Habitat - Indoor :: IS this a relativly good set-up?

[SquirtTheTurt]

the turtle will be quite young & real small, coaster size or smaller.

I am going to fill the rest of the bottom with the same river rock, and keep the flat rock for resting underwater, but a cork slab or so for a basking area & 1 or 2 fake plants, water will be where the tape line is.
let me know what you think of it.
thanks!
( btw, tanks abotu a 20 gallon long one, )

[untsmurf]

I wouldn't add anymore river rock, in fact I'd take about half of them out. When river rocks are really close like that, waste collects underneath them and you have to clean the tank out more often. Plus, they're taking up swimming space. I would raise the water line another two or three inches, then put a top on it (egg crate works best) to prevent escape. I would recommend adding the plants that you mentioned, it'll give the turtle somewhere to rest while swimming. And I like those flat rocks. Make sure you have the right lighting: UVA and UVB bulbs or just an MVB. I also didn't see any thermometers, so if you haven't got them yet you should run out and get some. Digital ones work really well, temp guns are the best though.

[SquirtTheTurt]

That totally makes sense on the river rock part! thanks!
yes yes, i have thermos and the proper heat and stuff, i just dont have them all set up atm, just trying to get a good basic setup plan.

the egg crate is not needed, as i have made a screened top out of wood and obv. screen,

thanks!

[mat012]

here's my input - for what it is worth ... Put more water in. You could put eggcrate on the top of the tank so the turtle does escape and fill it up to within 3-4 inches of the top of the tank. The one rock also looks a bit sharp on the edges. It is pretty, but their plastrons are a bit soft and could get damaged on sharp items. Thats why the river rocks are so good they dont have jagged edges. If you get plants the turtle wont need it anyway - they rest on the plants.

[SquirtTheTurt]

yes, i saw that, i am atm sanding it down, and i knwo they rest no the plants, my cousins turtle carrys the plant around like a blanky too!

[untsmurf]

Just a quick note about the screen, make sure that the holes in the screen are around 1/2'' big to allow the UVB through. Regular screen, like on a screen door or windows, blocks out a lot of the UVB rays.

Since you have a lid, you can fill it up to 3-4'' below the top like Mat said.

[shellieInIreland]

I wouldn't add anymore river rock, in fact I'd take about half of them out. When river rocks are really close like that, waste collects underneath them and you have to clean the tank out more often. Plus, they're taking up swimming space. I would raise the water line another two or three inches, then put a top on it (egg crate works best) to prevent escape. I would recommend adding the plants that you mentioned, it'll give the turtle somewhere to rest while swimming. And I like those flat rocks. Make sure you have the right lighting: UVA and UVB bulbs or just an MVB. I also didn't see any thermometers, so if you haven't got them yet you should run out and get some. Digital ones work really well, temp guns are the best though.

[shellieInIreland]

that makes so much sense the above quote..my tank gets dirty alot im removing stones bit by bit its making a differnce. why dont u try a floating dock for more simming space?

[madmax1]

I must admit, we all want our tanks to look spectacular, and we think of all theses different Ideas how to make our tanks better than the last ! In the last year if I learned anything at all is that less is more,and I learned the hard way which we all will, and I sincerely mean this, it couldn't be any further from the truth, you will find this out for yourself ! The simpler you make your tank, bare bottom for instance, it will be so easy to clean, less costly with filtration media, less bacteria build up, less water changes, and bottom line A lot less hidden Expense that no one thinks about. I had so much decorations in my tank from gravel , then did away with the gravel, then large river rock, did away with the river rock, plants gone except for some floaters for them to assist in sleeping. I have so much useless crap that i didn't even need but beginners will find out the hard way! the looks of the tank in the water is not important you can make a tank look great buy building a great looking Tank Topper or aka. basking top. that gives the tank the finish look that everyone is truly after!

[danny123]

^^^^ i agree with you.

& in my opinion, bare bottom with about 3 river rocks looks the best =]

[spaceapple]

I agree with pretty much everyone's suggestions. I would also like to add that if you still want a substrate, but not all the mess that comes with river rocks, go with sand. And one more thing: be sure that the larger rock is not so close to any side of the tank that your turtle could accidentally trap itself. I have some similar rocks, and my Piper love to try to wedge herself underneath them!

[Mis4Monopoly]

I agree with the others, take some of the rocks out, and raise the water up a bit higher. RES like to have plenty of room to swim.