General Care Discussion :: Filter + Heater recommendations

[N1QUE24]

Hi guys,

To keep this plain and simple, I'll just start off by saying that I finally purchased 2 baby red ear slider turtles from a very reputable breeder. They are very lively and are a bundle of energy.

I bought these turtles with their necessary equipment.. such as the small plastic bowl with the island and palm tree in the middle, some turtle pellers, mealworms, silkworms and also bought them a mini slide so my six year old can play with them when he's taking a bath.

My main question is however, everyone here seems to be talking about the necessity of purchasing a water filter and a water heater for the turtles.. but how can that be if the habitat that they live in is no more than 7 inches wide? Should I buy a bigger tank?

K, joke is over.. I couldn't resist. I didn't really end up buying them those inferior plastic habitats.. but instead bought them a 20 gallon tank to roam free. I also purchased a turtle dock from ZooMed and a basking lamp.

With that said, I have a few questions regarding the quality of the different water filters out there, and also the water heaters. Which ones do most people with red ears tend to use? And how are they 'better' than the other models? I bought my red ears the Fluval2, and also bought them the Tronic 100 watts heater.. Are these good choices?

Looking forward to a response,

Regards!

[Bascomb]

If you have two turtles a 20-gallon tank is marginal. The guideline for turtles is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. If you are going to look for a filter/pump there are several good systems that are good. I suggest a canister that pumps at least 5 water exchanges per hour- gph. b.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I have a baby RES and I'll warn you, they grow quickly. I would recommend that if you can, take back the 20 gallon tank and go with something bigger, maybe a 40 or 55 gallon tank. I think as to water heater, just get one that works, I don't think brand is as important (esp considering almost all of the brands are around the same price). I have a Top Fin heater, it's working great, I also have an Aqueon water heater, it was good too. Filter, the names I see a lot are the Rena FilStar and Fluval. I haven't gotten my filter in the mail yet, but I bought a RenaFilStar XP3 so I won't have to upgrade if a bigger tank is needed someday. I also got a 200 watt heater to avoid future upgrades.

[kikicool]

Oh my god, you totally got me! My eyes were bugged out of my head. Good one!

I think if you have babies a 20 gallon tank is okay, I had mine in one for a bit. But it's true, they do grow fast. The main problem with having them in a small tank is buying the small tank extras (filter, heater, etc) add up. Then, when you need a larger tank, you have to go out and buy the larger sizes, and the money you spent is wasted. When I had my 20 gallon tank, I had a smaller fluval, the submersible kind, and it worked just fine. I then upgraded to a cascade filter, as the turts got a bit bigger, and that worked great, too. As for heaters, I would go with a more expensive brand; I've gotten el cheapos and they didn't work long, they seemd to burn out or something. Things I have found helpful: a temperature adjustment you can see, and good, strong suction cups that will keep it close to the glass. I still have some heater issues: I turn the heater to 75, but for some reason, the tank keeps going up to 78-79. It's helpful if you can look at the temp, and then see what you have the heater set at without having to stick your hand in and grab it out. I can adjust mine from the top, which is right near a corner so I can see it. Also, my guys used to try to get between the heater and water and that always made me nervous. Good luck, sounds wonderful!!

[flyjawn]

lol... i can't stop laughing... the image of your kid playing with the turtle in the bath. OMG.

anyways, i'm a new turtle owner but i have kept fish for a while. my aqueon heaters seem to be a good deal. they work, last a long time and aren't too expensive.

my rena xp2 just arrived so i have no comments on it yet.

[Bascomb]

NQ24 -- Most of the advice you get on this forum is good advice. It is, for the most part, from turtle people who have been through the same thing you are going through. When I started there was no internet and had to rely on the poops at the pet store. I learned the hard way with no one except the vet or someone who had a economic interest in their advice. I have lost only one turtle due to my ignorance in the hobby and that was many years ago. Good Luck. b.

[marisa]

By Fluval 2, do you mean a canister or the Fluval 2+, an internal filter? Can't speak for the first one, but if it's the Fluval 2+, it's really not adequate for your tank. The Tronic heater, however, is a decent heater. I have one that's working fine after several years of use. If you have any river rocks in the tank, you might want to get a Tronic heater guard for it for additional protection against breakage.

[megcornell]

The heater and filter you bought will be fine for the 20 gallon. I agree with kiki- do yourself a favor and make getting a larger tank your next step. With inadequate space you can easily spend a lot of money on filter options to fight a losing battle against poor water quality.

[grey goose]

Tronic heaters are great. I have one that's 8 years old and it still works fine. The Fluval 2 is OK, but not suitable in anything larger than the tank you have now. When you get a larger tank, invest in a canister filter like the XP3, it's the one most turtle keepers use. Don't toss that Fluval 2, put it to use on the other side of the new tank, you can never have too much filtration.
You mentioned a basking lamp but not a UVB lamp. You'll need one of those too.....

[SpotsMama]

I use a stealth visitherm heater and like it a lot. It's plastic and wont' shatter like glass if a turtle happens to bite it too hard or if it's accidently left on when it's out of the water and cool water splashes on it. It keeps the tank water temp constant. I've been using it (actually I have two - one at each end of the tank) for not quite two years without a problem.

[scripta_elegans]

I have 2 visitherms at each end of the tank too. The kids broke one glass one, and that was enough for me! They can run into the plastic repeatedly with no problem at all!

[DocShay]

I have a Rena XP3, everyone around this board recommended me it - and its fantastic! Great price, great quality - whats not to love?

Also picked up a Stealth heater, this thing is so durable. I accidentally dropped it my concrete basement floor (no carpet, nothing) after taking it out of the box - from about 4 feet high. Works perfectly, no issues what so ever.