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I am going to try and convince my hubby that we should use our
tax return to upgrade our turtle tank!!!
I want to take my time setting up this tank, since last time had to be such a rush job
I would like to hear what everyones dream set-up would be for a 120-150 tank...good stuff to put in for the turtle...best filters, heaters, etc.
ThanX

pretty much what I have know. 110 Gallon stock tank wit custom tiled basking area. Rena Xp3 Filter and a submersible heater that can heat that much water.

My dream set-up would be...

Filter: FX5!!

Heater: 3, 250 watt Visi-therm Stealth, fully submersible, water heaters.

Basking area: A custom made above the tank basking platform, with one-way mirror viewing window, and a 100 watt flood T-Rex Mercury Vapor Bulb!

And a few of those real expensive digital thermometers for the water, and basking area!

And if I were really dreaming, an aquarium technician to come in and clean the whole set-up every week!!!

XP3 filter. If you're going to have more than one turtle in the tank, then you should consider two filters - one for each end of the big tank. For just one turtle, though, I think one XP3 is fine.

T Rex Active Heat 100 watt flood MVB for light. This bulb provides both heat and UVB and is the top of the line.

Two Visitherm Stealth water heaters (the plastic kind), one for each end of the tank.

An acrylic basking platform with (if your turtle is big and heavy) algae-cleaner magnets to hold it in place.

Various safe decorations - ie, things without holes that a turtle can get stuck in. If you get decorations with holes, you can always plug them with aquarium silicon.

Digital thermometer that measures air temperature and also has a probe for measuring water temperature.

A couple of good veggie clips - one for cuttlebone and one for lettuce.

Nice backing for the tank, to match your taste.

A couple of little fish nets for fishing out "stuff" on the bottom, plus a Mr. Cleaner handheald battery powered gravel vacuum.

Python (for changing water) with tubing as long as you need.

A couple of water sensors with alarms that will sound if something is leaking and getting the floor wet.

A GFCI for your electrical outlet. This is a device you can get from the hardware store (or an electrician can install one) that will instantaneously cut power off if the electrical parts get wet, thus preventing electricution and/or fire.

A nice digital camera so you can take pictures of your turtle's palace when it's all done and share them with us!

Hey! my hubby seems to like the idea of going out and buying a new tank!
He wants to know when we are going! (he's just excited because I said this would count as my aniversary present, so now he's off the hook )

What does every one think of acrylic tanks? I'm afraid they will scratch too easily, but on the other hand they are lighter than glass....

Wooo new tank time! How exciting! I've heard acrylic tanks are too easily scratched by turtles, but i don't have any first hand experience. They are generally more expensive as well as being hard to find (at least where i am). They are stronger and lighter however.

Yes, I hear after awhile(from all the begging against the acrylic) the acrylic starts to fade, and makes everything look fuzzy. I would stick to glass. It is an awfully expensive risk to take.