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I am getting a turtle and I have a few questions before I do...
Should I set my tank up and get all the bells and whistles tied down before i get my new aquatic friend such as getting the water temp. just right, getting the filter up and running, and getting all the other things i need?!

How do you feel about live plants in the tank....it is just a hatchling so I'm not too sure if I should?!

Thanks a bunch i'll take any advice I can get!!

It would definitely be a good idea to gert everything set up and ready to go before you bring the turtle home. If you get some minnows and possibly some kind of bacteria boost like Cycle you could even cycle the takn and filter before you put the turtle in. As far as plants go, get something cheap and nutritious like anacharis, they may eat them, they may just shred them, or they might leave them alone. You never can tell.

It's definetly better to get everything set up before you bring your turtle home. You'll save some frustration and you won't have to fiddle with things in the tank while the turtle is getting used to its new home.

I used to get anacharis but it's illegal here now. You could throw some in but he may not eat it. I've only ever had one hatchling out of 7 that actually bothered with it.

Do you have an idea of what you need?

I printed a list of things i need off the site already which was a big help and i already have a tank from a friend with a good filter..... but it needs to be cleaned what do you rec. on cleaning it out with?

A Python is great, you hook it up to the faucet and it fills and drains your tank with no bucket lifting involved. A regular siphon/bucket combo would work too though.

I just realized that we already have a python. We got our setup from my boyfriends brother and he just gave us all this equipment and a python was included in it. I just researched it on line and now I am, not worried at all about cleaning the tank. Man so happy I figured it out!!!

I think you meant what kind of cleaning agents. Don't use soap, it's hard to get off of the surfaces. If you are worried about the tank, like you don't know if your friend kept it up, you can use a dilute bleach solution, like a 1:10 ratio bleach to water, and give it a good scrub. Don't use anything abrasive or it might scratch the glass. Dry it out as best as you can, even the cracks, and then let it air dry for 24 hours. If you aren't super worried, you can use normal white vinegar and water to clean it out. Once again, dry it out as best as you can, but vinegar isn't very harmful if a few molecules remain behind.

As a novice res owner, get everything in advance. You should get a nice sized aquarium, filter, light, heater, basking area, thermometer, etc in advance. I have bought my second tank, heater, etc from bad advice from a pet store. I was dumb and didn't research well enough. Also, you need a second area for feeding. This place is awesome and there is tons of great info and advice here, all for free!

Thanks so much for all your help....my husband and i are going to lancaster this weekend for all our supplies its a HUGE store called That Fish Place.... if anyone lives close to Lancaster Pa.. go... it rocks!!!
No i'm not going to washington pets.....i'm getting it from portland pets.... i really don't trust advice from pet stores i work at a vet so the one doctor knows a lot but he doesn't have a turtle so i figure your the best help out there...(the people who actually own turtles)....if there are any other little things i need to know feel free to share...thanks