Habitat - Indoor :: My future tank setup, need advices/opinions

[aon]

Hi, recently I've received a baby res for my birthday, it is 2 inches, and Iam planning to get another baby res after my tank is complete, Iam getting a 10 gallon tank and the items below:

Tetra Whisper Internal Power Filters
http://www.petco.com/product/12460/Tetr ... lters.aspx

Zoo Med Repti-Therm UTH Under Tank Heaters ( Need help on this I dont know which one is suitable for my turtle(s) they have a 4 watts and 8 watts )
http://www.petco.com/product/6353/Zoo-M ... aters.aspx

ESU Reptile Slimline Reptile Fixture with Desert 7% UVB Lamp ( is this better or the light bulb? )
http://www.petco.com/product/14564/ESU- ... -Lamp.aspx

Zoo Med Turtle Dock
http://www.petco.com/product/12389/Zoo- ... Docks.aspx

Hagen Bio Care Turtle Clean
http://www.petco.com/product/5081/Hagen ... Clean.aspx

what plants do i get to place in the tank?

please let me know what else I need and if that setup is good enough for two baby res, thanks

[TheComputerGremlin]

Hi, I'm newly setting up a tank upgrade, I've had my baby RES for two months. I can only comment on a few of your thing with my knowledge, I'm sure others will comment on what I missed.

If you have the money, forget the 10 gallon tank. The little guys will outgrow it in no time and you'll have a tank you don't need. I'd go for at least a 40 gallon tank right now, but you'll have to upgrade in a few years. I've read that you might have to isolate them if they don't get along.

And the other thing, DON'T BUY THE PEBBLES. Your RES will probably try eating them and choke. Don't worry about having an empty tank bottom, or find really large river rocks instead. My RES is constantly rummaging around his rocks and he will eat ANYTHING.

I'm not a personal fan of the Zoo Med turtle dock because it's foam, but that's one of the easier options. I like the Kordon turtle ramp thing, but I have not seen it in any stores.

Oh, and plants. Unless they are safe for consumption and you don't mind replacing them frequently (your RES will eat/destroy them), you don't need any plants. The turtles are pretty enough without them!

Good luck!

[megcornell]

Hello, it's great that you are researching before investing in your first turtle tank.
A lot of the supplies you listed are notoriously poor performers.
For the heater, go with a stealth heater, they are reliable and are not breakable, a great combo for turtles. Also, under tank heaters are not made for aquariums, they are dangerous for water tanks.
For the UVB light, most people find 5% UVB to be good. Some turtles have eye problems with stronger UVB percentages.
The turtle clean isn't necessary if you have a large tank and adequate filtration.
Pebbles are dangerous for turtles like gremlin said, skip those.
For the filter, get one that is rated for 3x the tank size you actually have.
As for the tank, buy the largest one you can afford and outfit it properly, that will save on costly upgrades in the future.

Finally, in regards to buying a second turtle. I would strongly, strongly suggest starting with just one turtle. If you think that your turtle would like a companion, that's a common misconception. Turtles are actually very solitary creatures and most RES co-habitants become aggressive and have to be split up. IF you can afford a complete second set up for an adult turtle, then get a second RES if you want... but if that's not something you're prepared for I'd forgo the second one. At the very least you'll need a much larger tank and upgrades will need to happen faster.
A lot of people get two and realize the expensive complications and wish they had stuck with a single turtle.

[aon]

thanks, i guess i'll look into the 20 gallon tank and a better filter, and just stick with one turtle, i wanted the 10 gallon so it would fit on my computer desk.

[moonlighter]

Being new to turtle raising, I also just went through the frustration of setting up a tank and can offer my experience. Actually I did the 10 gallon route as your contempalting and after spending over a hundred bucks on the various accessories I determined it wasn't going to work and needed a larger tank.
The following is the equipment I wound up with: 55 gallon tank, Rena XP3, 250 watt Stealth heater, clamp light with a 75 watt incandescent for heat, a UVB 26 watt compact fluorescent lamp with a shroud fixture that just lays up on top of the screen cover. I had some rocks for decoration and to create a basking area. I had a cabinet to support the tank so I didn't need a stand. I think this is a minimal system that will be good for a few years.
I let mine cycle just like a fish tank using ceramic rings for biological filtration in the XP3 and I shouldn't have to change the water so often. The bigger the tank, the more stable and I think less maintenance.
Better yet, look in the paper or Craigslist and find a used one for sale. There is always a bargain 55 gallon for sale somewhere.
If I had to do it over and had the time, I would go for the used route and look for a 75 gallon. It is the same width and length as the 55 but deeper which makes working in the tank and arranging rocks much easier.
Going for a smaller cheaper tank for a turtle is a false economy; you will just wind up spending more in the end like I did.
I will psot some PICs in the gallery later

[Vtolds]

I started with a 10 gallon then we fairly quickly did a upgrade to a 20 and then we have a 30 which was free and it had a 200 wat heater so we were set there and the rest of the stuff transfered over. We dropped in a Rena XP3 and it has kept looking fairly good since then. it is still small but money is constantly tight and it is another 200 dollar investment for new stuff or we have a local pet store that has used stuff that I was priced about 120 dollars for 75 gallon with stand, thats what they recommend for a RES at the minimum. But they are actually family owned and they keep some beautiful full sizes RES in the store. So if you have a local place that sells used equipment that is a way to go also. You can always go out and buy the biggest toughest rubber maid container you can find. They make them all the way up to 55 gallons or so.

[SpotsMama]

Here's a link with info on a good setup:

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

I agree about holding off on the second turtle. You're wise to do it. Down the road, if you find you really want a second turtle and have the space and money to handle it, then it's always an option.

[erinemcgreevy]

Check craigslist for tanks, you can get a pretty large tank for a reasonable price.

[mikee]

ano - A ten gallon is too small from the git go. If you get a 20, it is just big enough for a two incher. Your filter pump will need to exchange your water at least 5 times per hour(gph) If you up size, all your equipment will need to be larger. Aside from your uvb lighting you will need a heater or a light bulb to produrce heat for the basking. Good Luck!

[aon]

ano - A ten gallon is too small from the git go. If you get a 20, it is just big enough for a two incher. Your filter pump will need to exchange your water at least 5 times per hour(gph) If you up size, all your equipment will need to be larger. Aside from your uvb lighting you will need a heater or a light bulb to produrce heat for the basking. Good Luck!

doesnt the uvb light produce heat too? so are you saying i would need a uva light too to produce heat? and what heater are you speaking of? i dont understand how the basking area works thanks.

[octpusgirl8]

UVB lights don't produce heat unless they are MVB bulbs, which are much too powerful for a small tank. You'll need two bulbs, one for heat and one for UVB. A regular lightbulb is usually enough to heat the basking area, it should be about 10 degrees warmer than the water.

[LOBO]

basking areas are not complicated. all you need is an area where the turtle can get completely out of the water to dry off and warm up. this area should have a heat lamp over it. thats about it. just make sure u keep track of the temp in the basking area, u dont want to cook the poor turt.

[Vtolds]

^the UVB needs to be over the basking area as well.

[LOBO]

so if u have an MVB bulb u only need the one right? and if the MVB is only above the basking area is that ok? i was going to get a light to run along the length of the tank and a seperate one for above the basking area but is it nessesary with the MVB?

[aon]

so are you guys saying if im getting a uvb light i should get the uva too, for example i have a dock i would have the uvb on one side and the uva on the other?