hi from january and mr. turtle

**january** · 04-29-2012, 08:23 PM

hi! i'm fairly new at all this (never have posted anything on a forum before, etc.) i have a red-eared slider (mr. turtle, although i found out he is really not a "mr."), 5 ex-feeder fish (now buddies, i suppose), a 55 gallon tank and as of a couple weeks ago, a new filter system. (mistakes i think i've made)....i got a marineland penguin 350 (now realize i underbought...should have gotten something much larger) and i have a couple of questions to start out with (baby steps, baby steps....let me conquer one or two problems at a time then i will be back for more....) i am anxious to get the filtration problems dealt with. i can tell that additional help is needed, so after a couple of phone calls, i am off to petsmart to get an under gravel filter system to add to the tank as well. i will probably just get what they have there (my petco buddies don't have one for a 55 gallon tank in stock). i wanted to get some additional filter media for the marineland filter while i am out and about (i take the bus so i am always trying to coordinate my trips)....(FINALLY<<<<down to the question at large!!) i notice there is room for some type of 'additional filer material' since there is another slot in the filter besides the marineland 350C filters i have in there. could you actually put two filters per side in there or is that overkill or non productive....if i am going to a generic pet place like petsmart, will they have anything there? can i get a big roll of something and try to cut costs and do a thrifty, yet satisfactory, upgrade to what i have now? my old filter was something that i bought at walmart (forgive me, cause i am poor) and it was an entire 55 gallon tank with all the stuff that i needed for start up included for something like $160 dollars. i have since gotten a new thermometer (that is covered in aluminum since they other one was glass and only "shatter RESISTANT" and mr. turtle had started to gnaw on it so i freaked. to put it mildly, i love my turtle. he/she is fascinating, very interactive, stubborn, contrary (like his/her owner) and quite aggressive at times, and passive aggressive sometimes which really pisses me off : )

anyhow, back to the schoolbooks and meanwhile, i would appreciate any info you guys could share with me (words of wisdom, war stories and the like most welcome!!) caio!

**escamosa** · 04-29-2012, 08:55 PM

Hi January! Welcome to AC! Just letting you know, that you will get lots more answers to your questions if you select the part of the forum which most suits them. Lots more people get around those areas of the forum.

First of all, I'm not very familiar with marineland filters, so I really can't answer your question about that. But, if it was me, I would buy something else, other than the undergravel filter. They're terrible to try and maintain, and what they do is basically drag all the nasty stuff, like left over food and poop down into the gravel, and then you're constantly having to clean gravel and change water. A second filter, like a sponge filter or a submersible filter to go along with the marineland filter would be much better.

Any pics of Mr Turtle?

**ScottishFish** · 04-29-2012, 09:40 PM

Welcome to the forum

**DylanisHawttt** · 04-29-2012, 09:50 PM

Welcome to the AC

**Cermet** · 04-29-2012, 11:00 PM

Hello and welcome

**DeadSulphurhead** · 04-30-2012, 04:15 AM

Welcome, but why would ask for help conquering problems, then say your off to petsmart after getting advice elsewhere, and leaving before we have a chance to tell you youre about to waste more money? Give us a chance at least