For many months I have been planning the set up of a 125 gallon tank for aquatic turtles.
This is my first turtle set up and I'm excited for it!
It's on a small wall in a classroom. This classroom is for a Special Needs Ministry with children ages 2-6years old.
I set it up yesterday. Then today took some cycled water from the 125 gallon goldfish tank I have in the classroom next door and added that to the new tank with 3 small feeders. I'm going to continue using some of the fish water to hopefully cycle this tank a little quicker.
We'll see how that goes
Here is the set up. I still have tweaking to do with temps and other specifics once I figure out what turtles we will go with. That'll be a fun part. Suggestions on choices welcome!
Here is the view from the classroom door where parents and children arrive!
The back view. This side faces a kids computer area.
I have double doors for a storage/shelving area and the single door houses the fluval fx5 BEAST of a filter if I must say!
The basking area was tricky. Took alot of rock combinations before I had one that met all the requirements. It had to be away from all the glass for cleaning purposes, not trap any pockets of stagnant water that will destroy water quality, balance, sturdy, right height for a good basking temp! Finally did it and I like it. There is actually a layer of rock below the sand. I started directly on the glass then filled the sand around it. I didn't want it to shift if I siphoned sand out from around the base.
The end of the tank. We used silica sand as the substrate. Cosmetics of the tanks are very important to the Ministry Director so this was our best option. River rock, too dirty and gravel too ugly. bare bottom out of the question lol
This drift wood actually made a great cave. I had the bubble disc buried to the left of that plant but it wouldn't stay buried under the sand. So, for now at least, I put it in the cave and hid it with rocks. Looks better than the exposed disc but I loose the function of the hiding spot.. so I'll figure something out eventually..
The end with the filter intake, output and water heater
the cool plant
I think that's it for now. I'll be checking it daily for awhile to monitor it. Plus I'll be doing partial water changes with the fish water for cycling.
Then.....the turtles!
Thanks for looking.
Feedback welcome!
I'd have preferred the top wood "hood" was black to match the tank's bottom rim... maybe someday it will be.
This is my first turtle set up and I'm excited for it!
It's on a small wall in a classroom. This classroom is for a Special Needs Ministry with children ages 2-6years old.
I set it up yesterday. Then today took some cycled water from the 125 gallon goldfish tank I have in the classroom next door and added that to the new tank with 3 small feeders. I'm going to continue using some of the fish water to hopefully cycle this tank a little quicker.
We'll see how that goes
Here is the set up. I still have tweaking to do with temps and other specifics once I figure out what turtles we will go with. That'll be a fun part. Suggestions on choices welcome!
Here is the view from the classroom door where parents and children arrive!
The back view. This side faces a kids computer area.
I have double doors for a storage/shelving area and the single door houses the fluval fx5 BEAST of a filter if I must say!
The basking area was tricky. Took alot of rock combinations before I had one that met all the requirements. It had to be away from all the glass for cleaning purposes, not trap any pockets of stagnant water that will destroy water quality, balance, sturdy, right height for a good basking temp! Finally did it and I like it. There is actually a layer of rock below the sand. I started directly on the glass then filled the sand around it. I didn't want it to shift if I siphoned sand out from around the base.
The end of the tank. We used silica sand as the substrate. Cosmetics of the tanks are very important to the Ministry Director so this was our best option. River rock, too dirty and gravel too ugly. bare bottom out of the question lol
This drift wood actually made a great cave. I had the bubble disc buried to the left of that plant but it wouldn't stay buried under the sand. So, for now at least, I put it in the cave and hid it with rocks. Looks better than the exposed disc but I loose the function of the hiding spot.. so I'll figure something out eventually..
The end with the filter intake, output and water heater
the cool plant
I think that's it for now. I'll be checking it daily for awhile to monitor it. Plus I'll be doing partial water changes with the fish water for cycling.
Then.....the turtles!
Thanks for looking.
Feedback welcome!
I'd have preferred the top wood "hood" was black to match the tank's bottom rim... maybe someday it will be.