General Care Discussion :: question on water level and UV

[doglovin]

Hi all. Just joined the forum and really appreciate your help. Two questions that have me baffled because I keep reading and seeing different things. One, is there such a thing as too much UV? I have a 120-gallon tank with a flourescent strip bulb, but a vet mentioned that I may also want to put in a dome light with another UVB bulb to shine down more on the basking area, as flourescent lights move "outward" from side to side rather than downward.

Second, to what height should the water level be? I see some setups with full tanks, some with half, others with about a third of the way. My turtles are about 4" in size and I have the tank 1/3 filled right now. They swim, and like it because they can stand on their tippie toes and stick their noses out whenever they can. Can you PLEASE advise more on the water issue - I see so much conflicting information. Thanks!

[mikee]

To comment on your uvb and uv I would need to take a look at it. Post a photo and let's take a look at it. In regards to your water level; sliders are good swimmers and they like deep water. I would put as much water at you can and arrange the basking area accordingly. The water needs to be at 78 degrees and the basking should be at about 90 degrees. Your filter should pump at least 5 times the volume of the tank. Good Luck!

[doglovin]

Hi, thanks for writing. I'll try to post pix as soon as I can. It's funny, when I fill the water level higher it seems they're struggling. I do have water at about 80 and basking at 90, so I'm good there. I had one of those floating docks before and they could not get on it! Maybe they're just not used to swimming in deep water and will need to adjust? I have a step-up setup for the basking rocks so they get up there ok now.

[SpotsMama]

I agree with mikee on the water level. In the wild RES live in big ponds and lakes where they love to swim and dive. Try raising the water level gradually to give them a chance to get used to it and see if they don't seem happy with it. It is best to give them something to rest on when they get tired of swimming - like a plastic plant that reaches to the surface of the water.

Just don't get the level so high that your guy can climb out of the tank. When you see aquariums that are less than full, it's usually because the basking platform is inside the tank and the water level has to be low enough that the turtle can't stand up on it and escape. When the basking area is the above tank style, then the aquarium can be filled up to the top, or near to the top.

Was your previous floating dock made by Zoo Med? If so, those are pretty good docks - lots of people use them. Sometimes it takes turtles a few days to figure out how to get up on them, but they all do in the end. The Zoo Med dock and some of the other commercially made docks are nice because, unlike a rock pile, they don't take up valuable swimming space in the aquarium.

[marisa]

I agree with your vet---if all you've got is a strip UVB light (with no barrier like plastic in between the light and the turtle), and it's going down the length of the tank, your turtle isn't really benefiting from it. True, the UVB rays aren't being focused downward, but the UVB strength also rapidly lessens the further away your turtle is. If your turtle is getting UVB rays while he's swimming, he's not getting that much (water also will filter out UVB rays), having him get the rays while he's basking would be better.

Since you've got a 120-gallon tank, consider suspending a mercury vapor bulb (MVB), preferably a flood as opposed to a spot, over the basking area. It will provide needed UVB and UVA rays as well as heat. Follow the mfgrs recommendations for distance. The bulbs have a reflective coating on them which helps focus the rays downward. Putting them in a reflective dome with a ceramic socket (they get hot) will also help keep the light focused (and is safer for your eyes). Your turtle should do fine with this bulb. If you think the lighting in the tank is too dark (a flood MVB throws light over a greater area than a spot), put another light over the other end of the tank (I use small floor lights). As for brands, the T-Rex Active UVHeat MVB and the Mega-Ray both are good choices.

As for the water level, try more like 3/4 full (whatever height, just make sure the turtles can't climb out). Give them some plastic plants for resting areas to help them adjust to the new water level.

[doglovin]

Hi everyone. Thank you all SO much for your kind and prompt responses, from mikee to the 2 moderators! Yes, it was a Zoo Med dock I believe - I'll buy another because I need a larger one anyway, and the first one was all gunked up with green. I do like the idea of doing things gradually for them in terms of the water level, so I'll start with half and see how that goes. I also like the idea of less rocks - that means more room to swim and less to clean! Though they do seem to love the "cave-like" environment I've created with the rocks too.

As for the Mercury Vapor light, thanks again. I've considered that, however I have a beautiful cherry tank cabinet with a canopy that opens from the top, so a suspended light would not work unfortunately. I will keep you all posted on progress with the "kids" and how their swim lessons go!!!