Habitat - Indoor :: Frustrated about tank

[erwynn]

Ok so right now I have my 6 inch res male in a 20 gallon long aquarium. Which at first I thought would be big enough, but it's not now that he's in there. I didn't really research. Anyhoo, I bought this aquarium without finding this forum first and getting ideas about going with tupperware and what-not. So now I'm thinking about getting a strong tupperware container, but had some questions... (oh yea, and we're super tight on money right now with my husband not having a job right now and baby coming in a couple weeks...)

1. Filter: right now I just bought a new filter, and 318 submersible, and it's working ok, for now. I had a reptifilter yesterday but it died by this morning. Probably because we're using sand substrate. So I'm trying to figure out what kind of filter to get if I buy a larger container. I can't get an xp3 or anything like that. But I have a 30 dollar credit to petsmart right now. I'm wondering what filters work best in the tupperwares, since they have those weird edges on them.

2. Container: where's the best place to buy one? Which ones are strong? I heard that they tend to bow out with water in them. Is it better to get a colored one or clear one? It seems the clear ones are flimsier, but at least you could see through. Also, what kind of stuff can I put it on? Right now my tank is on my sewing machine table, which is handbuilt strong and made of strong wood. But I'm not sure how much weight it can hold. It's had my turtle tank on there before and a computer. I was thinking of setting a container on our coffee table, but my daughter uses it for coloring, so I don't think I wanna use that.

3. Heating: right now I have one of those new reptile submersible heaters that's enclosed in the plastic, but it seems to be keeping my tank at 75 degrees, so I'm not sure how it'd do in a bigger tank.

4. Lights: I have a hinged metal cover over our aquarium right now with a strip light with a uvb light in it, and then a basking light with a halogen "household" lightbulb in it. I know with a bigger container I'm not gonna have a cover, so I guess I can clamp on my basking light, but how safe is that to do really? And how do I get a UVB light on there without a strip? I was looking into those mercury vapor lights that produce uvb and heat, and that seemed like a great idea, but what kind of clamp lamp do you use for that? I'm guessing it produces a lot of heat too.

5. Basking: I have a turtle ramp I just got. I'm not too impressed with it, but it works. Do suction cups attach just as well on tupperware/other containers as well as they do on aquarium glass? And how do you prevent escape if you can't cover it?

6. Substrate: right now we're using a very small layer of sand and river rocks. I know sand is controversial, but the turtle loves it and it seems to be heavy as when he kicks it up it doesn't hang out floating around in the water. But what filters work best with sand substrate. I don't want to have to get rid of it.

Ok, well thanks for listening and I hope ya'll can help me. Right now I've never seen my turtle so happy and healthy. But I want better for him, and I hate always thinking "this will do until I can get better..." as it's been like this for 13 years.

[marisa]

I glad you know that your RES needs a bigger tank...

2. Container---rather than a Tupperware/Rubbermaid container, I'd consider getting a stock tank, which is meant to hold water. Your turtle isn't a baby. Storage containers don't come much bigger than 50 gallons (if you can find them), and aren't meant to hold water. With a 6-inch turtle, you're going to want to have the water level higher rather than lower, and a storage container is going to bow out without being supported on the sides. There's also the issue of eventual leaking on the bottom from the weight of the water. As a temporary measure, they're OK, and if you want to get one, try places like Home Depot, Lowes, even Walmart. I'd urge you to check the bottoms closely for signs of cracking---Walmart in particular tends not to treat their plastic products with much care. If you go with a stock tank, try a farm supply company---Tractor Supply Co. is good, if there's one near you. A stock tank would be best on the floor, a storage container could be as well, though any strong piece of furniture that would support the weight could be used (you have to decide on this).

1. Filter---if you do go with a storage container, I'd try to maximize swimming space by getting H.O.T. (hang on the tank) filter. I've seen pictures of these filters being used with Rubbermaids. Aquaclears are good, the larger the better, even for a 50-gallon storage container. The filter hangs over the edge and water spills into the tank with a waterfall effect. They are somewhat noisy and work better with a higher water level. If they're not used with a regular tank, they may not sit evenly, which will affect how they work. You can get around this by having the case supported underneath by placing a stack of bricks, wooden blocks, etc., under it. The filter can be made less noisy by doing something like siliconing a piece of plexiglass to the lip so the water runs down it into the tank.

