redearslider.com

i just got a fluval 4+. my old filter had a little cascade that would aerate the water. but this one doesnt. do i need to buy a bubble tube or something to get oxygen into the water?

I don't think it's absolutely necessary, but it will help support biological filtration, and it will agitate the surface of the water.

What kind of filter did you have before? The 4+ has a nozzle that you can point upward to break the surface of the water. You don't really need an aerrator (sp?) for turtles.

before i had a bio falls cascade filter.

the way i have my fluval set up, it does slightly agitate the surface, but not a whole lot. i think a bubble tube would help, plus it'd make my tank look a little nicer. how much do cheap ones cost? and do they require any maintenance?

I had one in my fish tank and I think it was $10 or $15. I had to clean the tubing occasionally but that's it.

A bubbler definitely won't hurt any and I'm sure it will entertain your turtles. As Octopusgirl said it will also help the beneficial bacteria in your filter too since they require a great deal of oxygen in the water in order to do their thing.

i have a star shaped bubble maker in our tank. I only turn it on for a few hours a day, and when i do George loves it! He often swims over the bubbles and lets them push him up. It must tickle him i think. I bought it for 2 reasons. firstly to help the good bacteria grow, and secondly because as an only turtle I wanted to give him as much entertainment as possible.