Natural looking Turtle Basking area

[davdev]

I have thought about the rocks, however, stacking 2 feet of rocks scares me a bit.

 

[basstank]

haha just get like 2 nice size ones. or lower the water level.

 

[rudukai13]

Use some large driftwood pieces that stick out of the water like floating logs. Something like these:

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2000.cgi?&op=showcase&category=3&vol=-1&id=88

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2007.cgi?&op=showcase&category=3&vol=-1&id=85

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2007.cgi?&op=showcase&category=3&vol=-1&id=220

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2004.cgi?&Scale=3&op=showcase&category=3&vol=-1&id=34

 

[manlyfish]

i made this real quick on paint its just a basic idea...you could modify give it a little arch and make it pretty natural looking especially with live plants

 

[davdev]

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2000.cgi?&op=showcase&category=3&vol=-1&id=88

That is much closer to what I am trying to do. My tank will be much smaller though, so it may be much more difficult to pull off


Also, I do not want to go below a 24" depth. I want the tank to focus more on Native Fish, with turtles included, not vice versa, so the depth is needed. I suppose I could drop down to about 18" but I wouldn't want to go any more shallow

 

[tankboi]

I just used an old log and the turtles loved it. Basically what they would use in the wild. It's natural and it doesn't take away any swimming area under the water and it provides shade as well. It was actually just part of a log but it was big enough to support the turtles I had.

 

[Louie]

That is much closer to what I am trying to do. My tank will be much smaller though, so it may be much more difficult to pull off


Also, I do not want to go below a 24" depth. I want the tank to focus more on Native Fish, with turtles included, not vice versa, so the depth is needed. I suppose I could drop down to about 18" but I wouldn't want to go any more shallow

You do not want to lose water so like others have suggested floating corkbark which is great. I use it outside in my water trough after Coura suggested it .

Corkbark might be easier for turtle to lay on and completely dry himself on than floating log .
You can't go wrong with it.

Rocks,etc just displace water add weight and serve no purpose in smaller tank.

 

[Louie]

or you can put the cork bark to the exact width of the tank and wedge it in between the to walls, this way, it is VERY strong.

That will work great .