Habitat - Indoor :: Help with new 50gal setup!

[mr.brownstone]

Hey all,

This is my first post here! I stumbled upon this site, and figured I'd stop and ask a few questions about buying a new setup for my RES, Leo.

Right now Leo is about 5in on the shell (approx 4 years old).

I recently moved to a new province, and had to leave him behind for a little while, but now I'm in my new house, so I'm in the process of getting his new home all setup, so I can get him shipped up.

I went out last night, and bought a new 50gallon tank, and a wooden stand.

The real reason I came here is to ask about filtration... I own a cascade 700 canister filter (185GPH), but I know that wont be enough for my new 50gal. I'm considering just buying another one of these, and run the two of them at once. Whats eveyones thoughts on this? Is there an alternative setup I should look at?

I havent had to setup a new enclouser in a while, so is there anything eles I should be looking at? Any suggestions for my new habitat?


Thanks for reading!


SP

[steve]

Welcome to the site! I'd stick with it for now and see how it does. What do you have for his basking area, lighting and heating?

[mr.brownstone]

The filter I currently have now did well in my 30gal tank, but I'm just concerned that it wont be able to keep up in my new 50gal. The other thing is that the filter is currently in Newfoundland, with my turt. I'm currently in Saskatchewan, and I would like to get this new tank setup asap, so I can let it run for 3-4weeks, while I wait for my turt to get here from Newfoundland. I was thinking that I would pick up a second filter now, to set the tank up with, then add my other filter to the tank when it gets here; so in the end, I would be running two canister filters on the tank.

I'm still pondering what exaclty I'm going to go for the basking area. I was thinking of maybe trying to find a large piece of driftwood, or something similar at the pet store and arrange it in the tank, such that a section of it is out of the water, which the turtle could climb up onto. As for a basking lamp, I've always just used a 40watt incondesent lightbuild at whatever distance which gives me the right basking temp.

In the past, I always used the small coil uvb blulbs. I believe they were like 13 watts? I was conteplating going with the uvb flourscent strip blubs, but I remember reading somwhere a while aog that the were a little to intense on the turtle, and its better to go with the smaller coil. Can anyone confirm this?

[steve]

The tube UVBs have different strengths.. so a 5.0 should be fine. Tubes are generally considered to be better. As for the filter, I would rather upgrade to a better filter than use 2 similar filters.

[mr.brownstone]

Thanks!

I was thinking of picking up the 2ed, similar filter just because I didnt want to shell out a bunch of money for a new large filter, then be stuck with my other canister filter just stilling there. I also thought that it might be benifical to have the 2 filters, so I can put one in each end of the tank, to help with circulation,

[steve]

In a 50 gallon, I wouldn't pour too much money into it long-term. 2 filters would be great, but that works better in tanks 2x and 3x larger. That's why I would try it with the current filter. As long as you preserve bio media, you don't have to worry about cycling the tank.

[mr.brownstone]

I'm getting my turt shipped from Newfoundland, so I wont be able to preserve any bio media. Thats why I want to cycle the tank...

I was at the pet store, and got a good deal on a fluval 306, so I picked it up. Its rated for a 70gal tank, so it may be fine on its own.

I've got my tank setup now. I'm gonna go and pick up a few cheap fish to throw it to help with the cycling. Are their any types of fish I should avoid?

[steve]

Feeder minnows and guppies are OK but any fish might end up as a snack.

[mr.brownstone]

I accept that. Thats why I'm not planning on spending a bunch of money