Habitat - Indoor :: upgrade help. thank you.

[CB]

i have had my turtle (crush) for about a year. he is currently living in a 55 gal. with insufficiant filtration and space. he's about 5.5" and very social. i am upgrading him this weekend. here's what i'm thinking, pleae let me know if any of this is a bad idea.

he's moving to a 75 gal. that i will fill to the top. his basking spot will be ATBA. i am buying a rena xp3 with the 300 watt intake heater. along with that i was thinking undergravel plates with 1/2 aquaclear 70 powerheads, pushing the water down and up thru the substraight. i have river rocks (clean) that are way bigger than his head, like 10 times. i'm not sure on the basking light yet, want to build the ATBA first so i can get the temps right. 80 for the water and 90 for the basking? also where do you guys get the green ramps that have the perch? going to grab a hammock for him to. i have sand now and love it, should i sjkip the undergravel and stick with sand and the xp3? i want clean water, this dude is disgusting in his housekeeping but i love him.
cb

[Daniel3507]

i would keep the sand instead of river rocks. of course you wouldnt be able to use an under gravel filter. really its a personal choice on what substrate. bring the water temp down to abou 74 or 75. i got my ramp from drs foster and smith.

[octpusgirl8]

Sounds like he's going to have the hook up! Everything sounds great, i agree with Daniel, sand is much easier to keep clean than river rocks, and then you wouldn't have to fool with the undergravel filter. You should consider getting a MVB for his basking light, they're probably the best thing next ot natural sunlight. Turtles love basking under them. Besides, it's nice to only have one lamp to deal with.

[zoologist]

all the undergravel filter does is pull the waste below it and lets it settle there and break down naturally. great for a planted tank, not so much for a turtle tank go with sand and the XP3. thats what i have and my tank is crystal clear.

[CB]

i'm pretty partial to the sand as well, it's easy to keep clean and looks cool. my thought with the under gravel filter was to reverse the flow on either 1 or both of my power heads to push the water up thru the rocks. i'll stick with the sand because i know that no matter what something is going to get stuck under it. any opinions on the heater that attaches to the intake on the rena's? how is ceramic tile in a tank as a ATBA? just for him to relax and bask on, it will not be in the water but sitting on the lip of the tank. the only part that will be in the water will be the ramp, i plan to make it out of either plexi or acrylic. i'll post pictures of the process once i get going. order my filter saturday, anyone have an opinion on 'kens fish' online shop? 121.00 for the xp3, just don't want to get shafted. thanks.
cb

[xtacsoulja]

Everything sounds great, can't wait to see pics, personally I would go with the XP2, it will still provide plenty of filtration (XP2: 300gph, XP3: 350gph), and save u some money.

[Chrisbarnett]

Everything sounds great, can't wait to see pics, personally I would go with the XP2, it will still provide plenty of filtration (XP2: 300gph, XP3: 350gph), and save u some money.

Ehh, filtration is not somewhere I'd skimp on. The more the better.

[CB]

i went with the xp3, 121 bucks was the cheapest i could find it. i thought about getting the xp2 to save a few bucks but since i'll be upgrading the tank in about 2 weeks i wanted to go bigger. i plan to keep the sand as my substrait, easy and it looks good. have any of you used kens fish to buy before?
cb

[PcBuilder14]

Your basking area is the exact thing I plan on doing!

[CB]

Your basking area is the exact thing I plan on doing!

i have a sweet piece that will go from side to side. a place to bask and a place to chill and be dry without basking. he likes to swim a lot so i figure with the tile he'll have 2" or more underneat to get air. i'm going to keep a powerhead going to keep the water moving and give his fish bubbles. he really likes playing in the flow, the stronger the better. he was stuck in a 10 gal. for his first 4.5 years, i got him 6 months ago and have tried to give him the best i could as i can. i think his upgrade will keep him happy for a coule years, or until he outgrows it. i'm wondering if i should brace the tile or if it will be safe by itself? the ramp will be attached to the bottom with silicon. haven't figured out exactly what or how that's going to happen. thanks for the help.
cb

[PcBuilder14]

Yeah, just set the tile on the lip and there won't be any problems. What do you plan to use to surround the tile to keep the turtle in? I plan on buying some plexi at Hobby Lobby and having them cut it, or get scraps from Lowes or Home Depot and have Hobby Lobby cut it for $10.

What you could use for the ramp instead, if you want to make it cheaper, is silicone a basking dock or one of these

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=8809

[CB]

how would that ramp hold up? i see 2 suction cups for the back but what's to keep the front up? i am at a loss right now trying to figure it out, my filter comes in the morning
cb

[PcBuilder14]

You would silicone it to the bottom of the tile?

I can't completely understand what your asking.

[CB]

You would silicone it to the bottom of the tile?

I can't completely understand what your asking.

you may not have understood however you answered the question . i ramble sometimes sorry. filter will be in tommorow, then i have 10 days until i buy the tank unless a deal comes before that. i plan to use 3/8 acrylic or plexi around the basking area with that black screen top (@ petco) 24x18" i'll get pictures going once i get started.
cb

[PcBuilder14]

Sounds awesome!