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#1
ndiehm
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Posted 21 January 2012 - 09:12 AM
I am new to owning a turtle. Currently i have a musk turtle. Right now he is in a 10 gallon tank and is about 1.5 in long. i had this tank laying around and am looking for for 45-55 gal. i need some help with how to set up the tank. right now it is set up with small pebbles that slope up to create a deep end and about 2 in of water and a basking rock. i have a repti glo 5.0 UVB bulb over the rock and a 60 wt bulb for heat. i have a small canister filter and an over the edge filter (it came with the tank when i bought it for the fish). there are a few plastic plants in there. i have some questions. i have read that the turtle needs a UVB, UVA, and basking bulb. how do you have 3 bulbs? or are they combined? i have algae growing on the pebbles and his basking rock. it is also growing on some of the glass. i cleaned it and changed the water but it was back in 2 days. we bought a pleco and the turtle killed it. if i get a 55gal tank what kind of heater and filter should i get? how should i set up the tank so he can swim and have a basking area? what kind of bulbs should i buy? should i use more then one filter? how can i prevent the algae? my kids feed it when i'm not home. i know its better to feed it outside, but thats a lot for my 7 year old and younger kids. any help is appreciated. we are big turtle savers and want to take care of this little guy. thanks
#2
Sampras&DrCornwallis
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Posted 04 February 2012 - 07:02 AM
Hay bro!
i have read that the turtle needs a UVB, UVA, and basking bulb. how do you have 3 bulbs? or are they combined?
UVB and UVA will be combined in one. You're 5.0 UVB bulb (exact same as mine) is more than sufficient along with the 60watt bulb. 60watt may be a little too strong, I use 40, but I'm sure 60 would be fine, its always nicer to be warmer!
i have algae growing on the pebbles and his basking rock.
I really can't say with certainty how to cure this. You could try a water purifier or try to steralize the tank. Your set up with the pebbles might be the cause also. That many pebbles could cause bacteria to strive easier leading to algae. You might want to try getting a floating basking log or dock, these can be bought on amazon pretty cheaply and will allow alot more swimming space. Getting rid of the pebble mountain you created will also allow your filters to work better.
we bought a pleco and the turtle killed it
LOL! Yeah thats the beauty of turtles. Unless you want to give you turtle live feed, then I suggest not putting any fish in at all! The predatory instincts of turtles will only stress the fish... before their certain and untimely demise.
if i get a 55gal tank what kind of heater and filter should i get?
Wow lucky little dewde getting a 55 to himself xD That will allow him to really strectch his legs, just don't repeat the pebble mountain idea. Filters and heaters will be described as "up to ...gallon/litre". This makes it easy to choose the right kind of heater, but a choosing filters can be a little trickier. Turtles are complete dirtbirds! You'll need a 100 gallon filter if you are getting a 55 gallon tank. The two filters you have atm maaaay be ok, as they'reis two, but go ahead and get a new filter, 55 gallon ++ is required.
how should i set up the tank so he can swim and have a basking area
The set up can take many forms. Personally I like the floating rock idea where you can get suction cupped foam basking areas allowing for the area below to be used as swmming grounds. Maybe hold off on the water until he/she is bigger. But you have endless options when it comes to this. Spend time lurking the forums here and you'll find everything you need.
what kind of bulbs should i buy?
None, your current ones are fine, just make sure they aren't too far away or too close to the basking area. About 12 inches no more is considered standard distance and always have them pointed at the basking area.
should i use more then one filter?
Not nessecarily. If you buy the correct one for the size of tank you have, then they're shouldn't be a problem. But hay if theres enough space for that small canister or over the edge filter you already have, then it sure as hell wouldn't hurt to use one of them as well. Three may be excessive though....
my kids feed it when i'm not home. i know its better to feed it outside, but thats a lot for my 7 year old and younger kids
You're darn right! Its alot for anyone and its alot for the turtle in question to be hauled out of his little haven! Feed him inside, why not, just make sure you scoop out all the unwanted food when you think he's finished and allow you filter to take care of the rest!!
Thats all I can do for you, sorry someone didn't get around to replying to you sooner. When you get your set-up sorted come back and show it off!
i have read that the turtle needs a UVB, UVA, and basking bulb. how do you have 3 bulbs? or are they combined?
UVB and UVA will be combined in one. You're 5.0 UVB bulb (exact same as mine) is more than sufficient along with the 60watt bulb. 60watt may be a little too strong, I use 40, but I'm sure 60 would be fine, its always nicer to be warmer!
i have algae growing on the pebbles and his basking rock.
I really can't say with certainty how to cure this. You could try a water purifier or try to steralize the tank. Your set up with the pebbles might be the cause also. That many pebbles could cause bacteria to strive easier leading to algae. You might want to try getting a floating basking log or dock, these can be bought on amazon pretty cheaply and will allow alot more swimming space. Getting rid of the pebble mountain you created will also allow your filters to work better.
we bought a pleco and the turtle killed it
LOL! Yeah thats the beauty of turtles. Unless you want to give you turtle live feed, then I suggest not putting any fish in at all! The predatory instincts of turtles will only stress the fish... before their certain and untimely demise.
if i get a 55gal tank what kind of heater and filter should i get?
