Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thanks for reading my post! I am currently setting up my 20 gallon long tank to foster 5 baby turtles (don't worry - they'll be moving into a huge pond in about 7 months and they'll have plenty of space). Although this 20 gallon tank is a temporary home for the baby turtles, I would still like to provide the best habitat possible. What is the best filter to get for this size tank? I've read numerous reviews on the internet; alot of them suggest either the fluval 404 or magnum 350 for turtle habitats. Which one do you think is better? They are about the same price and I am not sure if there are big differences between them? Maybe one is easier to use than the other? My tank is 30 inches in width and I am filling it up with about 8 inches of water. Would the fluval/magnum filter be way too strong for a small tank? I don't want to hurt the turtles but I do want to provide the best water quality possible. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for responding!

I think that a Fluval 404 is a bit much for a 20 gallon tank. I think that a 204 would be more appropriate as far as water flow and currents. The 304 is pretty much the same thing as a 404, power wise, it just has a smaller media capacity.

BTW, I only use Fluvals!
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes

I agree Fluvals are great. But have you tried the FILTSTAR canister filters? They are just as effective and about 100 times less of a PIA to service.

If you give one a try and I think you will agree. (I have used the Fluvals and Eheims as they have evolved over the years and I can definitley agree that of the two a Fluval is my preference -- the only thing that has not evolved is making it an easier filter to dismantle, clean, reassemble and get started again) Filstar has come up with a great product for this.

Just some input.

Steve