Thanks every one for that awsome help and guidance.

P.S. Furryscaly, don't EVER feel bad about helping this newbie out.

P.S.S. The tub is a fourty-five Gallon. Plan on taking the bricks out and trying the above basking area.

Could you help me with this? I have the 160 watt SB should the light be about 15 or 18 inches away? Or is it just trial and error (without the turtle in the cage).

Attached Images

SCAN0028.jpg (21.5 KB, 3 views)

__________________
My dream is that our love for people
and our love for animals
will one day become intertwined

I would think that sliders would prefer more acidic water, which would be a lower pH, but that's just a guess. Lakes, ponds, and some rivers usually have a lower pH I think (which = higher acidity), due to the decomposition of plant matter present in the water (dead leaves and such). I know as an example fish and frogs from the Amazon usually need a lower pH rather than a higher one. Animals from the ocean or certain other rivers though require a higher pH. Aside from the present discussion, I also found the brick/pH connection interesting because I want to keep fly river turtles someday, and they require high pH. It makes me wonder if there is a safe way to use bricks for that, but anyway...

The above-tank basking area sounds like a great idea It will really increase the available water volume by a lot, and it can be cheaply done.

As for the light, personally I usually just wind up doing a trial and error test. I put it in one spot, and if that doesn't yield the results I wanted, I move it

__________________
+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Thanks everyone for the help and for the sketches and links furryscaly.

__________________
My dream is that our love for people
and our love for animals
will one day become intertwined

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it! I called a local pet store today and I asked them about the aquariums they had and they said they had 55 gallon with lights, a lid, a stand, and a fillter for $298 plus a $30 layaway price. So I can kiss the rubbermaid good bye! Now I just need to make room. I'm going to keep it pretty simple, but does anyone know of any decorations I can get to put in it that the turtle will not eat. Something to make it look a little more natural.

__________________
My dream is that our love for people
and our love for animals
will one day become intertwined

I just plugged my bulb in and it smells kinda weired, does any one else who uses this bulb know what I'm talking about? Is this normal? I use the SB Mercury Bulb by ReptileUV.

__________________
My dream is that our love for people
and our love for animals
will one day become intertwined

I have had that happen with some of mine,, if it doesnt stop in a little while then post back.

__________________




I have sucker tattood on my forehead

Usually when aquarium "kits" refer to a filter they are talking about a simple undergravel filter for use with fish. These will be worthless for a turtle. You will need a good quality canister filter.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

nicole, the smell stopped and thanks merlin for that information. Got any canister filters in mind?

__________________
My dream is that our love for people
and our love for animals
will one day become intertwined

I have been away from the aquatic side of the hobby for too long and don't know what all is available.
But we have several turtle folks here that can answer that one for you.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Well, um... thanks anyway and I hope someone will chime in soon.

Curiosity question, why won't a undergravel filter do me any good? Just like to know.

__________________
My dream is that our love for people
and our love for animals
will one day become intertwined