actually thinking about it is does sound high i have not seen it yet but that is what the guy said i am also looking at another i think more reasonable size haha

is it an aquarium? they have standard sizes for most of them...

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If the turt is bigger thanan adult's hand then you're going to need a pretty big tank, something like 400 litres maybe, I have to go out now but later on I can work out some suitable tank sizes for you and filters to match.

The 40" tank you mentioned will be nowhere near big enough, you need to think about 4 times that volume minimum.

If it's a Yellow Belly (YBS) then they are great swimmers and require a good depth of water, the more the better really and I'd recommend at least 15"-18".

OK let's see, if it's bigger than an adult's hand then it's going to be at least 8"-9", and using the rule of thumb of 40 litres of water minimum per inch SCL, that would give us 320-360 litres. Normally we can't fill the tank right to the top otherwise the turt can get out, so the tank actually needs to be about 450 litres total capacity and filled to within 6" or so of the top.

The 40" tank you mentioned earlier, if filled to 12" depth, would only hold about 90-100 litres, about enough for a single 2"-2.5" turt.

The 3' x 3' x 2' tank, if it really is that size, could hold about 365 litres which would be just right, but I still think that sounds like a very odd size tank, 3 feet square and 2 feet deep, I don't think I've ever seen a tank like that unless it was custom built to fit a specific space.

So for a filter you'll need one rated for 600-700 litres upwards, the Eheim Classic 2217 would be a good one but it's only rated for 600 litres, so would need upgrading if the turt grows any bigger and needs a bigger tank. Personally I'd look for something bigger now to avoid having to upgrade in future, something with the capacity to deal with a bigger tank when this one gets too small.

The bigger Eheims such as the 2250 would do as they are rated for 1000 litres so would see you through to full adult size, if you shop around you should be able to get one of these for around £130 new, or you might find a used one if you're lucky.

Alternatives would be the Rena Filstar XP4 at around £90, rated for the same size tanks, not such a good make as the Eheim but still a very good filter. Or the Fluval FX5 at about the same price as the Eheim, of the two I'd go for the Eheim as it's better quality for the same money, but the Rena probably offers better value for money.

The other option is to make your own filter, and with tanks of this size it's not a bad idea. I built one for my 500 litre tank and it cost about £30, it's an outdoor style filter consisting of a plastic storage box (under £1), some 22mm waste pipe and fittings from any plumbing suppliers or DIY store, and a powerhead for the pump, mine pumps 700 litres per hour and cost about £20.

Hi graham, thanks for that info it has really helped although my head is totally swimming (which is more than can be said for my turt).

i have purchased a tank today the measurement was supposed to be 41 x 18 x 12 although on getting it i think they have under estimated the length it is more like 4 and half to five foot (cant find tape measure so cant be sure) so this obviously would be big enough length ways although maybe not so deep. the irony is i am only trying to help the little fellow as he is currently in a tank that is way to small so i am trying to do it all as quick as poss and what with lack of resource fund and time everything seems to be stacked against me but alas i will get there.

thanks for all your help dont think your off the hook though i am sure i will be asking loads more from you ha ha

also your idea of building a filter, sounds great in theory but i dont think i would be able to build one it would probably end up working backwards (water everywhere)

thanks

Building a filter really is simple, honestly! If you're not too practical yourself then maybe you have someone who is that can help?

I can show you exactly how it's done, even tell you exactly what to buy, if funds are short it's probably your best option.

I know all this info kind of smacks you in the face doesn't it? Most people have absolutely no idea they're going to need all this equipment or what it's going to cost, and it comes as a big surprise to find that little turt that cost less than £20 needs a home costing ten times that, and that's just for starters!

The tank sounds better, get it measured then we can figure out if it's big enough, if it's not I have a few suggestions.

i will measure tomorrow when i get back from work (i am now having to take the tank to work as i cant get it out the car as it is to heavy).

you re right about the cost i am getting the turtle for free effectively however we both know that aint true. i am going on classifieds for aquariums and i am seeing complete setups with turtles included for £130 and i am thinking it will probably be cheaper to do that, but then i think of that poor little fellow in that tiny tank and i persevere ha ha.

if you could show me how and what to make the filter i would be really grateful. (not completely confident but hey nothing ventured and all that) and unfortunately i dont have a practical person who could help me. so it looks like you have the job should you wish to take it ha ha

Hey I just spotted you're in Brum, we have a couple of people in Tamworth who would be ideally placed to help you out, both Neil and Garry at the Terrapin Tank are experienced keepers in your area.

The problem with those setups you're seeing in the classifieds, is that they're probably too small for the turts which is why their owners are selling them! Buy one of those and you're back to square one again and looking for a new setup!

I have to go to bed now, work tomorrow, but when I have time I'll do a sketch of the filter and list all the stuff you'd need to make it.

The external filter, as the name suggests, goes outside the tank and draws water out via a hose and back in through another one, you place one hose at either end of the tank and it creates a current which clears the waste. - Qoute

Quick, embarrasing question: do the hoses have to be at either end of the tank?
I have had the 2217 eheim for about 5 weeks...its just fully cycled with no trace of ammonia nor nitrites ( very happy ), However i have both hoses at one end.
Everything seems to be fine, but i just read the above quote and wondered if i was doing something wrong.

The filter is really great, but i have to admit the instructions were not very helpful.

It works much better if you have the hoses at either end, that way you get a continuous flow of water along the length of the tank wich has to be more efficient. Just think about it for a moment, the way you have it set up the dirty water gets sucked out, goes through the filter and comes back in as clean water, only to get sucked straight back out again!

If you position the spraybar across the far end of the tank, just below water level and pointing down at about 45°, the water jets will scour the dirt from the bottom of the tank and force it down towards the pickup.