redearslider.com

I have 2 red ear sliders and I currently have a 40 gallon tank and I keep it half full with water. When I bought my turtles about 2 years ago, I was told to keep the tank full, and now some people have told me to keep it half full. My tank can only be full half way because there is a section that is cut out and holds the filter there. Does it really matter? Does it have any effect on the turtles?

You can only put in what the tank will hold. If there is a cut out for the filter, odds are it is one of those "special" turtle tanks they sell.
So...if it were me, I'd fill it as high as I could (just below the cutout) and put the basking spot along or above the water line (making sure they have a way to reach it).
If they have a ramp that allows them to easily climb to the top, then it doesn't matter if it is half full or 10 feet deep. You just need to make sure they can get up to their basking area AND have a "high spot" for sleeping (something they can perch on that allows them to just stick their noses out for air when they sleep).
You may find better answers and get more advice on the "Indoor Habitat" forum; they are quiet creative.

Can you post a pic of the tank?

That's the best I could do!

I see what you mean about the filter. I can't tell what size the tank is, but the turts look fairly small. The important thing about water level is that it's at least be deep enough that your turtles can flip themselves over if they end up on their backs. Looks like they have room to do that. The basking spot looks a little bit low. I agree with penelope that maybe you could raise it above the water line and use a ramp. I used to use this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D ... UTF8&psc=1

Oh, okay thanks! My tank is pretty long, I don't know the exact measurements off the top of my head.

Sadly, that's a limited turtle tank. How long have you had it? Would it still be returnable?

I have had since January now and I don't know if I could return it. The lady at the store told me since they're both still small that it would be a fine tank, so as guilable as I am, I got it!

Sadly, most pet store sales people don't give very good advice.

steve wrote:Sadly, most pet store sales people don't give very good advice.

When I got flipper and clipper the store guy told me that a 15 gallon would be good enough for them! And he did not even tell me about the UVB light. I learned it the hard way.

Yeah, I have also had to learn some things the hard way! Then it's hard when you have different people telling you different things in the same store! You don't know who to believe!

Hopefully they were actually trying to help as opposed to just trying to make a sale. It sucks when people buy something that is inadequate and can't return it.