JarrenB Posted April 10, 2010 Report Share Posted April 10, 2010 I know you can't use gravel but can you use sand?, I'm moving my turtles to a much bigger tank and hate the look of bare glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 10, 2010 Report Share Posted April 10, 2010 found sand the hardest to keep clean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 10, 2010 Report Share Posted April 10, 2010 They are actually better off in a bare tank as in nature they live in ponds lined with soft mud. Sand and gravel will damage their carapace. Having said that I have gravel in mine and get the pointy stick whenever Donna comes around. Must get off my lazy and sort it out some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JarrenB Posted April 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2010 They are actually better off in a bare tank as in nature they live in ponds lined with soft mud. Sand and gravel will damage their carapace. Having said that I have gravel in mine and get the pointy stick whenever Donna comes around. Must get off my lazy and sort it out some time. :lol: I was also thinking of using some artificial turf, but not the green stuff. M10 Mega sells a brown one that looks a bit more natural. Would this be ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 10, 2010 Report Share Posted April 10, 2010 That is what many people use on the basking area--will be OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaM Posted April 11, 2010 Report Share Posted April 11, 2010 Can be used in bottom of tank but will need to be held down with a few flat, SMOOTH rocks or similar or it will float. Good to trap bits under, but a pain to clean and will over time go slimey in the water. Also frayed edges are an issue...so need to melt all around with a candle flame. I wouldnt suggest sand..... I used to use stones...till I realised how much easier it was to clean the tank and came across so many turtles with impaction and other issues from eating stones. You can use smooth stones (river stones) but they need to be bigger then the turtles whole head to prevent them eating them. :roll: Turtles experience their world by taste...so eating small stones is inevitable, so great you're not planning to use them. Believe me i quickly got used to the bare tank bottom...add drift wood to detract from the bareness...so long as it still leaves plenty of swimming space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted April 11, 2010 Report Share Posted April 11, 2010 Anyone know how much driftwood lowers the ph? Something ive always been curious of, but failed to look into :oops: just wonder if it may aid in soft shell problems....if so or maybe in general it maybe a good idea to add some bird grit or something to the filter? Bare bottom is the best bet, also having a soft/smooth ramp. Beads of silicon work ok. i dont like the look of those ramps with glass steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 11, 2010 Report Share Posted April 11, 2010 Driftwood makes the water acid by adding tannic acid. This can be reduced by adding calcium carbonate in the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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