Dirt Substrate

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A

anarchir

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2011
55
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Wisconsin, USA
Dirt Substrate: Is it possible for a turtle tank? What are the tricks to making it work and not cloud up the aquarium?

Would letting it compact for a long time help? What if it has a layer of stone on the top or bottom? Are there any creatures that could make a living in the dirt?
 
The finer dirt particles will likely suspend in the water creating a muddy water tank - especially with turtles.
 
I think I'm okay with that side effect. The way I see it, this will be a good way to make my tank even more natural. I think I've come up with a plan. I'm going to put down 2 inches of dirt followed by 2 inches or so of small stone. Then I'll fill the tank up and put the plants in there. Particular emphasis on rooting plants like a peace lilly i have. I'll let it all settle for a few weeks, introducing some feeder fish & ghost shrimp.

Then when the tank is running nicely I'll add the turtle.

Does anybody know an effective way of adapting filters for the dirt to prevent clogging? I plan on having the tank backlit by a window, letting natural light in rather than have a lamp. Also I'm hoping the turtle will enjoy this setup more as he will be able to dig into the mud and hide. It may be cloudier than most setups, but I think its worth a try.
 
Adding the gravel on top should help, depending on the turtle they may still dig into it. What kind of filter are you using?
 
Aquatech filter. I'm filling it up with water now. I have varying levels of dirt/gravel in the tank. Dirt on the bottom about 2 inches, gravel on the top about the same. Sometimes more. If the turtle digs in it a bit thats OK. Its his tank, my viewing pleasure comes second and I fully expect him to dig. I put the lily in the corner ofthe tank embedded in the dirt, I just hope it stays there. The turtle was knocking it about in his tank before, he tends to do remodeling.
 
Sounds like you have plenty of gravel going, I wouldn't be surpirsed if he doesn't make it down to the dirt now. What turtle is going in there?
 
The snapping turtle in my profile picture. After setting the tank up with the plants/dirt/gravel and one air stone the dirt settled almost entirely within a day. I bought another longer airstone to put on the opposite side in the dirt & digging it into the substrate kicked up a new cloud. It seems to be less cloudy around the filter though so it seems to be helping.

I bought 10 decent sized feeder goldfish and popped them in the tank. They werent hiding or sitting on the bottom but rather were swimming in the currents and behaving as a school so I think the water condition must be doing alright. When my LFS gets more ghost shrimp in I plan on adding a bunch of them, also I'll be buying some sort of worm to add as well. I am worried a bit about the worms dieing in the substrate though, hence the added airstone.
 
Put the turtle in the tank today, and put the fish in the tank the turtle was in. He has now burried himself into the ground puite firmly, making the water pitch black. I can still tell where he is based off of when he comes up for air. I think I'll have to turn the other tank into a feeder tank and just drop him into it at mealtimes or he wont be able to find his food on the surface lol. This isnt going quite well, but I must persist!
 
Turtle totally destroyed his tank yesterday, had to pull him out until the lilly can root itself better. It wont exactly grow if it is submerged 100% in pitch black water.
 
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