Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for some advice on filtration and live plants.

I originally bought a submersible sponge and carbon air filter for the tank, and let me tell you, it has been doing a wonderful job. The only problem is that when I needed to change the filter cartridge, my pet store stopped carrying them... so in a matter of two weeks, I had bought a filter and now can't get any replacement cartridges for it locally. Anyways, I'm looking for a new filter or filters, depending on recommendations. Its a 20 gallon tank with about 15 gallons of water in it. I was wondering if I should maybe upgrade to a power filter, or stick with a sponge filter and think about adding an under gravel filter. I definately want something with carbon because I want to keep absorbing any odor. I currently haven't had any problems with odor, and I'd like to keep it that way.

Now, as far as live plants, I bought some at the pet store. He said they were local and wide spread through most of the country. I'm not sure what they are called, but I bought two of them. Unfortunately after a few days of laying on top of stems that were floating on top of the water, he decided to rip them to shreds. At first he wasn't eating them, he would swim to the bottom near the base of the plant, and chew off a stem and let it float to the top of the water, he has continued to do this and now all I have is a stump of vegetation on one plant, and one stem on the other. Last night I saw him chew on a few of the leaves of one that he had chopped down, but I don't think he was eating out of hunger, more just for pleasure and to annoy me so I'd yell at him. I only bought the plants to kind of fill up the empty tank, and now it just looks like crap, thanks to the current resident of the tank. Are there any plants that he might not munch on, or are all turtles like mine and have a hatred for well decorated tanks? The other thing I thought of is just buying a big piece of driftwood from the store to fill up the entire tank... that would give him places to hide, and still make the tank look interesting.

Bring on the advice,
Jordan

Filtration first. I've been through several Fluvals, from the internal filter when my painted was small to the canisters. I used a hang on power filter when he was very tiny but that lasted for about a year. As he grew I found that power filters can't cut it.

Recently I bought a Magnum 350 canister filter & I'll tell ya it is the BEST filter I've used so far. Not just because it keeps the tank clean but because it's easy to use, easy to clean. I love it!
I'll never go back to another IF this one stays together. The Fluval 304 was the best I'd ever had, until piece by piece it fell apart.

As for plants, your turtle eating them is a good thing for the turtle. My painted's tank is barren, empty except for the basking area, I gave up on looks long ago.
The way I see it, functional over looks is most the important thing about keeping him and greens are good for them so when you want him to have greens buy some more plants to make his day.
Don't fret over how the tank looks, it'll just give you grief that you don't need in your life.
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PHRatz