Habitat - Indoor :: Sump tank

[spartan]

So I have been thinking about setting up a sump tank but I have never do so before. Does anybody gave any input they can give on how this is setup? I have a 20 gallon tank im planing in useing for the sump.

[VeipaCray]

I can help.

Let me start off by saying that a sump is less than ideal for filtration of a turtle tank. You're going to need either a reef ready tank, a drilled tank, or a hang on overflow box to be able to plumb in a sump. All three rely on surface skimming to draw water into the sump. The sump can include a good amount of bio filtration to help keep the ammonia and nitrites low. The downside of using one of these with a turtle is that the turtle's solid waste sits on the bottom of the tank (low in the water column). No amount of surface skimming will remove turtle turds. The most efficient way to remove large amounts of ammonia from the tank is to remove the source... the waste... which is sitting at the bottom of the tank where the filter that relies on surface skimming can't get it. Any food particles that fall to the bottom are also a problem.

If you have a sump, you'll still need to siphon the bottom on a very regular basis to remove that waste.

The better option for a turtle is a very oversized very powerful canister filter.

If you still would like to build the sump... no problem I have much experience doing this and can help, but please understand the sump is not without faults when used with a turtle.

[PridgNYC]

+1 on the very oversized very powerful canister filter. My Fluval FX5 is doing an amazing job of keeping my 75 gallon clean. I haven't done anything to the tank except add water for the past month and a half, and it is still crystal clear. The tank is fully cycled now, ammonia at 0 and nitrites at 0, nitrates are starting to get a little high, but some partial water changes will keep that under control.

I was thinking of adding a planted refugium to deal with the nitrates, and to the OP, that is probably your best bet for that 20 gallon tank. The canister filter stays though, it does an amazing job of dealing with turtle poop. Yes, I occasionally notice a poop sitting on the bottom, but I just leave it, and the next time I look it is gone.

[spartan]

What size cansiter would be good for a 55 gallon tank?

[VeipaCray]

See this thread for filter sizings... viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

The question becomes do you want to spend for a filter that will just do a 55G or do you want to spend for a filter that will do a tank big enough for your turtle when it's an adult?

It's more expensive now to get the adult capable filter, but less expensive in the long run as you're only having to buy one filter.

As PridgNYC mentioned the FX5 always gets our recommendation for turtles. It's a GREAT filter and can be found on the internet for a really good price. PridgNYC, myself and many other on this forum use that very filter.

[spartan]

Yeah im look for something I wont have to replace. Rite now I have a filter for a 20 gallon tank and it just isnt cutting it in this tank.