DIY Indoor Pond Turtle Ramp for Stock Tanks - SIMPLE!

LLYT here! In this video I upgrade my stock tank turtle enclosure by adding a sleek ramp. The ramp makes it easy for my turtles to climb out of the water and bask the day away!
Checkout the links below to see the products I used for this video. 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 ;)
Ramp (below are cheap alternatives to larger raw material I used in the video):
Acrylic Sheet (similar) - amzn.to/3HuocV3
Turf Grass (Get a sample piece if you can) - amzn.to/3nmG5xa
Tools (all similar, might not be the same as mine):
Acrylic Scoring Knife - amzn.to/3wSd13E
Heat Gun - amzn.to/3FlOGGy
Glue Gun - amzn.to/3nmXANR
Want to know how I made the entire setup?! Checkout the videos below:
Initial Setup (Smaller nature theme):
• How I Made an Indoor T...
Full Nature Theme:
• How To Build a Nature ...

[@kellyvolk9975]

That was awesome!

[@danielszendrey4612]

Looks great awesome!

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@piotrher3282]

Hi, Very cool idea with the ramp. I found out from the video that the thickness of your new ramp is 5.6 mm. . Doesn't the ramp bend too much under the weight of the turtle? I am building a new island for my turtle and I want to make the whole bottom out of Plexiglas. I'd like to use 8 or even 10 mm thick Plexiglas, but I'm not sure if that won't flex. My turtle weighs about 1.5 kg. I am asking you for some suggestions. Also, please let me know what kind of plexi you used: extruded or cast plexi Greetings

[@keirriyah2196]

I used the fake turf grass for my turtle ramp however, my turtles were pulling it and ripping the grass off and eating it. Their ramp is very slippery and I am not sure what else to use for it. Any ideas?

[@gayrobot79]

I used Cork bark.

[@DarkestEchelon30]

They have grass samples at Home Depot! In case you're on a budget or if your turtle is smaller.

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Great add! Thanks for the info.

[@TenEight2023]

You must play RuneScape using a reference like “agility level”

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Haha not a RuneScape guy but I’ve played my fair share of games ;)

[@cathy4735]

I need to ask you a question: I bought the HTH POOL SAND and I can't stop getting brown algae. I'm fighting a losing battle. I rinsed it until the water in the bucket was clear too. 🆘

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Sounds like a filter/lighting/water quality issue. Have never heard of sand causing algae. The sand can be cloudy when you first put it in, even after several rinses.

[@chingpongionglong]

Do you think a 4mm sheet of polycarbonate would work as a ramp? Not toxic right?

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Yes that will work. If you have a large turtle it might not be strong enough and bend too much.

[@juanmoceton6842]

Is the glue you used nontoxic? I have fish with my turtle and want to make sure it’s safe for both

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Yes! It is waterproof and safe for fish and turtles!

[@Dropwiser]

@@LongLiveYourTurtle what glue were you using?

[@DarkestEchelon30]

@@Dropwiser I think its just regular glue gun glue? you can find some in a 99 cents :)

[@cathy4735]

Third question: I bought two 75 gallon tanks and I measured the tank online and had two thrive upper basking docks 18" I went to put it on my tank and it's about 1/4 " too narrow to set on top. They fit my 40 gallon breeder tanks fine, but now I can't get them over the top rim of my 75 gallon. Any ideas as to how I could modify it, it's made of metal. I thought of cutting off the floor piece of it cuz the top part fits perfect! It's the floor with the ramp that's 1/4" short. Cuz the floor Goes on first, them the top/ cage then goes on. So if I put the top/ cage on the tank it fits but the floor doesn't. I was thinking if I cut off the edge that goes over the tank rim it might work, but I don't want to botch this and make the thrive basking area unusable. Another thought I had was to eliminate the floor and use egg crate lighting as the base with a drop down ramp, but that will maybe look awful since the thrive basking area is black and the egg crate is white. Just borrowing your brain cuz mine isn't coming up with a good idea. Long live YOUR turtle 😂 🐢🐢🐢🐢. Borrowed your saying. Thank you for reading my questions and even if you can't help me, I appreciate your time!

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

hmmm, I have been wanted to get that basking dock to review it! I'm hesitant to give advice without knowing how it installs on a tank. First cut at these things for me is not modifying the original unit. Then if I have to I do. I can't promise when but I'll get it and see how it can fit on my 75 gallon. Good luck until then!

[@cathy4735]

@@LongLiveYourTurtle I was able to modify it to fit. The thrive comes in two pieces, instead of using the floor I made one out of egg crate to fit just inside the lip of the rim and then used the top of the thrive dock over the rim. I took the ramp off the floor and drilled holes in the sides then attached it to the egg crate floor after cutting the right size hole. Worked out great.

[@dalesona5972]

Is the turf nontoxic? I have fish in my turtle tank and do not want to poison them. Thanks

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Yes, the turf is just plastic typically found in many many things. I’ve used it for a while with no problems!

[@angieg4811]

What Rubbermaid tub did you use?💚🐢

[@turtlekeepingwithdrewandlu6990]

In the past i believe he said it was a 100 gallon.

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

You got it!

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

This one - amzn.to/3DGFnAv

[@lachy_b8865]

Would 20 mil thick acrylic be good enough?

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

20 mil is quite thin, I wouldn't go less than 0.125 inches thick!

[@lachy_b8865]

@@LongLiveYourTurtle all right I’ll use epoxy to glue to sheets together

[@miguelvelasco1951]

how many gallons is that tub and where did you get it?

[@turtlekeepingwithdrewandlu6990]

I believe in the past he said it was a 100 Gallon. They are Rubbermaid tubs and you can buy a variety of different sizes at Tractor Supply Company.

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Hello! It is 100 gallons. I actually got mine from someone on Craigslist but you can get them online, at Tractor Supply, and at some Ace Hardware. - amzn.to/3DGFnAv

[@cathy4735]

Please help me. I have an above basking dock, how to I get lighting underneath the whole length of my 75 gallon tank?

[@turtlekeepingwithdrewandlu6990]

Are you using a DIY one, or is it a commercial product?

[@LongLiveYourTurtle]

Hello! My favorite option is underwater hidden led lights. I have this one in my tank under the basking dock - amzn.to/3oMYse3

[@cathy4735]

Thank you I bought three for my 75 gallon tanks and I love them, they look great!