55g Turtle Tank filter question

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smp2112

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 20, 2010
17
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Long Island, NY
Hi all,
Lurking a couple of weeks and finally decided to jump in the pool so to speak.

I have a 3in Red Ear Slider that is currently in a 10g. I picked up a 55g at the Petco $1/g sale and need to decide on filtration. Stand is almost finished (build thread to follow, hopefully).
I am currently looking at the Sun-Sun (Perfect) 302 or the Odyssea CFS 500, mostly for $ savings. I know I should go Eheim,Fluval or Rena but the wallet is weak.

I know they are not really equivalent in gph or filtration which is why I am looking for recommendations. The CFS500 is higher flow, which will turn the tank over more times per hour, but the 302 is a no-bypass full top to bottom tray cannister which should filter better.
So the $58 question is for a juvenile RES, and a couple of fish friends (if they can stay out of the turtle's way long enough) what is better:
Tank turn over or filtration capability?

thanks
 
smp2112;4516313; said:
Hi all,
Lurking a couple of weeks and finally decided to jump in the pool so to speak.

I have a 3in Red Ear Slider that is currently in a 10g. I picked up a 55g at the Petco $1/g sale and need to decide on filtration. Stand is almost finished (build thread to follow, hopefully).
I am currently looking at the Sun-Sun (Perfect) 302 or the Odyssea CFS 500, mostly for $ savings. I know I should go Eheim,Fluval or Rena but the wallet is weak.

I know they are not really equivalent in gph or filtration which is why I am looking for recommendations. The CFS500 is higher flow, which will turn the tank over more times per hour, but the 302 is a no-bypass full top to bottom tray cannister which should filter better.
So the $58 question is for a juvenile RES, and a couple of fish friends (if they can stay out of the turtle's way long enough) what is better:
Tank turn over or filtration capability?

thanks
Click to expand...


Turtles make a huge mess with Romaine lettuce. They eat about 3/4 of what you put in the tank. Or at least mine do anyway. If you only have 1 RES then the 302 should be ok. You typically want 5 - 10 times the flow rate of the aquarium/container used. The CFS500 would be better to remove the debris from the tank though due to higher flow rate. Bio media isnt really necessary for turtles (some may object though) as long as you do major water changes and dechlorinate the water weekly. But if you choose to use Bio Media the 205 would be better because it is a multiple tray design and is able to keep all the media within the flow of the filter. The CFS500 keeps the bio media in the bottom of the filter and not directly within the flow of the water. So both have its advantages and disadvantages.

Since price is of a concern other options would be the HW-303A or HW-303B (UV model). Which is approximately 370Gph. Or even the HW-304A or HW-304B (UV Model) which is approximately 528Gph. Dont know what the 303s run but the 304s run approx $100 shipped from eBay.

Of course you could go to Dr. Fosters and Smith and pick up a Bio System Power Filter & Oxy Surface Skimmer model 75 (350 Gph) for $30 + shipping. And if it dont filter the water to your liking you could just pick up a smaller unit say the model 55 or even the model 35 for $22 - $27 + shipping for lets say $60 + shipping total for the 2. You just got to remember with HOB filters your options are limited to the filter pads available for that particular filter. Just be prepared to replace your pads frequently.

There are many many different filtration methods. But the most needed for turtles is mechanical filtration and flow rate. Again some may disagree with that. But that is my experience. But a little activated carbon or amonia remover will not hurt anything.

I recently purchaced the HW-302 for my fish aquarium and a HW-304B for my turtle tank. I dont really need the UV model HW-304. But I could not find it without the UV. Just because its there dont mean I have to use it :). Should receive them some time next week.

Hope this helps you decide.
 
AceofSpades;4519877; said:
ac110

Fill the tank up all the way and build a above tank basking area cheapest way and more water for swimming.
Click to expand...
THIS. I would do very minimal substrate in your turtle tank. I had hatchlings in a 10 and in a week the brand new gravel was gross! That will help alot with your filtration. The AC110 will do great and keep a lot of debris out of the water.
 
