OpenTube

How I Made an Indoor Turtle Pond - Jungle Themed Stock Tank!

Long Live Your Turtle (LLYT)

67,606 views

LLYT here! This video is all about how I took a Craigslist 100 Gallon Rubbermaid stock tank and turned it into an indoor, jungle themed turtle pond! This project let me think outside the box when it came to turtle tanks. I think turtle ponds might be my new favorite!

The overview video of this setup was previously posted here:
Indoor Turtle Pond - My Slider Lives in a ...

Checkout the links below to see the products I use in my setup. I am an Amazon Affiliate and receive a tiny commission if you use the amazon product links at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance ;)

Rubbermaid 100 Gallon Stock Tank (Tub) - https://amzn.to/2RamVNA
Fluval Canister Filter, FX6 Filter - https://amzn.to/2SyMacN
Water Heater - https://amzn.to/3bhHAGm
Driftwood Branches - https://amzn.to/2QYetRP
Flexible Bend-A-Branch Jungle Vines - https://amzn.to/3f9PnY7
Waterproof LED Strip Lights -https://amzn.to/3o2uYIl
LED Aluminum Channel - https://amzn.to/3o0AX0x
Artificial Palm Leaves Tropical Faux Leaves- https://amzn.to/33rS3e8
Ivy Leaf Garland Plants Vine - https://amzn.to/3xUcTkx
Jungle Tapestry - https://amzn.to/2R6EX3p
Coconut Fiber Carpet - https://amzn.to/2ySP3fi
Fluker's - Deep Dome Fixture 8.5” - https://amzn.to/3vOqBTS
Hanging Plant Bracket - https://amzn.to/2SCJhb8
Zilla Reptile Habitat Power Center - https://amzn.to/33yE1as
Exo Terra UVB/Heat Mercury Vapor Lamp - https://amzn.to/3heGJdC
Tetra Whisper Easy to Use Air Pump - https://amzn.to/2SCJueq
Airline Tubing Air Pump Accessories - https://amzn.to/3xZbfy4
Motion Activated Light Control - https://amzn.to/3uyjnDz
Spotlights - https://amzn.to/3uEk5z2

Hardware Store:
DRYLOK 1.5 lb. Fast Plug (2-Pack)
FOAMULAR 1 in. x 2 ft. x 2 ft. R-5 Small Projects Rigid Pink Foam Board Insulation
5/8 in. x 3-1/2 in. x 6 ft. Gold-Stained Fir Dog-Ear Fence Picket
Common white wood boards: 4-12” wide x .75” (actual) thick
Brackets and ½” bolts and nuts
Wood board to support and tie together picket fence
Wood post for fence (1"x1")
Wood Screws (1” and 1-1/2”)
Genova 1-in Dia Insert Elbow (QTY 2)
3/4-in to 1-1/2-in dia Stainless Steel Adjustable Clamp
1” flexible hose
0.093 in. Clear Acrylic Sheet (sheet size depends on design)

20 Comments

@southhillsresort879 6 years ago

turtles are love turtles are life don't throw plastic too ensure they survive

@pinayjunglehome4737 5 years ago

OMG I love this jungle thing! I have a turtles too

@PearlsOC 2 years ago

Wow!!!! Moses really went from Egypt into the Promised Land!! I love this ♥️🙌😊

@Dab_Marino 6 years ago

Just Google searched 100 gallon turtle tank and what do you know. brand new video with your name is on it! thank you!

@williamaugustus3296 3 weeks ago

I appreciate your videos. The more education out there regarding aquatic turtle care, the better! This install/display looks good! I'm sure it'll help your turtle to feel more relaxed. My turtles would climb right out of that! They would need a higher wall. Also, isn't Moses a female? No egg laying box? All female turtles need an egg laying box. They produce eggs regardless if they are fertilized or not. Some turtles will lay their eggs in the water, but that usually stresses them out. If they opt to hold their eggs too long, they become calcified and the turtle eventually dies. An egg laying box usually has to be about 30 - 40 gallons of top soil and sand mixed. The temp and humidity has to be monitored closely. The soil/sand mix needs to be turned over regularly to avoid getting compacted. I usually tell beginners to stick with male turtles. Stock tanks are great, but they can be pricey and difficult to obtain in some areas. I currently use two 4' x 6' stock tanks plus a few smaller ones. Prior to that I had a 12' x 12' pond made with a liner. It was set up for 14 years without a single leak. Liners are best for more permanent setups. They are a lot cheaper and it's easier to do custom sizes. I gave up on canister filters. Too much trouble to clean. I used Pondmaster filters for years. It's just a pump with a collection box with about 1' of tubing between. I had to buy an elbow to thread on the outlet of the pump to divert the water sideways instead of straight up. No priming! Very simple! The whole thing is submerged in the water so no chance of leaking. I found that those pumps would only last me about two years. They were $300 a piece. I switched to Tetra garden pumps 4 years ago. They are under $100 each. I use four of them. One died after 3 years. Still, a much cheaper option. Also the filter pads are reusable. I still have the originals. I add an additional carbon pad that gets replaced every month. That with a couple large air stones and the water stays completely clean. Takes me about 10 minutes a week to spray out and reinstall the pads for all four filters. Lastly, I don't recommend using the insulation, vinyl epoxy etc. All that stuff off-gasses some pretty toxic fumes (for you and your turtle). It's even worse under the heat lamps. Next time consider attaching the texture on the ramp with aquarium grade silicone. I'd opt for thin pieces of slate or use ceramic tile on the basking platform. I use wood for my basking shelves. It gets stained and rough looking. I don't mind that, but the underside can get some mildew. It's not perfect. I have been using large cork bark flats for ramps, but it takes forever for them to get water-logged enough where the turtles can climb out. I usually have to strap a large rock to them. It's a pita! Also, they rot after about 4 years. I like your idea of bending some acrylic sheet! Easy to customize the size and shape. Affordable too! The cork flats look great, but they are pricy! Anyway, good work!

@Ara-kh6yc 6 years ago

Amazing man. Love the background on the wall gives true jungle vibe! Brilliant ❤️

@nolangietzen4668 5 years ago

I use egg crate an that green carpet

@patlucci4139 11 months ago

Very Cool!!!!! 👍👍👍

@gillessophie6158 5 years ago

Great job. I've just watched 4 or 5 of your videos. You give me many ideas for my 35 years old florida turtle. I've subscribed and will keep on take your ideas 😅. Thanksfull from France

@nateabalos9003 6 years ago

Abt time! Yay!

@romanocretaro4121 6 years ago

Super set up I’m a carpenter myself and u just inspired me 😁

@PREDA-p8o 5 years ago

NICE TANK

@ksosaFPV 4 years ago

Love it!

@eringrey9297 2 years ago

Incredible. I have turtles and I’m debating an indoor or outdoor pond. Lots of inspiration here. Thank you!

@corrydriscoll6920 6 years ago (edited)

I like the end where Moses went down the ramp & you could hear her tap the side of the pond/tank. I swear they do that on purpose lol. We have a "toy box" of random things we float occasionally for our turtles that they play with that we found out by happenstance. Pretty fascinating. When playing around with different filter set ups in our transition, we had multiple tubes/lines with excessive lengths in the water, which ended up staying like that for a few days on a long weekend, which upon our surprise our turtles found them to be a fun place to play. They have become a permanent part of our aquarium/terrarium on one side. Amazing & intelligent animals. Great video my good sir.

@GreymsView-ix8yi 2 years ago

A great build my friend - I am not really into turtles but a lot of the construct can be applied to my fish room. I also use stock tanks they are so versatile.