Thinking about changing up media positioning

In my Fluval 404 I currently have this media arrangement(from top to bottom):

• Filter floss pads
• Biomax
• Biomax
• Prefilter blocks

But I'm thinking of changing it up to add some carbon because I don't need the prefilter blocks at all since they are useless after the main water flows in onto the foam pads. There is no large particles for the prefilter to catch. However I'm still thinking of leaving in a little bit of prefilter media in the bottom.

So it would then be(from top to bottom):

• Biomax
• Biomax
• Filter floss pads
• Carbon packs/Chem-zorb?/Purigen?
  

Python syphon

Well I finally broke down and just bought one of these things. I havent used it yet, it just came in today. It only hooks up to the hose fitting outside.. so that sucks big time. 

I'm gonna go to osh tomorrow with the part that connects to the sink and see if I can find a 1"-3/4 female threaded piece of PVC.. Hopefully I can find that easily. 

Then I can hook it up in the shower and all will be well. 

Got a new filter

I bought a Fluval 404 the other day on Ebay.. $85 brand new, shipped w/ media. Very good deal I think. So it came on the 19th and when I got home from school I set it up. It was a bit tricky to get everything right, and it ended up taking a couple hours. I had to cut the intake and extend the outflow to get it where I wanted it, but in the end it worked great.

For my media I have this; top to bottom order. 

1. pantyhose filtration(polishing)/carbon pack
2. biomedia
3. biomedia
4. fluval prefilter blocks

It was a bit tough to prime, but I searched on the cichlid forum when I was trying to prime it and it said to fill up the canister with water to help with priming... so I did that.. pushed the priming level, then plugged it in and it started right up. 

I like this filter a lot so far. does a fantastic job. 

I'll report again later on this filter and update it as I go. 

Fine filtration

I got this Idea from a member on the redearslider forum, so I have to give credit where it is due.
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17756&start=0
Anyway, the filter is made of a piece of stocking stretched over the second seperator grid in my xp1. It's the last stage of filtration and has done wonders for my water clarity.





























And the last picture shows it sitting in the basket before putting the basket lid on.

Adjusted the timer today

Well you know summer is starting to come to a close when you feel the need to adjust the timer to turn off an hour or so earlier.

Thats what I did today, went from 10:15AM-10:30PM, to 10:15AM-9:45PM.

If you don't have a timer for your lights, I would highly recommend one. They are worth every penny. I have a digital one and it was only about 13 bucks.

Sand rake update

yeah, if you make the sand rake, I would recommend making the handle 3 squares wide or doubling the 2 square handle.

I was using the small sand rake, moving a lot of sand, and the handle snapped in 2 pieces in my hand. oops.

DIY Sand Rake

Well I came up with this idea for a sand rake, and it works great!
Materials needed:
Hot glue gun
eggcrate
angled pliers

1. cut out the handle and the rake grill

























2. glue on at an angle














3. so that it'll work like this.














And heres a short video I made of it in use.

Updated photo of Squirts tank!

heres a recent photo of squirts tank:what do you think??

Where'd the photos go!

Sorry all, I moved all my photos around in photobucket, so most of the pictures got all screwed up!

If you need/want to see a specific photo, leave me a comment.

thanks

Squirt is a boy!

Yep, he was standing all funky the other day, I looked over and saw turtle junk.

Gross, but I am pretty damn happy that I have a boy turtle!

I got an Ornate Boxie.

I got an ornate boxie yesterday! She's so awesome. She's about 3 1/4" long.

She is in good health, and ate 6 waxworms!! and a strawberry and lettuce.

she came with her own habitat, for only $45!

I got bit...

I finally got bit by squirt the other day.. on the pinkie! I took him out of the tank, and was looking for a bin to put him in, and while i wasn't paying attention, my pinkie must've drifted in his face, and WHAM!

He didn't break the skin, it was more like a hard pinch. But it was weird, he kind of "pulsed" while he was locked down on my finger, like he'd lessen the pressure, then bite down hard again.

I officially can say I have been bit now!

Leaving for a few days.

Going on a road trip on Wednesday, Gonna leave squirt alone for 4 days! First time he will be completely alone for any length of time since i got him in december.

I am feeling confident, it's only 4 days. I have a digital timer for the lights, Automatic feeder, reiliable heater, just replaced the heat bulb because it blew out, So far all is looking good.

I'm just trying to better figure out how to make the automatic feeder feed a smaller amount. I am going to have to restrict the opening with tape because it currently spits out about 7 pellets per rotation, and I usually only feed 5-6 pellets. so i don't want him being overfed.

To Python or Not to Python

That is the question.

I have considered getting one of these for a while, but still not sure about it. part of me says I don't need it, the gadget dork in me says I need it.

I have been getting along just fine by using my XL tank vaccum, with extended tubing, and then bringing the hose in the house to quickly fill the tank back up.

But we'll see how it goes, still not completely sure I need one.

Great way to clean sand while in the tank

I found a Zoo Med sand scooper works great for cleaning up turtle poop and general debris in sand while in the tank. It's a cheap investment to make cleaning your sand very easy. And you won't have to take any water out via siphon just to clean the sand!
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13992

Electric Yellow Cichlid

Considering getting one of these. I will put it in with squirt, and see how it goes.

There have been many turtle keepers on various forums that have had success with keeping electrics in with their turtles, so I figure I'll give it a shot. They are fast and and have the same temp. requirements as a turtle.

The main reason I want one is because they look good, I mean they would really liven up my tank.

I think ill only get one for now, since they are 10 bucks a fish, and if squirt decides he is going to eat it, id rather have 10 not 20 bucks in his stomach haha.
Heres a good article on them
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/electricyellow.php

Rasberries

I gave squirt a rasberry today, I tried to hand feed it to him, but he was a bit too scared to take it since he's used to just taking reptomin from my hands. But then I let it sink, and he kinda fluttered at it, stared at it, general curiosness, blah blah. But then he didn't eat it!

Oh well! 

Mazuri Aquatic Turtle Diet

I finally found a website that sells it. And it was a good deal too, only $8.59 for a pound, and $13.98 shipped. It was cheaper than from Mazuri directly, which they wanted $11.98 or something for one pound before shipping. 

Now whats so great about Mazuri you say? I like the fact that mazuri has a very good reputation, as well as the fact that they use high grade ingredients. 

I will still feed reptomin, however I want to make Mazuri the staple pellet, with reptomin being the secondary. 

But anyway, I'm a little disappointed with the shipping, I ordered on friday, I got order confirmation saying it was sent, on monday. Now on friday I still have not recieved my pellets. You'd think that it would take less than 5days to ship a package just over 300 miles in the same state. 

Cleaned out tank...almost

I did a large cleaning of the tank the other day. I cleaned the canister filter, wiped the tubes of the filter, cleaned half of the sand, did a 50% water change, cleaned the plants of algae, and cut out the screen for his UVB light. 

It took me a while, but it was a relief when it was finished. 

better container for reptomin

Well I was getting a container to keep my CGD in for my geckos, and I thought why not get one for reptomin. 

It's a snapware container, which is water and air tight.