Hi all,

Having taken out my internal filter and replaced it with an external one for my turts, I'm wondering if I should now buy an air pump to break up the water surface and therefore provide some aeration. Is this necessary? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Dont think its needed for aeration as turts dont breathe under water (like fish do). Did the filter come with a spray bar I someimes use one as my turt seems to like nosing around running water occasionally.

__________________
I care for:

1.0.0 Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)- 10/11 yrs old

0.0.2 Leopard-Spotted Catfish (Synodontis eupterus) -5/6 yrs old

0.0.1 Red Tailed Shark (Epalzeorhynchus bicolor) - 7 yrs old

2.1.0 Moggies - various ages

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured
by the way in which its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Ghandi

Hi Topbell, yes the filter does have a spray bar, I've got it under the water level at the moment but I guess I could raise it.

Thanks

If you aim the spray towards the glass it wont make much noise & looks like a waterfall too!

__________________
I care for:

1.0.0 Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)- 10/11 yrs old

0.0.2 Leopard-Spotted Catfish (Synodontis eupterus) -5/6 yrs old

0.0.1 Red Tailed Shark (Epalzeorhynchus bicolor) - 7 yrs old

2.1.0 Moggies - various ages

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured
by the way in which its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Ghandi

It's best to have the spraybar a few inches underwater, mount it across one end of the tank pointing down at about 45°, it'll scour debris from the bottom of the tank which is then carried down by the current to the pickup tube at the opposite end.
If you still have the internal filter put that back in the tank and use it to agitate the surface to break up any oily film that would otherwise form, you can also put some activated charcoal in it to keep the water gin-clear and odour free, saving all the room in the external filter for bio-media. It means you don't have to keep disturbing the external to change the charcoal which needs replacing monthly.

Like the idea of using the internal but dont agree on the spraybar positioning. Turtles like still water & if the filter is doing its job properly ie. big enough for the tank/ no. of turltles concerned why should a strong current be needed? A lot of fish keepers argue over this positioning question too. For fish I prefer under water facing up.

__________________
I care for:

1.0.0 Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)- 10/11 yrs old

0.0.2 Leopard-Spotted Catfish (Synodontis eupterus) -5/6 yrs old

0.0.1 Red Tailed Shark (Epalzeorhynchus bicolor) - 7 yrs old

2.1.0 Moggies - various ages

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured
by the way in which its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Ghandi

Thanks Graham and Topbell, I'll give the suggestions a try and see what works best. Cheers.

Mine doesn't create a strong current, just enough to move the debris along, pointing the spraybar downwards decreases the current,

That's cool. I think personal preference on this one. I just find new externals can be a bit too strong until they get going if you know what I mean?

Also I noticed my terrapin ( i hate calling them turtles - which are sea based) likes to nose around the running water. Should say I do play around with stuff in the tank a bit - to ease mine & his boredom. Probably more mine actually!

__________________
I care for:

1.0.0 Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)- 10/11 yrs old

0.0.2 Leopard-Spotted Catfish (Synodontis eupterus) -5/6 yrs old

0.0.1 Red Tailed Shark (Epalzeorhynchus bicolor) - 7 yrs old

2.1.0 Moggies - various ages

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured
by the way in which its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Ghandi

I agree Topbell, my terra also likes messing about where there is running water. For now I have put the old internal filter back in and also angled the spray bar for the external filter at 45 degrees as suggested by Graham. All ok for now. I also think I will probably move things around in the near future.