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Post by AmandaStarr on Jan 1, 2002 15:02:08 GMT -5
Yes I'm posting this twice ::)This weekend I got to spend a LOTof money on stuff for my tank (I love my family :-*they got me a bunch of gift certificates for Christmas) Anyway I was wondering if I need anything else or if I bought a bad product (like the lights)...
*33 gallon long tank (4ft long, 1ft wide and 1ft tall) *Aqua Clear 300 with step 2 and 3 *Zoo Med's Reptisafe (water conditioner) *2 Turtle Health Conditioner (the little plaster ones) *Ammonia Clear *Turtle Clean-Biological reduction of turtle waste *Hood with a Super UV reptile daylight with 3%+UVB and 7%+UVA *2 Fluker's 5.5" Clamp-lamps (250watt) *Day-Glo Heat Lamp 60watt (incandescent broad spectrum) *Night-Glo Black heat lamp 75 watt (incandescent nocturnal black) *Tronic 100watt aquarium heater with guard *2 thermometers (1 for basking, 1 for water) *Lee's gravel vacuum cleaner *cuttle bone *T-Rex 2:1 calcium/phosphorus powdered supplement *Zoo Med's Can O' Worms *2 Zoo Med's Can O' Crickets *T-Rex Aquatic Turtle Dry Formula (Juvenile sized pellets) *Nutrafin Max Turtle Gammarus Pellets (medium sized) *ReptoMin Baby Shrimp Treat
I also need to get tile for the bottom of the tank, cork bark for the basking area, a stand and of course my baby RES. So guys do I need anything else or am I set? AmandaStarr
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Post by DigitalTurtle on Jan 1, 2002 16:26:10 GMT -5
Heck yes you are. that mush cost well over $300 [flash=200,200]URL[/flash]
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Post by AmandaStarr on Jan 1, 2002 21:37:22 GMT -5
Actually I only spent maybe $100 (if that much) everything else is from gift certificates.
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Post by Webmistress on Jan 2, 2002 20:45:35 GMT -5
Looks like you got your setup pretty much complete. Just a few things for regarding some of the stuff. First, about the hood. Is the UVB lighting going in the hood? Because remember, glass filters out the important uvb rays, and the little glass from hoods (which is in between the bulb and the water), does filter out the rays from the light. Most bulbs that produce uvb rays are flourescent type bulbs (unless your using the active uvheat bulbs), which fit into flourescent light fixtures (long type of lamps). This is the fixture which comes in hoods. What you can do is remove the fixture from the hood and just place it over the tank (over the basking area since it needs to go over the basking area as well). I put my Reptisun and heatlamp over a screen top, to ensure that it won't fall in the water. The next thing is regarding those Black Lights. Those night black lightbulbs aren't recommended for turtles at all. Though they are made for reptiles and I guess they can be used with some of them, not recommended for turtles. The high intensity beam that they produce can damage the turtle's vision. Thats the problem with these bulbs. At night, I usually turn off the lights, and though the basking area temperature does go down of course, the overall heat of the tank stays at a good warm temperature (water heated by heater, and on one end of the tank, I have placed a hood to help keep the heat in). However, if you live in a place where the temperature is pretty cold or cool, or for the winter and you want to use some type of heating unit to help keep the air temperature warm at night, go with a ceramic heater. These units heat up very well, better then the night lights. Just a few pointers. For my 55 setup which includes tank, stand, lighting fixtures, bulbs, and other accessories, I have spent over $300, which doesn't include the little accessories like the water conditioners and food. For the overall money that I have spent on the turtles (which means the old 10 gallon tank, the old 20L gallon tank, and the new 55 gallon setup plus ALL accessories), i'm SURE there has gone $1,000 if not, just a little less on them. Who would of known that these little $5 turtles can cost so much. But its ALL worth it.
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Post by AmandaStarr on Jan 3, 2002 11:10:18 GMT -5
Right now I'm kicking myself (HARD!!) >:(I just went to Big Al's (never been) and found a Aqua Clear 500 for $29.99 when I paid (not really, it was still in gift certificats, but not the point) $39.99 for a Aqua Clear 300 . Oh I'm so mad at that darn pet store. I didn't think they would mark up the prices that much!! I also paid $27.99 for a heater when at Big Al's in was only $15.99. Well I guess when the roads aren't ice anymore I will be going back to the pet store. Grrrrr.
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Melody
GTT Hatchling
Posts: 71
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Post by Melody on Jan 3, 2002 17:48:14 GMT -5
<<The next thing is regarding those Black Lights. Those night black lightbulbs aren't recommended for turtles at all. >>
How about the Red bulb heat lamps? The pet store said this will give Speedy the warmth he needs at night since our house is somewhat cool, but won't interfere with his sleep patterns.
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Post by Webmistress on Jan 3, 2002 18:51:43 GMT -5
Yup, those Darn pet shops! They higher the price on anything. Luckily, I found bigal'sonline before I began on the 55 gallon setup. I got the aquaclear 300 (yes I know, should of been a 500 and now i'm still kicking myself for that, but hey, it works absolutely wonderful, working on getting a Fluval or Magnum filter too) for only about $20 bucks when at the pet store, its like $40. BIG rip off. I also got a 200W Ebo Jager heater for about $14 or $15, which is a GREAT price for those type of heaters. I've found a couple of online pet stores which sell accessories for great deals, one of them being big al's and the other pet guys. With these sites in hand, I try to stay clear off those pet shops (especially petsmart, though I still buy a coupe of stuff from there).
Melody, I don't think the red heat bulbs are bad. The black ones are the ones that should be avoided, but personally, I avoid all colored bulbs. For heat, I go with Zoomed's Basking Spot Heatbulbs, those work great. ;D
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Post by AmandaStarr on Jan 4, 2002 10:56:21 GMT -5
Thanks, again! I've learned so much so fast! Soon I'll be a turtle master!!! (I know I'm a dork but it keeps me young, LOL)O.K. maybe a need a turt first but atleast he'll be happy when I do get him. I plan to get better lights soon (that's what I get for letting my husband pick them out) Than everything should be set. Like I said before I'll post pictures when I get everything set up.
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