I assume by in-tank filters you mean things like ZooMed's spill-over filter? Those are OK, but canister or hang-on-back filters tend to be more effective and reliable, in my experience. You can also use a sponge filter, which is cheap and effective. I've never bought any filters from Wal-Mart, so I don't know how effective they are. Do you know the brand name of the filters they carry?

No matter what kind of filter you use, you will have to clean the filter media often and perform frequent water changes to keep up with the turtle's waste production. The recommended method is to siphon or dip a few gallons of water out of the tank, swish the filter media in it to get the gunk off, then return the media and refill the tank with fresh dechlorinated water. Don't wash your filter media in tap water, as it will kill the beneficial bacteria growing in it.

Stinkpots don't need heaters or thermometers; they do fine at room temperature, especially if they have a warm basking site.

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