Help Me Out With My Turtle Tank Filtration

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Joe M

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2010
977
1
0
North East
Hey everybody. I have a 125 gallon tank that I am currently resealing, and instead of fish, I think I'm going to put some of my favorite turtles in it. It will be about 3/4 full, so about 16-18 inches of water. I am having a hard time working out filtration though. I have always used stock tanks, where attractiveness was no issue, and I mostly used pond filters. I don't like that option in an aquarium, mostly cause it would be ugly as hell and it would take up a lot of tank space.

After everything is said and done, after a few more reptile shows to get the stock I want, my plans are to have a few diamondback terrapins, maybe a pink belly sideneck, and probably a few nice RES morphs unless I find something better. These will all be in the 3-4 inch range of course, so tank size is no issue, yet. And when it is, it will be time to dust off my old 300 gal stock tank.

So basically I'm open to all suggestions. Personal experience would be particularly great as well. I was thinking maybe 2 Fx5s, but if there is a cheaper option, let me know. The tank will be bare bottom as well. I'm not going to deal with gravel or sand with these poop machines. Thanks.
 
You could probably do well with one FX-5....Didn't you get some terrapins from Hamburg?
 
I personally filtered my turtle community in a 125 with a single Fx5 before setting up my stock tank.
 
I have two smaller DBT's in a 150 gallon with a single FX5. I feed them outside of the tank which helps a ton because they are VERY messy eaters. I also have a eheim 2217 for backup on the tank.
 
You will need to clean it a little more with having messy turtles in there. I also have my tank planted with hornwort which clogs it up a little more also.
 
Alright thanks everybody. I do feed outside my tanks as well so that should help. I guess I'll be placing an order for an Fx5 soon. Might also get a small powerhead to push debris towards the filter.

And yes I did pick up 1 DBT at Hamburg. It was a borderline impulse buy because I always wanted one, and I actually like it so much I want a few more. They seem to have great personalities.
 
What "pond filters" are you experienced with?

I used a 'BioForce 2000' for about 7 years, sometimes on a 300 gal stock tank and sometimes on a 125 gal 'display' aquarium. It worked marvelous for me...

The BioForce 2000 has approx 5 gal media volume (almost double the FX5) and can be powered by up to a 1800 gph pump (almost double the FX5). When used on the 125 Gal the 'canister' fit beneath the stand and all that went into the tank were two vinyl hoses (just like every other canister).

For anyone considering an FX5, I suggest first considering a BioForce 2000 or similar pressurized pond filter. It takes a bit of personal creativity to put together the intake and return to best suit your situation and cleaning the pond filter indoors is a bit more involved than most aquarium conisters... but you do get double the volume with double the flow rate for approx the same price......
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com