Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i need a flat filter that will be able to work efficiently in a 20 gallon tank with about 4 inches of water, i have a fluval 2 filter but seems to only work efficiently when vertical, when horizontal, the water gets dirty quick, Is there a filter i can keep in shallow water, I dont keep gravel at the bottom, I need to lower my water or my turtle will die, but when i water it, rthe tank gets dirty

I bought a great tank at a PetSmart that I still use.
Its a 20 long
But at one end the glass is a lot shorter. They call it a turtle tank. You can put an outside filter and only fill about 4-6 inches of water.
They work great. Those inside filters don't keep up with turtles

with young snappers, i have had absolute success with a standard undergravel filter sytem, powered either by bubbblers or powerheads, combined with overhead, waterfall style charcoal/bio filters. i set it up just like a fishtank, with a gravel substrate. shim one end to elevate one end of the tank, and build a bank in the high end with the gravel, and place the overhead filter in the low, deep end.
this is an inexpensive setup that is easy and cheap to maintain and my turtles thrive.
works especially well with long shallow tank sizes.
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