General Care Discussion :: Current Tank Setup - How is it looking?

[MVB]

Hey guys, that's my tank right now. As you can see, it's temporary on the ground (so I can't run my Sun Sun). If anything here looks like it's out of place, can you please let me know?

[MVB]

The lights are 100 watt UVA and UVB. The heat lamp is the one aimed at the basking dock. The heater is keeping the tank at a steady 79 degrees. Garden rocks in the bottom, the filter that is running currently is a bad Zoo-Med 511 (see the clear tubing), but the green tubing is attached to a Sunsun/Aquatop (the one with over 500 GPH for 150 gal. tanks). This is a 55 gallon tank and right now it's filled with about 40 gallons of water (I will add a turtle topper of some description when I can find/build something suitable, and then I'll fill the tank to the top).

[steve]

It looks fine as is, though I think you're supposed to keep the end of the heater out of the water. I'd also be aware of trapping areas… the bars on the dock are something you need to keep an eye on.

[xcristina]

It looks fine as is, though I think you're supposed to keep the end of the heater out of the water.

Oh my! Are you sure, Steve? I have mine fully submerged, I thought that's what they mean by "fully submersible". The water evaporates very quickly and I didn't want to risk it being lower than the mark on the heater. I've had it like this for almost two years now, no problems yet...

[MVB]

It looks fine as is, though I think you're supposed to keep the end of the heater out of the water.

Oh my! Are you sure, Steve? I have mine fully submerged, I thought that's what they mean by "fully submersible". The water evaporates very quickly and I didn't want to risk it being lower than the mark on the heater. I've had it like this for almost two years now, no problems yet...

Yeah, I was paranoid about that for the same reason, so I looked it up. This kind (eheim jager) is supposedly fine to keep underwater like this. The other hard part is getting it at an angle where all of the glass is below water and the dial is above (the heater is just too long to stand vertically) Either way, I've been doing it for months and getting no problems.

[steve]

I think they are legally supposed to say it during the time they were acquired by Eheim. Not a big deal with the Jagers, though I can't say for certain with other brands… just refer to their instructions carefully

[MVB]

Actually, on that heater... the last time I emptied the tank, I thought I unplugged everything and somehow left that plugged in. I found out by burning my hand on it (it'd heated up so much). I immediately unplugged it and let it cool down. It frightened me though, I wasn't sure if It'd been damaged. I plugged it back in when the water was on and let it sit, keeping the turtles out of the tank until I was reasonably sure it wasn't going to electrocute them or overheat the water. It has been working fine since. Does anyone know if this is likely to cause a problem long term?

[steve]

It should have shut down by itself. I've done it before for short periods and nothing happened. I had it happen to a Visitherm heater, which then got wet and then cracked. The Jagers are much tougher but always keep things plugged into a GFCI for everyone's safety.

[MVB]

I have it all plugged into a GFCI, because it was recommended here, but I never fully understood WHY. Will that prevent electrocution?

[steve]

It might not prevent it but it will reduce the risk of it. It'll shut off if it detects that the electrical current is not flowing along it's intended path.

[Kansasslider]

"STEVE IS OLD SCHOOL" Forgive him. He has no turtles.

[steve]

My babies are 10

[Kansasslider]

[xcristina]

My babies are 10

Pics or it didn't happen!!

[steve]

They're in some of the header pics throughout the care sections on the site but I'm not saying which ones. Also the profile image on our Facebook page.