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since i can't use gravel or rocks can i just use those fake grass carpet things as a substrate for the water?

or will it rot?


please answer as quick as possible!

Won't it trap debris like gravels do? Sand is a cool option.

I don't know if fake grass can handle being in water for such a long period of time.

Kemul's suggestion of sand hit the nail on the head. Sand is easy to sift through, and their body waste sits on the top of the sand so it's easy to get out.

Turtles also like to dig around from time to time.

I remember a few years ago on here someone used grass in their tank but it was like a shag rug, and not like that reptile carpet. Not really sure what it was but it looked great. It would really get dirty though.

i want to use so i can just change it every week...
can i do that?

I don't think it would keep your tank any cleaner because as you remove it from the tank, waste will loosen into the water, dirtying it up. You don't have to have a substrate. If you just want something down there, you can get decorations, plants, a few large rocks, etc.

Wouldn't sand be just as dirty? Especially if the turtle decides to go digging?

Once settled and the water is clear, sand will settle back quickly after a turtle digs it.
Same thing when you scoop debris up from the sand surface. I don't have substrate
in my tank, let alone sand. But what I wrote was written by people who use sand.
Check out this sticky.

Sand really is the only known substrate to work best with turtles. It's either that or bare bottom.

Yeah. I took my gravel out and put sand in about two weeks ago cuz I read that the turtles eat the gravel. And thats trues. i have Rocks laying on the bottom. If the sand gets eaten It can be passed with no stress or harm.

is it just normal play sand ?

yup! Just clean it and pull out any large pieces (anything larger than sand) before placing it in your tank.

I used small river stones in a smaller tank. But, I found it hard to keep the entire tank clean. With a larger tank I don't have any type of substrate material. My RES keep the bottom clean and the small amount of debris is easily vacuumed up.