Long-lived, responsive and intelligent, Red-Eared Sliders and similar turtles are among the most popular of reptile pets.  However, aquatic turtles feed in water and are quite messy about it, and produce a great deal of waste.  Keeping their water clear and odor-free, and in a state that promotes good health, is a challenge faced by all turtle-keepers.  Today I’ll review some filters that are especially designed for use with aquatic turtles and other reptiles and amphibians; you can view other available models here. Your turtle’s natural history and feeding behavior will greatly influence the type of filter that should be used, so be sure to research these topics before making your selection.  For example, Spotted Turtles will be stressed by fast currents, Soft-shelled Turtles will kick sand about and dislodge intake tubes, the carapaces of Pig-Nosed Turtles are prone to bacterial attack in highly-oxygenated waters, and so on.  Please write in if you need help in selecting a filter.

You can greatly ease the burden on your filter by habituating your turtle to feeding in a separate container, outside of its home aquarium.  Please see the article below for details. Always leave a bit of old material in your filter when changing carbon or filter pads, so that beneficial aerobic bacteria will seed the new filter medium. The considerations below apply to aquatic frogs, newts, lizards and other creatures as well; please write in for further information on the species in your collection.fish tank pump amazon Zoo Med Turtle Clean Canister Filtertropical fish tanks for sale in nottingham This is my favorite choice in many situations, and is the most powerful filter designed specifically for turtles.  fish tank hood amazon

Resembling a fish canister filter in general form, it has chambers for carbon, filter pads and aerobic bacteria colonies, and is simple to clean.  It is placed next to (not below) the tank, operates in as little as 2 inches of water, and can be used to create a waterfall effect.  The largest model can handle tanks of up to 60 gallons in capacity. Supreme Ovation Submersible Power Jet Filter The original model of this filter was the first submersible pump/filter combination available in theUSA, and it remains my favorite.  fish tank ammonia won't go downThe first that I purchased operated continuously, under great strain, for nearly 20 years!lee mar aquarium and pet supplies Today’s models are extremely powerful, and are equipped with a movable outlet tube and a spray bar so that strong currents can be avoided if necessary (i.e. for hatchlings).  fish for aquarium in chennai

The Supreme Ovation 1000 pushes 265 gallons per minute, yet is compact and easy to service. I’m particularly fond of the powerful suction cups attached to all Ovation Filters.  This tiny detail is extremely important but frequently overlooked…turtles often “insist” on detaching lesser filters, which can lead to injuries and motor burnout. Hagen Turtle Cliff Filter This unique product is actually a basking site, waterfall and powerful filter (to 96 gpm) rolled into one.  Resembling a rock in appearance, the Cliff Filter is a real space saver and great for use with frogs and newts as well as turtles. Tetra Whisper In-Tank Filter The Tetra In-Tank Filter hangs from the side of the aquarium, but mounts inside the tank rather than outside as do older models.  This makes it an ideal choice where tanks are backed up against walls or one-another. I like the fact that the convenient filter cartridges are changed from the top, without the need to open or even move the filter box.

It can operate in low water (2 inches) or a full tank, and so is suitable for use with a wide variety of turtles. Hard core turtle enthusiasts will no doubt run into situations that are not addressed above.  For example, adult Common and Alligator Snappers will require huge tanks or ponds equipped with pool filters, while planted aquariums housing groups of Bog Turtles or other small species might best be served by Fluidized Bed Filters. Please see our line of 150+ Aquarium and Pond Filters for other options. Turtle Aquarium Water Quality C insculpta image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by DawsonA saltwater or freshwater aquarium can be a great addition to any room that could use a little exotic flair, no matter what size. Obviously, the bigger the tank, the more of an impact it’s going to make on the room. You can get massive furniture pieces specifically designed for tanks that hold tens or hundreds of gallons of water, which are certainly necessary, but are big and bulky and often end up taking up a lot of space.

Instead, why not work your aquarium design into your furniture or architecture of your home? Here are a few breathtaking ideas to inspire you!If you have the opportunity to use your aquarium to divide two rooms up, then there’s no better way to feature it (and save space too). An aquarium featured on Design Rulz actually takes advantage of an open archway, while this other large wooden aquarium furniture piece from Home Designing stands right up to the ceiling and separates the dining area from the living room.This incredible kitchen island featured on The Kitchn doubles as a massive aquarium. What a great use of space! A similar example featured on Piatti has a smaller aquarium that doesn’t take up the full island.Kitchen cabinets are often attached to the floor and ceiling, with space in between for countertops. If you can afford to sacrifice some countertop space, why not use it for your aquarium? Here’s a gorgeous example from Paradise Homes that not only makes use of cabinetry space, but also works as a room divider too.

Another example from Lush Home shows a pair of upper and lower cabinets with an aquarium in between, also used to divide the kitchen from the hallway or living room.This aquarium built into the kitchen cabinetry leaves a small section of countertop space available for storage or eating.If you thought the kitchen islands with built-in aquariums were neat, you’ll love the idea of coffee tables too. 4 Fish Tank actually makes and sells these gorgeously unique coffee tables in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles — with plenty of glass so you can enjoy watching the fish!There are lots of different ways to spruce up a boring looking fireplace, but perhaps none so creative as adding an aquarium to it. The only thing you’d have to really keep an eye on would be the water temperature whenever the fireplace is in use. Check out this aquarium built directly into the wall above a bedroom fireplace, again from Design Rulz.Taking it up a notch is this massive aquarium featured on If It’s Hip It’s Here that completely surrounds the fireplace in a living room or lobby area, which is likely part of a luxury hotel.

Could you imagine having something as unique as this in your home?Who needs a headboard when you have an enormous aquarium in the bedroom instead? This hotel room from Real House Design quite literally lets you sleep with the fish. If it’s too big for you, you can keep your headboard and instead go for a smaller aquarium that’s comparable in size to a piece of wall art.You might go for a real one-of-a-kind aquarium furniture piece if you’re feeling super creative. A modern shelving unit shown on Vizimac has a unique space for an aquarium right in the middle of it.Here’s something you don’t see every day — a very modern looking longcase clock featured on Spicy Tec that’s mostly water and fish. If fish could tell time, they’d let you know every time you were late to feed them.If you don’t have any use for an old upright piano anymore, you could consider pulling out all the strings and turning the upper part into an aquarium — like this one from Buzz Buzz Home. It’s so much more elegant and fascinating to look at compared to a regular tank holder.