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Is it possible to make your own filter? the only place to get filters here is wal-mart. and i dont want to order a $100 filter and pay another $100 to ship.

Here ya go:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14460

Umm.. Honestly, I don't get it. Like, how does it work?

If you have a stock tank, you can try mine, too:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19728

I wouldn't try this over a glass tank though, given the weight of the water.

I'm planning on getting 5o gallon stock tank for $80 soon. I'm gonna see if my dad can help me put together one of these filters. He might even want one for his pond.

Hey ESG4life, I just want to make sure how old/big your turtle is.

100gal stock tanks are only like $20 more (if that) and will allow a lot of room for your turtle to grow bigger. I went with a 50 because Oliver is getting pretty old and had stunted growth as a baby so I don't think he's going to get much bigger.

The 100gal actually takes up a little bit less horizontal room in your house. Its circumference is smaller. It's just way taller.

So how big/old is your little one?

my turt is a male (pretty sure) 4.5 inches and about 3.5 yo ( i think.)
the people who had him before me lept him in a small 5 gallon bucket and didnt really take care of him so i really am guessing how old he is.

Hmm...if you can, you might as well go with a 100 gal stock tank. We went with a shallow 50 gal because it seemed like Oliver liked swimming AROUND rather than up and down, and we are pretty sure he won't get bigger.

But it turns out that he might have felt more secure with deeper wall space and a tank that allowed his basking spot to be higher off the ground. We walk so tall over him that it scares him sometimes. So I kind of wish we'd gone with the 100gal tank.

If you do 100gal and decide to make your own filter, be sure to get a faster pump. And maybe bigger buckets, if you decide to make the filter I posted. It will all be fun trial and error.

Why don't you guys just lift the stock tank with some cinder blocks so Oliver won't feel so small?

I think I'm going to go with the 100gal. I think its like $120 at a farm supply store, but I'm going to look at home depot.
Another thing: Can you put wood (untreated) as a basking dock?

Wood doesn't make a very good basking dock - unless it's cork bark or untreated drift wood. Regular wood like you get at Home Depot will rot in the high humidity and moisture if it isn't treated, and it's not safe if it is treated. Besides, there's the problem of splinters.

Have you looked around at all the info on this site on custom made basking platforms or above-tank-basking-areas? There are some wonderful ones on here, some that cost practically nothing.

okay thank you.