Habitat - Indoor :: A few questions

[QtCowgirl]

We currently have a 55 gal square tank that our RES rescue shares with 2 large oscars. We have the floating dock from the pet store, but it collects algae, doesnt stay attached to the wall under the heat lamp and UV bulb very well, and overall is a touch small (although its the largest they sell) for our guy. I am not very handy at making things, but I am more handy than my husband lol. Are there any premade tank toppers that are on the market? Or can you suggest any super simple (think stupid simple) ways to make something for our guy?

Also where do you find your drift wood for the tanks? Ive looked several places but havent found anything Ive been thrilled with. Our tank is so barren and Id like to spruce it up with a nice piece of drift wood, and some live plants. I know I will have to routinely replace the plants, but Id like them to be available not only to help out the water quality and look of the tank, but to be an optional food or snack for our guy too.

Lastly, we have a Fluval 405 as our filter. I change out half the media each month so theres always something "older" in there to keep good bacteria going in the water. I have our standard filter pads, then in the tower starting from the bottom up I have carbon packs, bio balls, bio foam, and polishing pads. Is this the right set up for our tank or is there a better way to do it?

We want to give our guy the best home we can reasonably afford to do. He was hit by a car on our road and we took him in almost 3 years ago and hes been a happy boy ever since. He even loves people! Our daughter (21 months) goes up to the tank and he will follow her all over. She thinks its awesome. Poor turtle is just waiting for food lol. Hes learned people = food.

I would add a picture but I just did a 90% water change due to lack of care for a couple months since I broke my arm and wasnt able to do anything with the tank during that time, and since the water is cycling now its kinda murky.

[RC!]

Oh man! I ran into the same problem with the damn basking area. Unfortunately the only way to go for me was an ATBA. It's very...elaborate, and actually I'm just finishing it up. Basically it has an egg crate frame with a small heavy duty crate, fits snug in the corner of tank, or the right half of the 55g (I have a 55g too) working as the basking land area. Most of the crate is submerged, the former of the crate is above water. Iit has some plastic shelf liner for grip and protection of bottom shell. The metal skewers act as 'beams' and hold the crate in place on the frame along with zip ties. I'm still fine tuning the sides. The skewers were perfect size, exactly the width of the top inner black frame/rim. It's still not done so the turtle hasn't used it, but it should work...lol. I was going to try floating basking areas but making them float and handling the weight, along with the actual process of turtle getting out water and using the basking area made things a little complicated. I was thinking about just a simple frame for the landing page area and then some how attach/let it rest on top of the tank, I guess resting on the black frame. But idk about adding weight to the the tank sides/top. On the inside of my basking area, the crate, I want to add a empty water bottle to see if that would help support it internally, instead of the skewers, the skewers would just work as holding the crate in place and keeping the top corner above water and the other half of the crate under. Should be done soon. I think you got the filter media correct.

[VeipaCray]

Driftwood I usually get from the LFS.

For your Fluval media:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145#p288904

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

[RedEaredJade]

I made an ATBA with egg crate, zip ties, wire cutters, sand paper, and some aquarium safe silicone. It took me all of 3 hours, I think. All you need to do is measure out how big you want the bottom to be, and cut that piece off the egg crate. Then do the same for the three sides. Sand all the rough edges where you cut it. Then cut out where you want the ramp to be. Sand again. Zip tie the walls to the base, and the ramp (which will be the piece of egg crate you cut from the bottom) to the base making sure to keep it all can angle. Then, where the ramp can bend, add a line of silicone and let it dry so little claws and feet can't get stuck. Finally, if you have enough left, use the rest of the egg crate for a lid. I have a 55 gallon tank and my topper ended up being the size of a 10 gallon tank. You can also cut a space in the lid so the light can shine right though.

[steve]

We need pictures!

[RedEaredJade]

Of what I built?

[steve]

Yes, if you don't mind

[RedEaredJade]

Sure! I'll have some as soon as I get Jade used to his new setup. It might be a few days, but until he's using things the right way I keep finding adjustments to make. Haha I'm sure y'all know how it is.