Terrapins moving home......

Question
QUESTION: my problem is regarding setting up my new tank, im keeping terrapins in the tank not fish but hope the theory's the same.
i have a new 6ft tank which im about to moves my pins into. ive got a fluvel fx5 filter ready to use but dont know what "media" to put in. im not even sure what "media" is to be honest. ive read about using ceramic beads, activated carbon and foam filter but which work best ive also read about using my filter from my existing tank to introduce bacteria into the tank, is this a good idea?

any help would be gratefully received.

thank you in advance

Andrew

ANSWER: Hi Andrew;

"Filter Media" is just the stuff that fills the inside of your filter and collects waste. Follow the intructions that came with the filter to be sure the media is in the proper places. Filter media is also a "home" for the beneficial bacteria that breaks down the wastes. Turtles are messy though and sometimes their filter needs to be cleaned so often that bacteria may not get very well established. I cleaned my turtle filters once a week, but I did have a heavy population in there because it was a retail pet store stock tank. I used Magnum and Fluval canister filters on the turtle tanks. Carbon, foam and ceramic beads usually filled the canister. I replaced the carbon once a week to help control odors. Turtles can be pretty stinky guys!

In my fish tanks it is different. I change them very rarely (maybe 3 times a year) and I don't use carbon at all. Carbon loses most of it's ability to absorb anything more after about 5 days. The tiny little micro-pores just get full.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks very much, you answers help allot. there are only 2 terrapins going in the tank and there only about 3inch's across their shell so there not to messy at the moment, although am aware this will soon change as they get a bit older. is a 6ft 400L tank going to be big enough for 2 terrapins when there fully grown? im new to keeping terrapins and trying to learn fast, there both healthy with big appetites at the moment and id like to keep it that way. im just worried about making basic mistakes. also, is there no chance i can put fish in the tank, im aware slower fish may be eaten by the pins but was wondering if any fish would be suitable. again, thanks very much for your help
Andrew

Answer
Hi Andrew;

It depends on which type of terrapin you have and how big it gets. I don't remember too much about the different types. You might want to check with an expert on them. Here are a few links to get you started on finding info;

http://www.terrapinbook.com/terrapins_care.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6gtd7b

http://www.aquamania.co.uk/terrapin-turtle-care-sheet.asp

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins