styrophoam mountain designs... with waterfalls. basically it looks like real hard rocks and has water coming down from I gues either a hanging filter or simply a build in mechanism.. where could I purchase one of those? is there any specialty stores online for this particular item? I also noticed some "Pond Pumps" which seem to make some kind of fountain.. but I think that would eat up all the space.

Last but not least... I saw pictures of "Housings" made of wood for the turtle to bask in. Like some sort of wooden box built on top of the aquarium. Is it best to offer this sort of housing for the turtle? Or are those docks or ramps sufficient? I wouldn't know how to hang a housing of that sort on a completely glass aquarium.. infact I'm not even sure it's glass, seems like it though. Might be some kind of heavy duty plastic.

Thank all for your info.. hope to get some more really do appreciate it very much.

[Pizza]

I don't know about the above, but the above tank basking areas, or "Housings" as you put it, are all home made, from what I have seen, you cannot buy them from stores.

If you have the tools, knowledge, and time, I would say build one. It frees up tanks space so you can fill it up higher with water for more swimming space, and gives your turtle a complete closed basking area, dry and warm.

Do a search on this, many people have made their own unique, and similar above tank basking areas with great success.

As for the store bought docks and ramps, I use them, and yes, they are sufficient, as long as they can hold out turtle above the water without sinking (only a problem for large turtles). The docks work great as well and are easy to assemble (just suck the suction cups in and you have it ready to go), except they limit swimming space because the dock/ramps needs to inside the tank.