Habitat - Indoor :: New RES owner, Looking for advice ASAP

[Rollen]

Oh, you just have the pump? My mistake, please don't put in the water

How about a bubble wand?

I'm gonna try to get one over the week. I still need to get a thermometer to read the water temperature the ones that came with the tank were both broken.

[steve]

Pick up one that sticks on the tank. I've found that they are consistent, though off a little.

[Rollen]

Is it normal for him to be constantly trying to swim out of the tank? He's been swimming to each corner and side of the tank trying to get out. Can't tell if he's okay in there.

[shedreamsinred]

He's not necessarily trying to get out... most of the time when they come and flail at the sides of the tank, they're actually trying to get your attention. Or just swimming.

[Rollen]

the water is getting a lot more clear. I can see everything in the tank right now but the water is still murky. He hasn't used his basking area yet, I left some shrimp treats on the dock and he hasn't touched them at all. he seems to like hanging out near the heaters I'm thinking the temperatures are way off. I can't tell yet because I haven't had time to buy new thermometers.

[Rollen]

Here's what the tank looks like now. It's clearing up day by day. Although on the top layer of the water there's this dirty layer floating above the filter and a bunch of little white particle stuff floating around inside the tank. You can see them in the pictures. He went on top of the basking area while I was gone though ate the shrimp I had there. If any of you can tell me how I can clean the water a little better that would be great.

[steve]

It's hard to say how long it'll take to clear up because of the sand. It looks pretty good and we've had some sand disasters on this site.

[Listen97]

It's hard to say how long it'll take to clear up because of the sand. It looks pretty good and we've had some sand disasters on this site.

yeah I got away from sand because it ruined one canister filter and two pond pumps. When the turtles are small and have a lot of room to swim and not kick it up your ok. but when they get bigger every little thing seems to send sand into the filter and pumps.

[tidaboy9]

NICE JOB!!! i proud of you !

What canister filter do u have??

Oh and COMPLETELY SUBMERGE THE WATER HEATER !

And that one light u have is it a MVB?? or uvb?? because if it was only a uvb than u would need a stranded 70watt bulb for heating!

i wouldn't waste too much more money of things like thermometers but get a nice Liquid Thermometer strip for the tank and a another thermometer for the basing place!!

The fog in the tank could be the Sand Settling! http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17268

However is could also be the Nitrogen cycle just wondering if u have bio media in your canister!

http://www.redearslider.com/water_quality_issues.html

Other than that LOOKS good !

[Rollen]

NICE JOB!!! i proud of you !

What canister filter do u have??

Oh and COMPLETELY SUBMERGE THE WATER HEATER !

And that one light u have is it a MVB?? or uvb?? because if it was only a uvb than u would need a stranded 70watt bulb for heating!

i wouldn't waste too much more money of things like thermometers but get a nice Liquid Thermometer strip for the tank and a another thermometer for the basing place!!

The fog in the tank could be the Sand Settling! http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17268

However is could also be the Nitrogen cycle just wondering if u have bio media in your canister!

http://www.redearslider.com/water_quality_issues.html


Other than that LOOKS good !

The overhead light is a UVA and the one behind it is a UVB I'm not sure if its producing enough heat though it is a 50 watt.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3204744 this is the one i'm using in a fluker's 5.5 clamp lamp. Also I'm using a 5 stage canister has 3 or 4 media filters.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-EXTERNAL-5-STAG ... 7327098309 this is the canister i'm using. so far it's doing its job.

[tidaboy9]

That good, I'm sorry u had to waste your money on things you could get for a $1! 70 watt standard bulb is fine and get a regular thermometer to measure the temp of basing area! good luck!

[chelonian]

The overhead light is a UVA and the one behind it is a UVB I'm not sure if its producing enough heat though it is a 50 watt.

Get one of those round temperature gauges and stick it on the glass inside the tank next to your basking dock. Then lower/raise your UVA light until the temperature of the basking area is about 10 degrees above the temperature of the water. (For example, I keep my water at about 78 - 80 and basking area at 90.)

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Wow your setup looks awesome!!
The sand might take a while for it to settle.

[Rollen]

My mom just added 3 fancy GF 3 regular GF and a pleco and OMG. I didn't expect her to buy them, I had some minnows prior to help my turtle feel a little more homie with other living creatures around. but not theres a mess of sand all over the place. the fish are wrecking the substrate. is it because the sand is still not clean yet or am i just gonna have to get use to have my tank cloudy from now on....

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Gold fish are not very healthy for RES. Fish by them self should only be fed once or twice a month. So feeding them guppies/minnows would be better then gold fish once or twice a month.
Pleco's are great to keep the tank clean but will most likely end up being eaten.