I'm wanting to set up a large (500-1000 gallon) pond in my basement for my 3 adult turtles. I am totally new to the "pond world" and don't know where to start. I want to make sure I have a great filteration system. Are there any sites you would reccomend to get me started? Are there companys that can help you with this type of thing? I have trouble getting my filters alone to work right, I would be intimidated taking on a project like this (being a young women) and knowing my luck I'd probably seriously mess something up. I am very anxious and want to get started, my turtles and I would love it! I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you can share. Thanks.
Want to start indoor turtle pond...
- Thread starter turtmoma
- Start date
Sorry, I don't have experience with this kind of setup. But Doctors Foster & Smith have lots of pond filtration systems. You would probably want to overfilter (get something rated for a bigger pond than yours), since yours is indoors.
If you are willing to make large water changes, like about 80% daily, you might get away without filtration. I used to Keep Indian Flap shell turtles before. The well had not filtration and it was outdoors. It was huge probably 5-6 thousand gallons, and I had 3 turtles, all were over 18 inches in lenght. they lived for about 16-18 years.
unlike fish, turtles produce a lot of waste. further they can stay out of water and breathe air directly. The nitrogen cycle does not really matter for turtles. They will dirty the pond very quickly. irrespective of your filtration equipment you will have to make large WC regularly. It depends upon the type and max size the turtles will reach.
keeping turtles cost more than keeping fish(my experience).
unlike fish, turtles produce a lot of waste. further they can stay out of water and breathe air directly. The nitrogen cycle does not really matter for turtles. They will dirty the pond very quickly. irrespective of your filtration equipment you will have to make large WC regularly. It depends upon the type and max size the turtles will reach.
keeping turtles cost more than keeping fish(my experience).
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
This forum is as close as you'll get to a place dedicated to this kind of stuff.
I've had a few ponds in my teen years, and would be glad to help.
Those pools for little kids make great ponds, and as do stock tubs for animals. If you live near a farm store, like tractor supply, you can find them at great prices. Just not all of them will easily fit into the basement, so watch out.
As for filtration, your best bet is a wet/dry filter. They have to be made at home, so I hope you're pretty thrifty and creative. But dont worry, its easy to make one.
Im sure you've seen a plastic cabinet with drawers like this in the store.
http://www.iturnrocks.com/images/hometank/filter/diy/filterfront10.JPG
What I did was make lots of small holes in the bottom of each shelf and filled them all with biological media for growing good bacteria. Things like bioballs, pot scrubbers, and lava rocks work great. Now, this whole cabinet is inside your pond, and a nearby pump pushes water from the pond into the top of the cabinet. When all the water drips over the media, lots of good bacteria grows.
I've had a few ponds in my teen years, and would be glad to help.
Those pools for little kids make great ponds, and as do stock tubs for animals. If you live near a farm store, like tractor supply, you can find them at great prices. Just not all of them will easily fit into the basement, so watch out.
As for filtration, your best bet is a wet/dry filter. They have to be made at home, so I hope you're pretty thrifty and creative. But dont worry, its easy to make one.
Im sure you've seen a plastic cabinet with drawers like this in the store.
http://www.iturnrocks.com/images/hometank/filter/diy/filterfront10.JPG
What I did was make lots of small holes in the bottom of each shelf and filled them all with biological media for growing good bacteria. Things like bioballs, pot scrubbers, and lava rocks work great. Now, this whole cabinet is inside your pond, and a nearby pump pushes water from the pond into the top of the cabinet. When all the water drips over the media, lots of good bacteria grows.
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
Do you have a garden?
it would be a good idea to use the dirty pond water to irragate the garden. That way the water isnt just wasted + the mucky water fertilizers the plants.
Iv been watering the garden this summer with water from the goldfish pond and the plants are growing like crazy and the pond water is crystal clean- win-win!
it would be a good idea to use the dirty pond water to irragate the garden. That way the water isnt just wasted + the mucky water fertilizers the plants.
Iv been watering the garden this summer with water from the goldfish pond and the plants are growing like crazy and the pond water is crystal clean- win-win!
have you heard of skippy type filter? I have been using this idea for about a year outdoors and it has worked well so far. are you going to hang lights over the pond? If you have plants growing, they will help filter the water.
I'm trying to start a blog on my turtle pond. there are some pics of the filter, let me know if you can see them:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/blog.php?u=84362
I'm trying to start a blog on my turtle pond. there are some pics of the filter, let me know if you can see them:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/blog.php?u=84362