Habitat - Indoor :: I need suggestions about current setup & future upgrade

[kornygerm]

Ok, so as you know i have my girls in a 10 gallon tank.
After talking with my folks..My mom is going to graduate soon, and she told by december we could make some room for a larger tank or rubbermaid.

Now, i dont know if i should wait to get the upgrade stuff.(filters,heaters..etc).Or get the ones for my current setup.(which in a way i feel it'd be useless if i do get a bigger tank).

Also I have had a hard time to find a uvb bulb on local petstores here in mex.I think i will just go online for those cause i think in petsmart..they are a little more expensive.

[SpotsMama]

Let me be sure I understand your question. You're asking whether you should get a filter, heaters etc. now for your current tank or wait and get filter, heaters, etc. in the future when you get your new tank/rubbermaid?

What are you currently using for a filter, heaters, etc? I don't think you should spend a lot for new equipment for your 10 gallon tank if you're going to get a big tank/rubbermaid in December. But I am curious as to what you actually have right now. Or maybe I'm not understanding your question.

[kornygerm]

[quote="SpotsMama"]Let me be sure I understand your question. You're asking whether you should get a filter, heaters etc. now for your current tank or wait and get filter, heaters, etc. in the future when you get your new tank/rubbermaid?

What are you currently using for a filter, heaters, etc? I don't think you should spend a lot for new equipment for your 10 gallon tank if you're going to get a big tank/rubbermaid in December. But I am curious as to what you actually have right now. Or maybe I'm not understanding your question.[/quote

-Yep,you hit the nail on the head.

-I dont have a filter, i only do partial water changes every two weeks or so and use a syphon.And for a water heater i have a wall mounted water heater.Im not sure how well it works,since its only has a turn handle and it says higher or lower.Although having a filter would make the job easier.

Ok, i have a 10 gallon tank right now..
Also, i have had a hard time finding a uvb bulb in local petstores.i guess im gonna go online for those.

i hope i make my point clearer now hehe..that must have explained the number of views and no replies lol.

[DavidY]

I see your dilemma. If you get a filter and better heater for your 10gal tank now (which it sounds like you could really use), you'll just have to upgrade again later when you get your bigger tank. If you buy a filter and heater that will be suitable for your bigger tank in the future, it will probably too strong for your little tank right now.

As far as the heater goes, you could still go ahead and get a decent one for the 10gal tank that's maybe one size higher like a Visitherm Stealth 100W or a 150W. Then when you get your bigger tank you could still get another heater and use both together. Sometimes it's better to have two lower wattage heaters rather than one big one in case one should fail, the resulting temperature change would not be as quick or drastic.

You could also do the same thing for the filter, perhaps buy one now that you could also use together with another bigger filter when you get your new tank. It's also nice to have spare equipment should your main filter or heater break, then you have a temporary backup until you can get a suitable replacement. Or if you ever need to setup a "hospital" or quarantine tank should one of your turtles get sick.

There are some great places online where you can get everything you need but I'm not sure how much more they charge to ship to Mexico. I wouldn't think it would be that much since delivery trucks go back and forth across the border fairly easily.

http://www.bigalsonline.com has really good prices on heaters and filters.
http://www.reptilesupply.com is a good place to find UVB bulbs.