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Well I finally got around to posting pictures of their tank. So far the kids love it and having such a large space is bringing out their personalities.

Click on the pictures to go to my online photo gallery page for them and to see a larger image.

Overall shot of the tank:


Left side of the tank, and a shot of Spike


Right side of the tank, and a shot of Buddy and Spike


The tank looks infinitely better with the background on it.

Nice tank! Very colorful. Must feel like heaven to the kids!

Lookin' good. Must take a long time during maintenance though, with all those rocks and everything,

Just a tip of mine, might want to change the type of thermometer as they get older, if their mouths are big and strong enough, they may chomp on and break the glass thermometer, or just by bashing into it hard enough.

Pizza wrote:Just a tip of mine, might want to change the type of thermometer as they get older, if their mouths are big and strong enough, they may chomp on and break the glass thermometer, or just by bashing into it hard enough.

I haven't had to do any cleaning yet. What kind of thermometer would you recommend? I know most digitals use probes, but couldn't the turtles bite the wires? If I stuck a sticker thermometer on the glass near the dock, would it accurately show the temp of it?

Well for digital thermometers (which are the most recommended here), you just dip them in occasionally, record and adjust the temperature accordingly, then take it back out if you wanted to. Some people just leave them in there, but if you're unsure of your turtles, then the first method is fine. You could also make some sort of cover over the probe to protect it if you really want to, such as placing it into a small piece of PVC pipe.

I myself use a stick-on thermometer, and it does a good quick job of telling the temperature, but if your turtles are sick or you're that kind of person that likes perfection, then yes, it is slightly inaccurate by 1-4 degrees. This is due to it also taking in the temperature of the air in the room (since it is stuck on outside), and due to the thickness of the glass shielding some heat from within.

They're both good choices, Digital for accuracy, Stick-On for ease (and price).

I use the stick-ons and double check the accuracy from time to time with a digital. I've found the stick-ons to be pretty close - not perfect, like Pizza said - but pretty close. I wouldn't leave a digital probe iin there because yes, the turtle will chomp on it. I think a turtle could and would break a glass thermometer.

I agree with Spotsmama.....I also use stick on for both (it makes it easy to make sure that the heater is working when I check it daily) and periodically can check the water temp with a real thermometer to make sure everything is working ok.

I also use the stick on as a back up I have my thermometer probe inside my filter (Aquaclear)

That's clever! Inside the filter!

With my next setup I also hope to have the heaters inside a custom filter... unless I pick up one of those Eheim filters.

Thanks for the info. I'll get a digital thermometer one of these days.