Shai:
Thanks for the reply, lots of great info in there. I am leaning more toward flow/mechanical filtration initially (CFS500). If I need to add biological filtration later I can add a smaller canister (303ish) and max out the bioballs/rings/scrubbies and just throw in 1 course pad and 1 polishing pad. I will have to see how clean the CFS500 keeps things.

ACE/Buckeye:
I have been thinking about the ATBA idea. Over on RedEarSlider.com there are quite a few realy nice ones. I have the ATBA next on my list once the tank is set up!

I thought about the AC110 but the noise from a hob is an issue. I pretty much need a canister so I can minimize the sound of running/falling water. Personally i find it soothing but my wife, not so much.

As far as substrate goes, I have a few large river stones in the tank and that is it. I know gravel is a huge no-no with turts and I found that a mostly bare bottom is the best way to keep the tank clean. makes it a lot easier to use a turkey baster to snag the poop!
 
smp2112;4521254; said:
Shai:
Thanks for the reply, lots of great info in there. I am leaning more toward flow/mechanical filtration initially (CFS500). If I need to add biological filtration later I can add a smaller canister (303ish) and max out the bioballs/rings/scrubbies and just throw in 1 course pad and 1 polishing pad. I will have to see how clean the CFS500 keeps things.

ACE/Buckeye:
I have been thinking about the ATBA idea. Over on RedEarSlider.com there are quite a few realy nice ones. I have the ATBA next on my list once the tank is set up!

I thought about the AC110 but the noise from a hob is an issue. I pretty much need a canister so I can minimize the sound of running/falling water. Personally i find it soothing but my wife, not so much.

As far as substrate goes, I have a few large river stones in the tank and that is it. I know gravel is a huge no-no with turts and I found that a mostly bare bottom is the best way to keep the tank clean. makes it a lot easier to use a turkey baster to snag the poop!
Click to expand...

Initially I was running a Fluval 4+ and a Fluval 3+ internal filters till the 3+ motor took a crap. So now I am left with the 4+ only. And let me tell you they don't handle turtle environments too well. They don't have enough surface area to get the gunk out. I have to clean them every 3 or 4 days because they get clogged to quickly. But then again I have 3 Western Paints.

I also contemplated the 302 and the CFS500 for my turtles but I decided on the 304 instead due to 4 trays instead of 3 on the 302. And since the Bio media don't sit within the water flow in the CFS500, that one was out for me. I'm gonna do 2 trays of coarse pads and 1 tray fine filter pads and the other tray with Fish Mate Supra bio media. Figured I would give it a try as I have 5 bags of it left that I have never used. And then use what ever is left in the 302 for the fish tank.

But since you only have 1 RES you should be fine with the CFS500 for a while. I don't think you'll be dissapointed with it.


[edit]
As far a substrate and deco is concerned. I don't use any. As one of the turtles is a self proclaimed landscaper. Don't matter what I put in their tank. She either moves it wherever she thinks it should go or piles it all up on one end.
 
That is funny because my RES does the same thing. I have about 10 or so 2" diameter stones on the bottom and he moves them around to form a straight line from one corner of the tank to the opposite corner on a diagonal. He manages to get it pretty darn straight too! I figure it keeps him busy so every time I poopper-scoop the tank I mix them up again. Sure enough a couple of hours later they are straight again.
 
smp2112;4522378; said:
That is funny because my RES does the same thing. I have about 10 or so 2" diameter stones on the bottom and he moves them around to form a straight line from one corner of the tank to the opposite corner on a diagonal. He manages to get it pretty darn straight too! I figure it keeps him busy so every time I poopper-scoop the tank I mix them up again. Sure enough a couple of hours later they are straight again.
Click to expand...


LOL. That is pretty funny. I guess we have turtles with creative minds.
 
Well. I got my HW-304B and the HW-302 and they are super quiet. You cannot even tell they are running unless you put your ear up to them.

But anyway. What did you decide on for a filter? Or have you decided yet?
 
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