Habitat - Indoor :: help me design my tank please :)

[francinemarie]

i've seen many ideas of ppl's underwater tank design & i have so many ideas/designs for my tank. i narrowed it down to one main theme; i'd like my 50 gallon tank to have a natural underwater theme. i'd like some kind of underwater cave for Crush to swim into, but she's 6 or 7+ inches long & 5 or 6+ inches wide. would anyone like to give me ideas of a natural underwater design? i'm not too fond of using pirate ships or the "ancient rome" underwater theme, i'd just like it to feel more natural for her.

--i'd also like to know your plastic plants you use. Crush is really strong, so i'd have to use plastic underwater plants that stay where i put them .

ideas please, thank you!!!

[Daniel3507]

if you dont have it already sand makes it look pretty natural and so would a nice background. i would avoid the cave idea since you got a good size turtle. i would worry about him getting stuck. as for the plants staying in one place, well if figure something out let me know haha. although im sure its fun for them to move the plants around

[meltedspork]

Well... you do know that if Crush is 6 or 7 inches you should have 60 or 70 gallons, right?

But besides that point, the plants I use have suction cups on them and I suction them to the sides/corners of the tank so they stay put.

I have one like this, which Toby LOVES... he uses it like a resting area:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18316/si1379842/cl0/aquariumsystemsfancyplantsphilodenronevine

And one like this, which I added suction cups to:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18316/si1379831/cl0/aquariumsystemsfancyplantsgiantsphilodendron

I used these suction cups and put the plant through the loops... works great!
http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18533/si1382635/cl1/penn_plax_suction_cup_heater_holder2_pk?&query=suction+cup&queryType=0&offset=

[francinemarie]

if you dont have it already sand makes it look pretty natural and so would a nice background. i would avoid the cave idea since you got a good size turtle. i would worry about him getting stuck. as for the plants staying in one place, well if figure something out let me know haha. although im sure its fun for them to move the plants around

hehe yes i have the sand in my tank now. sometimes (if she's using her back legs really hard while swimming), she'll push the sand around (making it uneven) & i'll have to fix the sand again .

i don't have a background because my tank is put up next to a mirror, so i thought the reflection would help make her feel like she has a bigger habitat or feel like she has more space. i don't know if this is a good idea, but i'll get a background if anyone thinks otherwise.

yea i think i'll skip the cave idea for that same reason & i don't mind if Crush moves her plants around, but it would be tiring since the tank's height is almost as high as me & would be tiring scooping my arm in there over & over again.

thank you for your input

[francinemarie]

Well... you do know that if Crush is 6 or 7 inches you should have 60 or 70 gallons, right?

But besides that point, the plants I use have suction cups on them and I suction them to the sides/corners of the tank so they stay put.

I have one like this, which Toby LOVES... he uses it like a resting area:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18316/si1379842/cl0/aquariumsystemsfancyplantsphilodenronevine

And one like this, which I added suction cups to:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18316/si1379831/cl0/aquariumsystemsfancyplantsgiantsphilodendron

I used these suction cups and put the plant through the loops... works great!
http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18533/si1382635/cl1/penn_plax_suction_cup_heater_holder2_pk?&query=suction+cup&queryType=0&offset=

i know that the rule of thumb is 10 gallons for every 10 inches, but this is all i can offer her for now. while she was 6 inches long she was in a 20 gallon. i know that it was REALLY small for her, but i made an ATBA for her to utilize more swimming space & i recently updated her to a 50 gallon that i got for free from my uncle. of course she looks a lot more happier now & it's the best i can do for her at the moment .

i like that idea with the Penn Plax suction cups, thank you!

[Chrisbarnett]

To get my plants to stay down I siliconed gravel all over the base of the plant. Then when buried in the sand, they stay surprisingly well.

[francinemarie]

To get my plants to stay down I siliconed gravel all over the base of the plant. Then when buried in the sand, they stay surprisingly well.

oh i didn't think of that, thank you