Equipment Review and Discussion :: Got a Ton of Questions

[Hoodieninja]

Hi I recently have been thinking about getting turtle I have a ton of questions, as I am still learning about what is recommended and what isn't.

1. Is the Aquaclear filter good for Turtles? Are they a good or decent alternative to Rena Filstar XP series? If not, what is a good alternative and more affordable aquarium filter for Turtles?

2. Is the Zoo Med 100 Watt Powersun Reliable? Can it hurt your turtle like some people have said? If reliable How often should you replace the bulb?

3. Is the Reptile UV 100 watt Megaray reliable? How is this compared to the Zoo Med 100 Watt Powersun?

4. If you use The Fluroscent Tubed 18 inch 5.0 bulb, should you use it with a typical Basking Light?

5. Are the reptology Basking platforms good for turtles? Will the plastic Melt under the Basking Light?

6. What Basking platform is considered good and or best in the market?

7. Is Conditioner Reccomended for a turtle? If So what kind?

8. How often should a person clean the tank? if so what cleaning products and items are recommended?

[VeipaCray]

1. A canister is much better than a hang on aqua clear for turtles. Canisters have more powerful pumps and hold much more media. The Rena XP3 is the minimum filter I would get for a turtle. The Fluval FX5 is a better choice yet. As your turtle grows, the fx5 will keep up. So the choice is do you want to spend more one time up front and save money long term or spend less now on a smaller filter and have to upgrade later?

2. The powersun 100 bulbs are decent. I use them myself. I change the bulb about every 9 months.

3. I'd stay away from reptile UV. It's a tiny 3 person company that has had many issues recently getting and shipping product.

4. If you use a fluorescent UVB bulb, you still need a basking lamp to provide UVA and heat.

5. There are a few users on here using the platforms. Search the forum is your best bet for opinions. No, the plastic will not melt. The surface temp of the plastic will be under 100 degrees F. It takes more than that to melt plastic.

6. It's personal preference. I think an ATBA is the best because it allows the most swim space.

7. No conditioner. Most of them contain a chemical that is harmful to your turtle. Just add some activated carbon to your filter and it will remove any chloramine in the water without the use of a conditioning chemical. Ther is NO chemical or bottled product that you ever need to add to the water if your filtration is setup properly.

8. Depends on your filtration. Most common is monthly maintenance. A python is helpful for water changes. No other special equipment or product is needed.

[penelope]

Welcome to the Forum!!!!

[VeipaCray]

Heh... I approved that post and didn't even notice it was the first one. Ha! Welcome to the forum.

[Hoodieninja]

Welcome to the Forum!!!!

Heh... I approved that post and didn't even notice it was the first one. Ha! Welcome to the forum.

Thanks!

[Hoodieninja]

1. A canister is much better than a hang on aqua clear for turtles. Canisters have more powerful pumps and hold much more media. The Rena XP3 is the minimum filter I would get for a turtle. The Fluval FX5 is a better choice yet. As your turtle grows, the fx5 will keep up. So the choice is do you want to spend more one time up front and save money long term or spend less now on a smaller filter and have to upgrade later?

2. The powersun 100 bulbs are decent. I use them myself. I change the bulb about every 9 months.

3. I'd stay away from reptile UV. It's a tiny 3 person company that has had many issues recently getting and shipping product.

4. If you use a fluorescent UVB bulb, you still need a basking lamp to provide UVA and heat.

5. There are a few users on here using the platforms. Search the forum is your best bet for opinions. No, the plastic will not melt. The surface temp of the plastic will be under 100 degrees F. It takes more than that to melt plastic.

6. It's personal preference. I think an ATBA is the best because it allows the most swim space.

7. No conditioner. Most of them contain a chemical that is harmful to your turtle. Just add some activated carbon to your filter and it will remove any chloramine in the water without the use of a conditioning chemical. Ther is NO chemical or bottled product that you ever need to add to the water if your filtration is setup properly.

8. Depends on your filtration. Most common is monthly maintenance. A python is helpful for water changes. No other special equipment or product is needed.

Just have two more question

What Thermometers do you recommend? In water and basking area?

What Fixtures are best for 100 Powersun

[steve]

I recommend 2 getting two different types of thermometers for your tank because you want to be able to double check.

1-Infrared temp gun. It's a bit overkill but it's fast and accurate and you can take the temperature of any surface you can reach.
2-The little sticker strip the goes on the outside of the tank. It's not the most accurate but it's reliable want will last for ever.
3-Small tube thermometers that go inside the tank. They are also not turtle proof and an aggressive turtle will break it.

For the Powersun, you can use almost any kind of lamp clamp that has has a ceramic socket.