Habitat - Indoor :: Ongoing turtle tank saga...

[RedEaredJade]

Hey, everyone.

For those that don't know, my turtle Jade was being housed in a 55 gallon tank in our Arizona room (aka Florida room, aka mother-in-law room, aka the oven) and had water that was getting WAY too warm. So, after a little maneuvering we were able to find a place for his big, heavy tank and stand inside.

This made my dad really nervous that the aquarium would go crashing into the basement, but he knew it needed to be done for Jade's sake so he agreed on one condition. I had to take out the large river rock I'd been using for substrate. I readily agreed because a healthy setup is all I want for him.

This being said, we have been trying to find something lighter to use in the bottom because I hate to way a bare tank bottom looks. I mean this is my boy Jade's whole world for the most part. I want it to be interesting. Haha he has some plants he loves to shove around, but now I'm trying to find a lighter weight substrait. (Try saying that three times fast.) Any ideas? We were going to use sand, but that was too much of a hassle to clean and my dad freaked out that Jade would ingest it and get a blockage. I understand that because it worried me too a bit.

We thought about getting a 3d aquarium background and using it as flooring, but the only ones we could find were too rough as far as I'm concerned. They were also EXTREMELY expensive.

[Jeremiah]

A lot of people here like pool filter sand, but I prefer a bare bottom...I don't think lack of substrate has any significant effect on turtles' life quality. As long as you have the tank on a solid-colored surface, like a table, you're good to go.

That being said, sand isn't too much of a hassle. The waste basically just sits on top, waiting to be sucked out.

[RedEaredJade]

My dad was freaked out that Jade would kick it up as he swam and basically choke on it. I don't know. Maybe if we can find the right type of sand it would still be an option. Where does one buy pool filter sand?

[JPTurtle]

You can get some at a home depot/Lowe's kind of store, you can also use play sand(that's what I use). I got it at home depot. Super cheap, I think it was like $4 for 50lbs which was enough to cover the bottom of my 140gal tank. Play sand requires more rinsing than pool filter but works just the same! No issues whatsoever with my res trying to eat it. It's a heck of a lot easier to keep clean too!

[RedEaredJade]

How do you clean it to begin with?

[JPTurtle]

I'm not sure what others use, but I just use a gravel filter hose and lightly suction the top of the sand to pick up and poop and food waste. When you use gravel or rocks waste easily gets trapped underneath. With sand it just sits on top until you suction it up just like Jeremiah said. If you really don't want a bare bottom tank sand is definitely a good way to go.

[RedEaredJade]

I actually meant how do you wash it before you put it in the tank, but I needed to know that too!

[ljapa]

I use pool filter sand. I can tell you that Suzie does occasionally ingest it when she is going for shrimp or frozen blood worms. I have also seen it pass out the other end. I've heard many stories of impaction with aquarium gravel, but none with sand.

I got my pool filter sand at a pool store because none of the hardware stores carried it.

As to cleaning it, it's a pain. One of the advantages of pool filter sand is that it is screened and washed to a uniform size, which means less dust. There's still an unbelievable amount of dust.

Go outside, dump about 15 or 20 pounds of sand in a 5 gallon bucket. Turn the hose on and bury it in the sand. Just let it run and overflow until it starts to clear. Stir up the sand and repeat. Eventually give up. You'll still get some dust when you put it in the tank, but your filter will deal with that pretty quickly.

As to decorations other than slate, I've got a fake aquarium stump that Suzie can climb and rest on.

[RedEaredJade]

Y'all have me seriously considering sand again.... Thank you. (-: How many pounds do you think I'd need to cover the bottom of a 55 gallon aquarium? I'd maybe want it 1/2-1" thick.

[ljapa]

I'd say start with one 50 pound bag. That may not be quite as deep as you want, but it will be close.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sh8s7eskauM

[RedEaredJade]

Thanks! Is there much of a difference between pool filter sand and play sand? I'm finding both at Lowes.

[ljapa]

Play sand will take much longer to rinse. It will likely have small bits of rock other than sand in it. None of which will be harmful and will give it a more varied look. The varied grain size will mean you may suck up more sand when vacuuming it.

Pool filter sand will be much easier to clean and will have grains of a uniform size and color. There will be nothing but Quartz sand.

Depending on your aesthetic sense, play sand may look nicer. You have a varied grain size and different colors.

Pool filter sand is easier to clean initially and easier to vacuum.

[RedEaredJade]

If Jade happens to get any down, it'll all pass the same, right?

[Jeremiah]

I would assume so.

[JPTurtle]

If Jade happens to get any down, it'll all pass the same, right?

I'm not too sure. Like I said, I've used sand for 5yrs now and have not had one issue with it as far as my turtle eating or accidentally eating it. Even when she kinda digs at the sand hardly any gets stirred up. I really don't think you will have any issues. Maybe someone else has had a bad experience? But I have yet to meet anyone that says sand is bad! If you think about their natural environment, it's filled with sand and silt and soil, all kinds of things. Sometimes( probably a lot of times ) even really murky water.