Habitat - Indoor :: Help with newly purchased used filter.

[razorblade42069]

I bought a used 55 gallon tank with a used filter, the problem is,
I cant seem to install the paper filter correctly into the black plastic compartment so that the round paper filter "spins" with the water.
I know, very confusing to describe, but I'll post pics.

[razorblade42069]

yes. i guess i am a bit slow.

[RunninWideOpen]

That filter to me looks like one you put the rectangular cartridges in, not a spinny thing. I may be wrong.....but that would explain it not fitting.

[steve]

Here's the manual for your filter:
http://www.marineland.com/products/manu ... manual.pdf

from:
http://www.marineland.com/products/cons ... ilters.asp

[razorblade42069]

Got it Steve! Thanks a million. I appreciate it.
Here's a couple quick pics of my setup. 2 heaters, a basking lamp in back, and lots of water to swim in.


Feel free to add any tips or hints. Thanks again!

[N4784N R4613]

Cool, good job with the set-up!!

[SpotsMama]

Looking good! those plants really make it attractive.

Question: Is there a glass cover between that fluorescent light and the turtle dock? If so, you need to find a way to remove it because glass filters out UVB rays (I am assuming that's a UVB tube fluorescent - right?) and it's critical for your turtles' health that they get plenty of UVB. And I'm also curious - is there a heat bulb in there too? Maybe there is and I just can't see it.

I'm curious - that tower of rocks on the right - is that something that just looks like natural rocks but really isn't? Is the whole thing glued together somehow? If it were natural rocks I'd worry about them falling over on top of a turtle!

[cooleststan]

also just wondering how much did you get that setup for?
I was looking around for some 55 gallon tanks too.
thanks a lot!

[razorblade42069]

Pinky & Peelay outgrew their first & much smaller tank, so I decided to get them a 55 gallon tank that I could put in my arch. office.
I bought the tank used on craigslist. It came with the 55g tank, stand (unpainted that I painted jet black), heater, filter, & lighting fixture all for $120. He also gave me the fish, including an eel, that I put in the old tank. The hardest part was bringing the tank & stand back to my office. Had to dust off the old '88 Isuzu Impulse hatchback.
I think craigslist is the cheapest place you'll get a tank and a good deal. Just know what you want and be ready to jump on it as soon as it's posted. I missed a couple other good deals because someone else was quicker.
I will make sure to take the glass away Spotmama, thanks for the tip!
It is a UVB tube that I bought from a reptile store, and was in the old tank. I was told that I do not need a heat bulb, and that the light would be sufficient for heat. I do live in SoCal which is about 95 degrees.

[SpotsMama]

Sounds good. About the heat bulb though, the fluorescent bulb is very cool - it really won't generate heat for you.

The reason to have a heat bulb positioned over the basking area is to motivate the turtles to bask. They love warmth so if the basking area is heated and is at least 10 degrees warmer than the water they are in, then they'll get up there and bask. Basking is necessary for a variety of reasons - (1) their shells must dry off completely at frequent intervals or they will get fungus/shell rot (2) they need to be under the UVB bulb while they are basking so they can manufacture vitamin D (3) the warmth aids in their digestion.

Now, if your turtles are basking sufficiently without a heat bulb - I mean an average of several hours a day - then it appears you don't need a heat bulb. Otherwise, you should add one. Fortunately the heat bulb is cheap and easy. Any old household incandescent bulb will do as the incandescents do produce heat.

[razorblade42069]

Thanks for the info Spotsmama.
I am planning on purchasing another floating basking area, so there is one for each turtle. They used to both be able to fit on a medium, but now Pinky hogs the basking area.
They both do bask, and I see them lift & stretch their back legs as they bask.
I personally dislike the huge cluttered "lamp bulb" look protruding above the tank, if that makes any sense. I like the lighting fixtures that match & came with the tanks.
I currently have two light fixtures.
1. The bulb that came with the light fixture for the 55g tank. It was originally for fish, so it probably is not giving off the proper UVB light.
2. The light fixture/bulb that came with my first smaller tank. This light was givin to me specifically by the reptile shop owner, who said it would do the job well. Its hidden behind the bigger light fixture on the pics. This lamp has worked for the last 8 months that i have had the turtles (since they were the size of a quarter).
But I will stop by the reptile shop to see what they say. Thanks.

[steve]

Some corkbark would look great in there

[marisa]

I second that. It would give more swimming room. Those rocks don't look all that stable.

[razorblade42069]

I put the rock in to help the turtles climb up the basking dock. The were having a hard time getting up on the dock without the rocks. They are very stable but i will triple check.

[adam85491]

Just chiming in here but I have a filter that size on a 20 gallon tank so I dunno if that is gonna do the job for you...it really doesn't matter what the fixture is but more so the bulb and with two docks you would need to have both a heat bulb and the UVB bulb over both of the docks. I also don't see a need for the rocks either.