Habitat - Outdoor :: New turtles and new home

[MMTX]

I just got two young Res turtles. they are currently in an indoor tank.

I would like to move them outside and I am just flabbergasted by the volume of info a pond setups.

the pond I am going to build will be no larger than 250 gallons, unless someone tells me it is too small for two turtles.

I know I need a pump and a filter. What pump should I get.

as far as filter, I am going to build a wendy/skippy filter, but I don't want to use a 55 gallon or even a 5 gallon drum.

I would like to use a two gallon bucket with lid. is that okay? or must I use a 5 gallon bucket.

as far as size is concerned with the filter, is it a frequency of cleaning issue only.

[steve]

How big are the RES? Do you know their sex yet? What's the range of temperatures outside? In-ground pond? Above ground?

[Jeremiah]

In addition to Steve's questions, I would like to confirm for you that for a pond of that size you will need at least a 5 gallon bucket. Preferably larger. Maintenance isn't the only reason behind filter size. Having a higher-capacity filter keeps more waste out of your water, and provides space for a concentrated population of beneficial bacteria.

Is there any reason you dislike the drums and buckets? If it's because you don't want to build your own, you can always buy commercial ones like Pondmaster. Tetra makes them, too, but I don't know how well they work. Good pumps include Beckett and Tetra Water Garden.

[Peva]

Also, where do you live? Just curious about the environment where you live.