Questions from a large tank beginner

Greetings!

I'm new to this forum, so allow me to start by providing some relevant background. Before last year, my only experience with aquariums was with the 20 gallon full of tropical fish I kept during my childhood. I started keeping aquariums again pursuant to my interest in inheritance patterns as an undergrad Genetics & Biotech major, and now rear a couple types of freshwater snails and detritivores. Part of my goal in establishing the two aquariums I'm currently running (10 and 20 gallons) has been to establish freshwater environments that require as little interference/maintenance as possible from me and maintaining the look of a natural habitat.

Recently, a relative of mine who keeps saltwater aquariums informed me he was upgrading to a custom 100+ gallon tank and asked if I'd be interested in his old 70 gallon. Of course, I was!

Now we come to the questions. I'm planning to convert the 70 gallon tank to a freshwater environment, in which I'd eventually like to keep one or two male MississippI map turtles once I have the bottom of the "ecosystem" established (live plants, detritivores, filter feeders, etc). So far, I've removed the old substrate and started the process of cleaning the tank with a diluted white vinegar solution.

Is it worth trying to salvage the old filter, which is a HOB + sump pump setup? Is there another type of filter that might be better suited to the needs of a couple small turtles and friends? We don't have a huge budget for refurbishing this thing, but obviously any tank, and especially a large tank, comes with some expense, so we're willing to replace the filter if that's the best (or only) option. What other equipment would you folks recommend for this situation (we're aware of the need for basking platforms and reptile lights)? I'm happy to provide photos/dimensions as needed.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer advice!

 

I would keep the sump for sure. Do you know how big the sump is ? The sump allows for more water in your system and room for mass amounts of mechanical and biological filtration.Turtles are messy so this is a good thing. Don't know what kinda HOB you have but I'm sure it couldn't hurt keeping it either.

 

I'm not sure because the only print I could find on it was the brand name, but to my eye it looks about the same size as my 10 gallon aquarium tank. It's housed inside a wood cabinet under the tank. Do you have any suggestions for cleaning it, such that it would be safe to use with a freshwater setup? I've thought about soaking it in a diluted vinegar solution, and then maybe running the whole system with water and a little vinegar for a while similar to the way I might clean my coffee machine, but I wasn't sure how well that would actually work. The sump had sand in it, but I've vacuumed that out since it was used with the saltwater setup.

 

I would take all the media out of it and discard, clean tank well with vinegar and water and put all new media in it. as for the pump you could prolly just run a lot of freshwater through it and may be alrite I'm not sure that's just what I would do.

 

When in doubt, measure:

Dimensions are 24" wide x 14" tall x 12" deep.

 

Hi, Meg, nice to see that you have joined the forum, and look forward to your posts.
One trick with keeping aquatic turtles is to feed them in a separate container, such as a baby bath, after which they will normally poop, which really does help in keeping the aquarium water cleaner.
So long as your current filters work well, I see no reason not to keep them.
Also, if summer ever does arrive, turtles really enjoy direct sunlight, if you can provide it (not through a glass window, though, as the glass tends to filter out most of the UV A and B). Also, when providing sunlight, providing a shaded area is essential, as turtles can overheat surprisingly quickly.
About twice a week you should add (sparingly) a calcium supplement with Vitamin D3, I use Repti-Cal, but they are all pretty good I believe, using that brand is likely just out of habit.
If you wish a smaller turtle than the one which you mentioned, painted turtles might interest you--I happen to like the midland subspecies, but again, it is just a matter of personal choice.
Sorry, I just remembered this, but when using UV lights, remember to change them after about 6 months, as the UV output drops rather quickly after that, even though the human eye can't detect it.
Anyway, I'm sure that you'll get it all sorted out, and really do hope that you enjoy the forum.-rick

 

Thanks! That sounds simple enough. I've already vacuumed out all the sand and coral that was in it before and done a couple passes with vinegar water, so all I have left to clean now are the pump and filter. Glad to know they can still be used after a little TLC! That was my main concern

 

I looked into painted turtles first, since they seemed to be just the right size for that tank, but they're really hard to find in my area (middle Tennessee) and I'd be worried that they were wild caught. The other reason I'm leaning toward MississippI maps, although admittedly I'm still doing my research, is that the males should only get to be about 5" at the most, and they like to swim, which I thought would be appropriate for a deep tank like this one. Thanks for the tips! These will be my first reptiles, which is something I'm very excited about

 

Here's a photo so you can see what I mean, now that I've got the tank and stand cleaned:

 

Looks lovely, the stand is a modest improvement on my art deco cinder blocks and plywood stands.
If you check the classifieds of Kingsnake.com you might well find a herp expo near you, where you can be assured of Cative Bred, and lower prices. Generally also knowledgeable people and healthy animals, as well.--rick

 

Thanks! I've looked at Kingsnake.com before, but didn't think to look for an expo. Know anything about turtleshack.com? A friend recommended me there, but I hadn't heard of them before.