Q&A for How to Set Up a Turtle Tank

It depends on how much water you have in the tank, but usually not as they are very well balanced.

Do you have a filter and are you cleaning the filter? Sometimes that releases particulates into the water, making it cloudy. Rinse the filters really well before putting back in the tank. There is a chemical you can buy that is a water clarifier; this works quickly, in an hour or two. Also - do you have hard water? That might be an issue.

You'll need to find fish which are large enough to not be considered food by the turtle, but gentle enough that they don't bully the turtle. Larger goldfish or koi fit into this category well.

Yes, it needs to be submerged to actually filter the water, similar to how it works in a fish tank.

You can purchase timers that plug into the wall outlet, and most have two electrical outputs. One can be used for the light's plug to plug in.

A filter, heater, UVB light, a basking spot, and a few fake or real plants are the main things you need in a tank.

No. You can get inexpensive floating ones or ones that have suction cups at pet stores.

You typically want a filter that is 2-3 times the amount of water in the aquarium. So, for a 40 gallon tank filled to the top, you would want a filter rated for 80-100 gallons. Turtles are very messy creatures, so that's why extra filtration is necessary. For larger turtles in larger tanks, you may need to have two filters running.

Roughly a 70 gallon (265 litre) tank. It should be about 10 gallons per inch of shell.

Yes. While UV lamps are important, they do not emit heat, and thus a heat lamp is also needed.

I bought my sons two turtles in 2006. Eleven years later, having no basking lamps or UVB lamps, they are still alive and looking healthy to me. So in my experience, a lamp is not necessary for survival.

You definitely need a filter to keep the water from getting too murky, unless you plan on changing the water every two days. It is probably best to have lights as well. You should have a UV light for the turtle to bask under, and a regular light to give the turtle the appearance of daylight hours.

No it does not, it should ideally cover 1/4 to 1/2 of the total tank. Floating types are the best, as they do not take up much area.

Calculate about 5 gallons per inch of turtle, allowing some space for growth.

Most turtles don't actually need vitamins, unless prescribed by a vet, and even then, most of the vitamins and nutrients your turtle needs should be in a well formulated pellet. It is rather easy to overdose vitamins. If you mean water conditioner, then it is best to add this during water changes.

You can, but turtles do produce a lot of waste so if you do, you might not want to provide a substrate or else the waste is liable to get stuck. Alternatively, you could reverse the flow of water in the undergravel to mitigate this problem. If you are okay with spending some money, you could buy a used canister or new one which is even better than the above 2 options. In any case, changing the water is the best way to clean a tank.

Yes, it should still be able to move around a lot. You can ask your local pet shop expert if you want to confirm this.

You should have at least 6 to 8 inches of water in the tank, but you can add more if you think it's necessary. Your turtle needs to have enough room to swim around (while also having space outside of the water).

You should not use goldfish because they are too fatty, but rosy red minnows and guppies are fine; you can get them at Walmart. Make sure they are live, and smaller than the turtle. They won't eat them if they're too big.

A good rule of thumb in that the water level should be low enough so the turtle can stand on its hind feet and fully extend its neck to breathe, but not low enough that the turtle might flip itself on its back and get stuck that way.

Yes, you can find them at pet stores or online.

The smallest sort of turtle is a stinkpot musk. A ten-gallon tank will be sufficient if you get a baby, but you should have at least a 30-gallon tank by the time it reaches its full size. Water turtles are about $20 US each.

Yes, to the plastic tank. But make sure it is cleaned properly -- and, ideally, it would be rectangular in shape. You should add at least 4-5 inches water to it.

It will vary depending on your location. I would recommend buying them on Amazon, or taking a quick trip out to your local pet store. A filter can cost upwards of $55 to $60 dollars, while UVB and UVA lights have fluctuating costs.

Greens, tomatoes, strawberries, and water to drink.

Yes, but it should only be for playtime or to let your turtle get some sun. Kiddie pools should not be used for long-term enclosures.

A 40-80 gallon tank with UVB light, a basking light, an appropriately sized filter, a basking area and preferably some decorations. You'll also need food.

Yes you can. Follow instructions on the box before you plug it in, let it adjust to the water's temperature before you plug it in. Then set the temperature low, once it reaches that lower temp raise it to the desired temp slowly. Please use a GFI on your tank, we are talking about electricity and water!

Yes, you will need a heat lamp so your turtle can bask if it wants to. Put it directly above the basking area.

You can just pour it down the drain or dump it outside in your yard.