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ok, i just got my first res two days ago, and i really do not like the tank i built. i put it together too fast and used the wrong materials. i have a free 55 gallon tank coming to me in a week or so, but i also have another tank. i am not sure of the size? can anyone give me an estimate from the picture. it is 12 x 30 x 12" (l x w x h). it is sitting on a single size bed for comparison. i plan on using greygooses ideas and making an acrylic basking area with silicone and all that, but im not sure if that tank i have is as big or bigger than the 55 gal. if the 55 gallon is bigger i will use that when i get it. also, in my setup i have right now, i have a 100 watt heater, 50 gal filter, thermometer, uvb bulb and a heat bulb.

setup for now. \/


Tank that i dont know the size of. \/

There is a handy tank volume converter on the site. http://www.redearslider.com/calculator.html Looks like yours is a 20gal. I would say that is plenty fine for 1 week until the 55 rolls in. How big are your turtles?
Oh and as for filtration if you have a 55gal tank your filtration should be rated for two times as big... so 110gal.

According to the dimensions you gave that tank is a 20 gallon tank. So you may as well do yourself a favor and use the 55 gallon one because that will last a lot longer in terms of your turtle outgrowing it.
In the picture of your current set up you have a lot of gravel. You may want to get rid of it, as it traps a lot of debris and makes the filter less efficient' leaving you with murky water. As well, any tiny stones can be eaten by your turtle and become impacted.

thanks for your help with sizing the tank. if it is a 22 gal tank, does that mena it actually holds 22 gals of water? just curious. megcornell, should i just have a thin layer of rocks at the bottom and make sure to not use the little ones?

For the rocks take out all the ones that are close to the size of their heads and smaller. If they swallow one it can be fatal. If you tank is a 22 gal yes it will hold 22gals of water IF filled to the high water mark... about 1inch or so from the top.

thank you for your help. i will be using the 55 gallon, now that i know how much bigger it really is. maybe i will set up the littler one for feeding. i will do that with the rocks, and thanks for telling me.

Ya RES can be a real forger species of turtle. Lots of people have mentioned they will bite/eat anything they can get their mouth on. Docks, basking platforms you name it...

How big are your little guys? Got any picks

umm, one is around 4 inches and the other about 5 inches. i might take the 5 inch one back to petco and switch it for one the same size. do you suggest i do that? right now, they are still adjusting to their new home, so they have been really shy. i will take pics but they wont be very good.

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb11 ... 010003.jpg

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb11 ... 010004.jpg

Umm... There are a few things you should think about. For every inch of shell you need 10 gal.
So if you have a 4inch and a 5 inch you need a 90gal tank. That and since your turtles are around the 4inch mark they are starting to mature. It is possible that they might not get along. If they start to be aggressive towards each other you will have to separate them and then that means another full setup. If you keep 2 turtles in a small tank it is possible that they might get into a truf war.
RES do not require a companion. They are perfectly happy on their own. My two bits says to return the 5inch and keep the 4inch and put it in the 55gal tank. Then it has room to grow a bit.

thank you. i think i wil do that. then i get money back for the turtle, which will go to supplies for the 55 gal tank. thank you.

No worries. I know the initial set up phase can be overwhelming. Before you run out and start spending more money and time read through all the wonderful information on this site. It has helped a lot of people myself included. It covers everything you need to know. Habitat, lighting, feeding everything.