Habitat - Indoor :: don't know which water heater and thermometer

[vena]

Hi.
I bought a 69 gallons tank for my turtle. I will be very happy for any help and recommendations for a right water heater and thermometer to suit the size of the tank. I am really confused. Please share your experience (bad or good), advices, suggestions, brand etc. Will be very helpful .
Thank you very much

[TheComputerGremlin]

Here's a pretty handy link for water heater size:

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsa ... ersize.htm

Most people recommend something called a Stealth heater, they are unbreakable and keep good, consistent temps. You'll find after pricing water heaters and brands that pretty much all of them cost less than $30, so don't feel bad splurging on the high end ones!

Thermometer, get whatever works. A lot of us have those stick on thermometers that go on the outside of the tank for quick reference (I have mine positioned furthest from the actual heater) and have some type of IR thermometer or digital probe thermometer for addition measurements. I have a small IR thermometer, I like it because I can measure the surface water temps, the water temps at the glass, and the basking temps.

You didn't mention filter or lighting. If you previously had lighting, it should work well on your tank. You need a UVB and a heating bulb, setup however you can fit them, over the basking area. As for a filter, you'll be wanting a canister filter for a tank that size. If you think you'll need to upgrade in the future (like if you find you have a female), you may want to go overboard at this point and buy a Fluval FX5. You can find deals on them often. A Rena XP3 or XP4 will also work with the size tank you have.

[Chrisbarnett]

You need a 250 watt heater. I recommend the Marineland visi-therm stealth 250watt. I have it in my 55 gallon and it does a great job. It also has great features like an automatic shut off if it comes above the water line, and is very accurate. The stealth 250 is for tanks up to 75 gallons so you would be fine.

I don't use those stick on thermometers at all. I have a glass thermometer that I can glance at for quick reference, then I have a Coralife Digital thermometer with a probe that I use for exact temp.

[vena]

Many thanks for your advice. However, as much as I'd like to go for Marineland Visi-Therm stealth, I can't find it in any UK online stores. What I keep getting is this product http://www.rocketaquatics.co.uk/interna ... 2_247.html Is it the one you talking about or not?

And about filter. I already purchased one few days ago. Thanks to recommendations here. Is it FX 5.

Last thing what I am looking for is a lighting for basking area. I have a lovely lid on my tank (and i would like to keep it as it is) so looking for the smallest size of light. Under lid is a space up to 10 cm hight. Do you think will be possible to get light which will be small and will heat the basking area well?

Thanks
Vena

[TheComputerGremlin]

That type of heater is fine. When you buy it, if the casing is glass, I recommend that you place it in a location that your turtle can't decide to bang into it. Mine is glass, so I have it placed under the basking area about midway up on the tank, and he's left it alone.

Good to hear you got the Fluval FX5, you'll be quite happy with it!

Most of the UVB and basking bulbs should fit in there. The UVB bulb can be a compact fluorescent, so it's a tube that's coiled around itself and is about the same size as a standard bulb. The basking bulb can be a regular household bulb. The hoods are often impractical, though, and you may find it pointless. If there is a screen or a glass or plastic plate between the hood and the water surface, you will lose all UVB waves, making it pointless.