Need a new filter, your opinions please?

[punkpook]

I have a 55 gal tank for two turtles. the water level is half the tank. I currently have an internal whisper 10-30 filter in the tank. This is my second one and its already started the noise. I've cleaned it out and everything. Apparently my motor has failed, same as the first one I had. There is sand in this tank and the whispers arnt meant to be used in the sand. Any idea of a good filter I should check into?

Thanks

 

[Rbishop]

Maybe an internal one? Not only can the sand be part of the issue, but most HOB filters are not designed to do a water lift of that much on a continuous basis.

 

[Sploke]

As rbishop said, its probably a combination of the excess height of water draw, and sand getting into the filter. Turtles are messy, way messier than fish. Depending on the species, a 55 probably isn't going to be big enough long term By increasing the water depth, you'll keep better water quality and make it easier on the filter. You might have to get a screen top and cut a hole for the filter, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Also, keeping the intake for the filter higher up will keep it from sucking up sand and prolong the life of the filter.

 

[Rallysman]

A couple of big sponge filters would probably help biologically, use the one you have for mechanical.

 

[moondreamer7]

I have the perfect solution for you. If you are always going to use this tank for turtles then I drew you a sketch of how I've kept my turltes in the past. It does require drilling a hole in the tank. If you don't want that then the next best thing is a internal but that will get sand in it as well and it's takes up swimming space.

It works and much better than any HOB for this situation. Best part of all is that the spraybar acts like a waterfall and trust me the turtles will LOVE it!

 

[amosf]

You don't need the hole tho, do you? you could bring it over the top as a canister normally does, right?

 

[moondreamer7]

You don't need the hole tho, do you? you could bring it over the top as a canister normally does, right?

You could and it will work if you didn't want to drill a hole but it makes the canister work harder because of the half water level I found. Also it didn't "look" good either in a turtle tank having the tube reach into the tank. The design is more for looks then anything but it does prolong the life of the canister by not having it work so hard to pump water high up then down again (gravity can be your friend! lol). I dunno, I suck at explanations! LOL All I know it that I noticed a huge difference when I did it that way and things just worked better, longer and definitely less items in the tank itself makes it look better as well and more natural which is what most people aim for regarding fish and turtles but again some don't care either. Better brands may make a big difference, I was only using a cheap odyessea at the time.

A drilled hole and then placing the intake there was less noticeable and easier to cover up by placing a rock in front of the opening rather then trying to cover up the whole intake tube coming in the tank (which is much larger and bulkier then the outake)

It's really a matter of preference and taste I suppose.

I guess you can do what you like and work from the idea and change what you like....it's a good start anyhow. I perfer external canister for turtle tanks over anything else for many reasons including some already mention in this thread.

 

[Sploke]

With that setup you're still wasting a lot of tank space thats not filled with water. What kind of turtles and how big are they? You should try to give them the maximum swimming area possible. What some people do is put in a milk crate or sweater box sideways and put rocks on top for the basking area, that way you have a dry area without filling half the tank up with sand or gravel. Deep gravel like that can also lead to problems because it will tend to hold waste and bacteria, possibly causing long term problems with water chemistry/health.

 

[amosf]

You could and it will work if you didn't want to drill a hole but it makes the canister work harder because of the half water level I found.

Assuming the canister is below the tank then it's a siphon down to the canister, so the water level makes no difference to the filter operation.

Also it didn't "look" good either in a turtle tank having the tube reach into the tank. The design is more for looks then anything but it does prolong the life of the canister by not having it work so hard to pump water high up then down again (gravity can be your friend! lol).

Well, the look is another matter, but honestly the level makes no difference to the 'work' required. Think about what would happen if it was just a hose over the edge and you started the siphon. Gravity would happily empty the tank even tho the water has to go up and then down again.

The hole works, sure, and may improve looks. I was just offering the suggestion for another tank owner who may not want or be able to drill the tank.