Wow lucky little dewde getting a 55 to himself xD That will allow him to really strectch his legs, just don't repeat the pebble mountain idea. Filters and heaters will be described as "up to ...gallon/litre". This makes it easy to choose the right kind of heater, but a choosing filters can be a little trickier. Turtles are complete dirtbirds! You'll need a 100 gallon filter if you are getting a 55 gallon tank. The two filters you have atm maaaay be ok, as they'reis two, but go ahead and get a new filter, 55 gallon ++ is required.
how should i set up the tank so he can swim and have a basking area
The set up can take many forms. Personally I like the floating rock idea where you can get suction cupped foam basking areas allowing for the area below to be used as swmming grounds. Maybe hold off on the water until he/she is bigger. But you have endless options when it comes to this. Spend time lurking the forums here and you'll find everything you need.
what kind of bulbs should i buy?
None, your current ones are fine, just make sure they aren't too far away or too close to the basking area. About 12 inches no more is considered standard distance and always have them pointed at the basking area.
should i use more then one filter?
Not nessecarily. If you buy the correct one for the size of tank you have, then they're shouldn't be a problem. But hay if theres enough space for that small canister or over the edge filter you already have, then it sure as hell wouldn't hurt to use one of them as well. Three may be excessive though....
my kids feed it when i'm not home. i know its better to feed it outside, but thats a lot for my 7 year old and younger kids
You're darn right! Its alot for anyone and its alot for the turtle in question to be hauled out of his little haven! Feed him inside, why not, just make sure you scoop out all the unwanted food when you think he's finished and allow you filter to take care of the rest!!
Thats all I can do for you, sorry someone didn't get around to replying to you sooner. When you get your set-up sorted come back and show it off!
#3
Kristal
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Posted 21 February 2012 - 09:15 PM
I am glutten for punishment but i have a 55 gallon with my turtles, pleco, african cichlids, and snails. I have an above the tank platform for the turtles so my tank is filled all the way up with water. The turtles don't mess with the Cichlids if anything i will see the cichlids messing with the turtles. I made sure my Pleco was a bigger one so they don't mess with him at all. I have seen others do the cichlid/turtle combo and i fell in love. My turtles seem to love the deep water to swim in and i dont lose tank space with the above tank platform. I run a canister filter xp3 and 2 sponge filters on powerheads. I also do 2x a week 50% water changes.
I use http://www.lightyour...omeddomide.html for my two lights. I hang it from a hook in the ceiling so its right above the basking area.
Also i recently went away from using gravel and switched over to using pool filter sand. My turtles and fish seem to love digging around in it.
Oh and take a second away from spoiling that little turtle and buy something for yourself. I would die without this syphon http://www.petsmart....ductId=11147172 . Turtles are dirty dirty frilty dirty little boogers.
I use http://www.lightyour...omeddomide.html for my two lights. I hang it from a hook in the ceiling so its right above the basking area.
Also i recently went away from using gravel and switched over to using pool filter sand. My turtles and fish seem to love digging around in it.
Oh and take a second away from spoiling that little turtle and buy something for yourself. I would die without this syphon http://www.petsmart....ductId=11147172 . Turtles are dirty dirty frilty dirty little boogers.
#4
Twurtle
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Posted 23 February 2012 - 10:40 AM
Oh I love those syphons! Only I use one by brand called Python No Spill Clean & Fill, and it uses the exact same setup where it uses your water tap for intake/outtake and comes with every bits to attach to any tap http://www.amazon.co...l/dp/B000255NXC is a bit cheaper than that one. I bought mine at Petsmart for $32.99 some 5 years ago but I do not see it there anymore.
#5
Pi's_Human
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Posted 23 February 2012 - 08:21 PM
Sampras&DrCornwallis, on 04 February 2012 - 07:02 AM, said:
Wow lucky little dewde getting a 55 to himself xD That will allow him to really strectch his legs, just don't repeat the pebble mountain idea. Filters and heaters will be described as "up to ...gallon/litre". This makes it easy to choose the right kind of heater, but a choosing filters can be a little trickier. Turtles are complete dirtbirds! You'll need a 100 gallon filter if you are getting a 55 gallon tank. The two filters you have atm maaaay be ok, as they'reis two, but go ahead and get a new filter, 55 gallon ++ is required.
Actually, for turtles the recommended GPH for the filter should be three times the tank capacity. So, for a 55 gallon tank that's full of water, you would want a filter that can circulate 165 gallons per hour. I have always had a Rena XP3 for my setup, even when she was in a 55 gallon tank. This has a circulation rate of 350 gallons per hour, which is slightly under what I should have for my 120 gallon tank, (360 gallons per hour) but with just one turtle living in the tank it does a fine job keeping up with the waste load.
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