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Ok I have gone back and forth on this about 4584390583905 times. I cannot decide between the ATBA and the in tank basking area. I am setting up my 150 gal this weekend (FINALLY...had to wait to get paid so I could buy filter media..yes I am THAT poor lol) and I plan on building it while the water cycles. Tank dimensions are 48 x 24 x 31.

If I do the the ATBA, I will need a step ladder to feed the turtles every day. With it on the stand WITHOUT an ATBA, it is maybe 2 inches shorter than me. Is it worth it to have to deal with that every day? Also, is it going to be hard to turn the lights on and off? What about getting it off to clean it? I live alone and I am short lol.

However, they will have more room to swim and it will look much nicer (which is important to me)

If I do the in tank basking area, it will but much easier/faster/cheaper for me to build (since I already have a plan for it) and I will be able to reach in the tank when I need too.

What would you do?

You could build the ATBA with an opening to feed through, and put the lights on a timer. I love my timer!

How big are your turtles and male or female? Might be able to build half the tank as an ATBA and the other half with a regular light/hood. Do you use clamp lights? The on off switch is down the wire on them so you should be able to on and off.

Great idea happycamper! I didnt think of building a door on the ATBA! And Love of Animals, I didnt think about putting those on a switch either. The switch is on the actual lamps but I have an extension cord with a switch on it that I could use. Maybe thats what I will do. My babies are both full grown females, one is about 8 inches and the other is about 9.

Do you guys have ATBAs? Are they difficult to remove? I know I won't have to clean the tank as much since it will be bigger..so it may not be such an issue. Its just a long term decision and I want to make the right one. I was wanting to make it out of Plexiglas

Here's mine on half a 55 gallon. The other side has a hood. It's made of plexiglass and the bottom is egg crate. It sits right on the inside lip so I just lift it up and take it off to clean.

Is it very heavy?

Not at all. Plexi is lighter than glass.

sflemin2 wrote:Ok I have gone back and forth on this about 4584390583905 times. I cannot decide between the ATBA and the in tank basking area. I am setting up my 150 gal this weekend (FINALLY...had to wait to get paid so I could buy filter media..yes I am THAT poor lol) and I plan on building it while the water cycles. Tank dimensions are 48 x 24 x 31.

If I do the the ATBA, I will need a step ladder to feed the turtles every day. With it on the stand WITHOUT an ATBA, it is maybe 2 inches shorter than me. Is it worth it to have to deal with that every day? Also, is it going to be hard to turn the lights on and off? What about getting it off to clean it? I live alone and I am short lol.

However, they will have more room to swim and it will look much nicer (which is important to me)

If I do the in tank basking area, it will but much easier/faster/cheaper for me to build (since I already have a plan for it) and I will be able to reach in the tank when I need too.

What would you do?

My vote is for in-tank basking area. Is the 31 inch dimension the height or the width? If it's the height I would really go for in-tank basking area. Although having extra water volume is great, I'm of the opinion that turtles really prefer greater area and that extra height isn't quite as important. And most ATBAs aren't super attractive. An in-tank basking area with a canopy that houses the lights is a nice way to go.

I also vote for an in-tank basking area. You don't really need to fill that 150 gallon all the way up, which is one of the main benefits of an ATBA.

Oh I am back and forth!! Do you happen to have a tank with a picture of a canopy that covers the lights? I seriously have been through every page of the build thread once a week haha. I think I know how I will do the basking area...I don't know what to use for the actual platform though since I think egg crate would bow (I want to put tile on it).

I think I will go with the in tank since I dont want to have to get plexiglas cut and build a box. I hate asking dad for more help..I already made him brace the house haha.

Mine is really easy to remove, it's just a box on top. I use a normal floating dock, but the box allows me to fill it all the way up

This thread is about something else... but has some pictures of mine.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29098&hilit=+krylon

I love your tank! I have stumbled across it before. Its so pretty!! I doubt mine will ever be that pretty. Mine has an oak stand. I wish it was black but I am too lazy to stain it haha. I am going to have to get creative with the canopy it seems

I made an in tank basking area but I am really unhappy with it... needs some tweaking. I will post pics when I am happy with it

Still haven't tweaked it but my turtles were being funny so I took their pic (I told you they arent shy lol)

Looks good!