Equipment Review and Discussion :: Zoo med 511 Turtle Clean Canister Filter

[erwynn]

Hello

Just curious if anyone has seen/heard anything about this new filter that zoomed has just come out with.

I was excited to find a turtle filter that is strong enough to handle my turtlely water. Although it says 60 gallons...it has a note that says 30 gallons maximum.

Anyone try this yet, have it?

[mikee]

e-ynn -- Be careful when purchasing a filter that gives the tank size. Most filter manufactures use fish as a guide and does not apply to turtles. You must go by the gph (gallons per hour) and not the tank size. As a minimum, use a filter pump that pumps 5 times the volume you have in your tank. I use filters that pump more but 5 times will usually do a good job. Turtles poop a lot more than fish and require more filtration. m.

[erwynn]

Yea that's what I figured. My turtle makes twice the mess of a fish, so I'm trying to get a filter for twice the amount of water he has. He's in a 30 gallon stock pond right now, but it's maybe half full. When I looked at prices though, it might be better to buy 2 of the 501 filters instead of the 511 one. Cause it's 30-ish for the 501 but almost 80 dollars for the 511, and at that price I might as well save a little more for an fluval one.

[drtweak]

I'm telling you right now not even 2 501's will be good enough for a 30 gallon.

I had a 10 gallon and when spike was almost 3 inches...I had to clean the thing twice a week because it got clogged so much...

[mikee]

e-ynn - Don't use the sizing that say's for a ???? gallon tank. Check the gph and get one that pumps "at least" five times the volume in your tank. GPH not gallons!!! m.

[papoopeepoo]

I had a 10 gallon and when spike was almost 3 inches...I had to clean the thing twice a week because it got clogged so much...

that depends mostly on the tank size compared to the turtle size, not the filter. Having higher water capacity helps to dilute contaminents, and help the mechanical filter to work more efficiently

[mikee]

I started off with a ten gallon tank many years ago and it liked to worked me to the bone. It is not enough water for a turtle. It was ok when they were the size of a quarter but after that, it was work, work, work. I upped it to a 29 gallon tank with a 350 gph filter and things changed over night. Just a note!! m.

[Rubicon]

I used a 501 and fluval 4+ on a 55gallon for a few months. Worked ok.

[imderanged]

I used the 501 filter on the 20Long I had Pickle in when she was a baby. It's really not worth it, it's an awful little filter in my opinion. Not only is it very underpowered for a turtle tank, it's constructed poorly. It was hard to even open and close, and next to impossible to get primed. It was always clogging and stopping and making horrible sounds.

I never had the fluval 4+, I suspect it's a better product. I have the BIG fluval and it's awesome. If I were you I would spend the extra $10, I think you will be happier, even if it is only temporary.

[silentaoi]

I believe the zoomed 501 and 511 are 2 different canister filters? The 511 is advertised to be stronger than the 501.

Are there any reviews on the 511 out there?