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im getting a 55 gallon tank. assume i have a 55 gallon tank and a background completely empty no decor except the dock. i dont no what im going to use. i want to use anarcharis but how can i keep it stable and somewhat submerged without gravel. im going to use big rocks, but not cover the whole bottom. im going to buy some sort of awuarium decoration, like a fake log or sumthing. i ve been looking at pics but still have no idea how im going to do anything

How big are your turtles? You could put a cup in there sideways for them to hide in. I suggest putting some plants in the corner of the tank anchored by some big rocks, then in the other corner put maybe a log or hiding place. Plants can make the tank look 100 times better, but be sure to leave some wide open areas in there for them to swim like crazy maniacs.

can i way anaracharis down with heavy rocks and it will look good and not kill the plant?

Try sticking the end of it into a suction cup and then sticking it to the aquarium glass.

how is this blueprint?

Was that made with the paint program? I think I get your concepts. The way I get it is that you have a turtle on a dock in the right upper hand corner, a plant of some sort with stones at the base, weighing it down on the left hand side, a log or something on the bottom with some additional stones scattered on the bottom. If my interpretations are correct, then it looks like you have a good plan for your setup. If I am wrong, then you will have to correct me.

you are correct, but i think im also going to wrap some more anarcharis around the turtle dock. i saw someone here do that and it looked pretty nice.

To weight your plants down there are non-toxic plant weights, that you wrap around the bottom of anachris (or what ever plant) and it will keep it at the bottom. Usually plants come with this wrap already on it, if not they are like 2$ for a box.

I've seen these sold in Petco.

bigals.com has them too, 1.49 i think is the going price, i had the link earler.

cant those things hurt the turtles if they swallow the metal things for the plants?

My turtles leave them alone... Then again i have the plants with rocks around them forming a "planter" like, with the metal bands wrapped around the bottom.

just so you know, chances are if you put live plants in there, they will become food. my turtle has always eaten the live plants.. and even tried to eat the fakes ones too! lol

And don't be disappointed if you make a really nice display with your plants all nicely weighted down or attached somehow and your turtle rips it all up in 5 minutes. Sometimes they just do that. My Spot did. I can't "plant" anything. I just let them float. He eats the plants nicely when they float, doesn't rip and tear. I think some of the other turtles are ok with having plants that are attached to the bottom but some are not.

Try Taking a look at this site http://www.allturtles.com/setup/indoorWT.php