Habitat - Indoor :: Pond filter for turtle tank

[talal]

I know people use pond filters for turtle tanks, I came across this filter http://www.lochnesswatergardens.com/Pro ... MwodBxIAoQ is anybody familiar with this brand?

I was wondering this is designed for a 1000 gallon pond how would this filter perform on a 300 gallon stock tank or an aquarium of same size with 3 turtles? my turtles are hatchlings and I might be getting a bit ahead of myself but in a year or so I will need to upgrade and this would be my final tank ( as far as size goes ) so I would like it to be 300 gallons. now I have 3 sliders that I intend to keep in that tank along with a couple fish. The only other option for filteration that I see is either two Eheim Pro 2080's or 2 FX5's , I'm more of an eheim guy currently using a 2075 really satisfied with the performance and ease of use so far. Anyway coming back to the topic, instead of two canister filters would this one pond filter be sufficient? I will continue to use the 2075 as well along with this filter.

[VeipaCray]

Yes pond filters are great. They hold tons of media and have large pumps for a high flow rate. The downside can be the noise. They're designed to be outside where a noisier pump is OK.

However the filter you've linked appears to need an external pump. "Designed to operate in combination with magnetic drive circulating pumps."
This is not necessarily a bad thing but consider the cost of a high GPH pump in your decision making. Reeflo or Iwaki are two fantastic and quiet pump brands that can deliver high GPH to feed this canister.

[talal]

Thanks VeipaCray I was hoping you would respond.

You know what I actually never thought of the noise, that's a good point. Also the external pump is costly as well. Another option is to get a good pump and do a DIY canister I am really inclined towards doing that. not exactly sure how durable that would be over time or if I would want to risk that with 300 gallons of water but then again a perfectly good brand filter could leak aswell. I have an eheim 2075 at the moment, if I continue to use that on a 300 gallon tank is it possible that I can use just one more filter along with it? from your filteration thread I understand I would probably need to add 2 more canisters since a 2075 handles 75 turtle gallons / turtle and I have three so I probably need 2 more 2080's. Another option would be to sell my 2075 and just get the pond filter with pump. What would you suggest?

[VeipaCray]

You could certainly have multiple filters and divvy up the filtration duty amongst them. Again there's pros and cons. More pieces to clean and more stuff to have around but if one fails you aren't losing 100% of your filtration. I like eheim very much myself but they are so darn expensive. The FX5 is a really good filter and might be worth another look.

The pond filter / pump combo would get the job done and might be your best bet for that volume of water.

I don't know what size your turtles are today. If they are small, you might get by with the filter you have for a bit and save for an upgrade.

Personally... I would probably use a canister filter because it can pull water from the bottom of the tub where the turtle waste sits in combination with a pond filter. You may not need as big of a pond filter pump if you're using it in combination with the canister.

[Kansasslider]

Something to think about as I am setting up my 300 gal stock tank this weekend.

[talal]

FX5 is a great filter but recently the price has gone up and pretty much for the same price I can get an eheim 2080. I considered this option using my 2075 and another 2080 but Im not sure if that would be sufficient for a 300 gallon with 3 turtles in it. My turtles are small at the moment but I am looking for a permanent solution, something i wouldnt have to upgrade later on hence the 300 gallon tank.

[Kansasslider]

I might consider a pond filter also as I'm not spending another 3 bills on an fx6. Have you seen my 300 gal stock tank build?

[talal]

Just did, pond filter would be awesome and since you already have an FX-5 the combo would be even better.

[Kansasslider]

[Kansasslider]

The longer I have used the fx I don't think its that great of a filter. It says up to a 400 gallon tank? Can't even keep a 300 gallon tank clean. Looking into pond filters this weekend.

[talal]

Its rated for 400 gallons for fish, if you have a 300 gallon turtle tank you would need atleast two since they are a lot messier. Have you looked into the DIY skippy filter or other DIY for ponds? theyre pretty effective would also add a waterfall to your tank and would work well in ccombination with the fx5

[Kansasslider]

yes I have seen DIY filters and I can build just about anything but the way my luck has been going lately it would leak and flood my basement.