Habitat - Indoor :: I need a filter

[defectivepinto]

my little baby turtle is growing up he's almost 6" long now and my 10 gal just isn't cutting it any more I bought a nice 20 gal for him and also bought some "extreme turtle reserve" thing but when i took it out of the box it wasn't all I thought it was going to be and I went online and read the reveiws and everybody said it wasn't woth the $40 so I am returning it I've designed a nice basking area and reserve for the tank but now I need a filter I'd like one that mount mostly out side the tank you know the kind with an intake tube (I don't have that kind now) but I want to hear from turtle people what a good filter would be because I can't afford to be replacing the filter catrige once a week or more which Is what my current filter seems to need so can any body recomend something good?

[marisa]

Welcome. Your turtle is a RES? Your turtle's shell length without the curve is nearly 6 inches? If so, ideally he should be in a 60 gallon tank.

With the size you say your turtle is and with the size tank (20 gallon) he's in, I really don't think any filter is going to work that well in terms of keeping the water clean- without frequent cleaning--he's big enough to be producing a lot of poop.

For the type of filter you're describing, an Aquaclear is good, but the largest one (the 110) I think would be too powerful for a 20-gallon tank.

What would really be good is to start with a bigger tank/container and get a good canister filter.

I don't think the Turtle Reserve is the best thing to be using to create a basking area for your turtle (so it's good you took it back). It would take up far too much room in an already-too-small tank. Your turtle doesn't need a reserve in the tank. A basking area that allows for swimming room underneath to maximize the small space he has would be far better.

[RunninWideOpen]

I got my 60 gallon tank at petsmart for $150. it came with a water heater, filter, and 2 lights. it seemed like a really good deal to me and it's been working great. the filter works fantastic and i have two res "poopin up the water".

[defectivepinto]

well, I measured my turtle from head to tail over his shell, and he is only 4 1/2". So I way over estimated on that. And although yall say a 60 gal. is better, you have to take into consideration that I have needs as well, like living space! I live in a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 cats, a dog, 3 ferrets, a boyfriend ,and my one turtle a sixty just isnt an option at the moment. But thanks for making me feel like crap.


D. Pinto

[RunninWideOpen]

I never intended to make you feel like crap. sorry if i did. i don't know much about filters but lots of other people on here do.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

defectivepinto: Chill out a little bit, these people are just trying to help. A 20 gallon tank is too small, a 40 gallon tank will do for a while. But a 20 gallon wont. Rule of thumb: 10 gallons of water per inch.

A turtle that big in a tank that small, is going to dirty up the tank realy realy fast. I would get a bigger tank, and a canister or Aqua clear filter, like marisa said.

[megcornell]

D.pinto- I don't think anyone said anything derogatory to you. It's always a little disheartening to learn that you haven't provided the best set up for your turtle, I know, I started out with a less than ideal one for my RES. However, the reason you came here was to get ideas and help from people who have owned turtles and had the same issues. The fact is you will need a larger tank. Turtles are big and messy, and a stronger filter just won' t cut it. I don't know how large your apt. is but to be frank, that animal load is large even for a house, so really, what difference does a larger tank make? It's just that you thought like a lot of us had that turtles didn't require a lot of care and now you've found out that they do, so now you can be proactive for your turtle and give him a good habitat. I hope you do, owning that many animals must mean you really care about them so I hope you look around the site for low budget/ space saving ideas.
Good Luck.

[defectivepinto]

okay heres the deal I didn't mean to be mean but the truth is I only had $100 dollars to buy an new tank filter basking area and heater I am a student and don't have alot of money I think i have found something that will work for me the reason I cannot buy a bigger tank than a 20 is that I have to put it on my beauraU and I simple cannot fit a bigger tank I do intend on getting a bigger tank sometime soon but in the wost case senario we are goaling toward getting a house not this but next april in which I plan to create an indoor pond that will be big enough for 2 turtles at least any way I just feel like an unfitt turtle mother thats all but I got something planned out that will work for the 20 gall that wont take any swim space away
D.Pinto

ps~ and as far as not knowing how much care a turtle needed you aren't kidding I did not chose to be a turtle mom . My boyfriend and I were vacationing in fla and I was at sea world and he went to a flea market he bought an atari there and knew I'd be mad at him so he bought a little tiny hatchling turtle that was bearly an 1 1/2" long because he knew turtles were my favorite aninmal that was 2 years ago last week

[RunninWideOpen]

no hard feelings.

one thing that might work to help keep your tank cleaner is feeding your turtle in something else. maybe you have a big enough tupperware or plastic tub? if your turtle poops right away like mine do then you can feed em, wait till they poop, then put them back in the tank and dump the poopy water.

i've used a large mixing bowl, but unfortutely only one of my turtles will eat while in it. the other just swims in circles.

[megcornell]

No problem, I too am a student and know quite well the joys of turtle care on a shoestring budget...
One way to help give extra swim space is to rig up an out of tank basking area.. a lot of people on the site are leaning towards those, and they basically allow you to fill up the entire tank with water- so long as you cover the rest to prevent escapes- but it sounds as though with all your other pets you have to cover the tank to keep curious on-lookers out
To keep your turtle alive and growing for 2 years means you've definitely done something right... there are really a lot of good setups in the photo gallery here so do some looking and maybe some ideas will pop out at you until you can get that larger tank.
Also, you never mentioned, what's your turtle's name?