3. Heater---you need to get a bigger submersible water heater to heat a bigger container. Figure on about 5 watts per gallon of water.

4. Lighting---If you have a 50-gallon container or over, you could use a MVB light. I'd get a lampstand to hang it from, as they really should be hung vertically over the basking area. If you use a regular flourescent light, you can buy either a tube or a compact flourescent. The compact flourescent could be clamped over the basking area next to a heat light.

5. Basking---suction cups generally don't work as well with storage containers, or if they do initially, they won't after a while. For a basking area, I've always used corkbark, which floats and which can be sandwiched between the sides of the container to help keep it stable. You can however, make a basking area using PVC pipe as the base or, an out-of-the-tank basking area could be made (look in the Picture Gallery for ideas).

6. Substrate---if you insist on keeping the sand, there's really nothing I can say. Perhaps someone else will be able to advise you on that. You're going to be very busy, though, so I'd reconsider the sand and whatever else makes more work for you...

I probably forgotten something, others will have other suggestions. Congrats on the impending arrival.

[Steve C]

You can also check on ebay and craigslist for people selling thier old tanks. Good places if you are on a budget. Just clean anything you buy really good.

[erwynn]

We've decided to try and get copernicus a bigger tank/container, but just haven't figured out what to get yet, or how we'll put it somewheres. I'm trying to obtain a strong aquarium stand from somewheres, like freecycle or craigslist. Our main problem is lack of space, as the tank is on my sewing table, as it's the sturdiest thing I have. I'd get a stock pond, but there'd be no where to put it. I'd love to put it on the floor, but with the kids (2 yrs and baby), I don't think it's a good, or safe idea.

I got a new filter, a turtle 318, which works for now. But I'm thinking about returning it for a hanging filter that would hang over the side. That way I could get one that would o up to 40 or 50 gallons. I could fill the tank fuller so he has more space to swim, and I think I have to get rid of the sand, as it's killing every filter I buy. I really like the aesthetics of sand and he enjoys digging in it though. I have some river rocks spread randomly in the sand, so they'll just sit on the bottom.

I'm thinking about maybe building some sort of overtank basking area but have no clue how to do it. Any ideas/instructions or sites you know of with instructions? I want more water in there for him to swim. My only concern is escape as he's been desperately trying to claw his way out lately and I don't know why. He seemed fine and happy for about 2 weeks, but now he's restless.

I also hate my strip light with my uvb light as it takes up a ton of space, and sits on top the cover of the aquarium, and if I build an overtank basking area I'll have to remove the cover and strip light. I'm thinking I'd rather go with another clamp lamp and compact uvb light instead. I'm really thinking about returning the strip light and reptisun uvb light, that'd give me 52 bucks to buy a compact bulb and clamp lamp. Can you put a compact uvb bulb in a normal lamp socket? Or does it have to be a ceramic socket clamp lamp?

*sigh* I'm glad I'm figuring this out now, but it's just bad timing. I'm supposed to be on bedrest, since I've gone into preterm labor like 3 times. But that's impossible with a 2 year old. Lol. My husband just went back to work today so that's rough. He's been off for almost a month with a work related injury. But I need to clean out that aquarium. I'm going to suck all the sand out, and put some fresh water, dechlorinate it, and then rinse out my new filter. I'm surprised the sand hasn't killed it yet as it killed my reptifilter in less than a day. Thanks for everyone's input and I could use some more advice.

[steve]

I'd look for topics by Inspector403 and Breigh for good pics of good above-the-tank basking areas. There are no instructions... yet.

A compact florescent can be used in a regular lamp. A good mercury vapor bulb (MVB) will provide UVA, UVB and heat. A good one costs about $40 but will last at least a year. Most florescents need to be replaced twice a year. However, a MVB will require a ceramic socket.