Habitat - Indoor :: Plants for turtles - in separate enclosure

[Damian]

Hello everyone.

I'm brand new to red eared sliders, and I have a question.
I have two small ones (about 2 inches each) in 30 gallon tank with waterfall filter, basking ramp, light, gravel etc.
I have read that red eared sliders will pretty much devour/uproot almost any plant in their enclosure.
So I have came up with a "solution"?
How about if I keep hornwort, which is very easy to grow, in separate enclosure, with slits for water exchange, submerged in thank? Since it grows very fast, I could let my turtles graze on extra growth, and in "return" hornwort would help me keep nitrates low...
Any thoughts. comments, critique will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[steve]

Hi, welcome to the site! RES are very inquisitive and like to forage, so they will rearrange a lot of things.

You can do a separate tank or rather have some of divider but your tank is too small. You should also remove the gravel or keep it away from the turtles.

[Damian]

Thank you!
I have already secured 55 gallon tank. They will need more in the future, but I think for now it will do.
Regarding gravel, what should I use instead? River pebbles or sand? I am afraid that the second one can be difficult t clean....

[steve]

Sand should be easy to maintain, at least easier than gravel. River rock (use only pieces that are larger than their head) can look nice too, though I would use it sparingly. Why don't you make that 30 gallon into a planted tank?

[Jeremiah]

Regarding gravel, what should I use instead? River pebbles or sand? I am afraid that the second one can be difficult t clean....

With sand, various pieces of junk will rest on top of it. All you have to do is siphon said junk right off the top.

[Damian]

Gotcha. Thanks. Can I use "commercial" sand? Like the one they sell at home depot? I think its called playground sand or something like that.

[steve]

Yes, you can use play sand but it usually requires more initial cleaning. If you can find it, pool filter sand is less dusty and easier to clean.

[Damian]

I'll try local pool supply store...right now, bottom of the tank is bare....