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Aquarium, Decoration, Easy Project, Featured

Sea Turtle Floater Decor

Bring the beauty of the open ocean to your tank with the Sea Turtle Floater Pack! This premium set includes four distinct sea turtle models, each designed to float gently on the water surface. Their detailed shells and delicate flippers create a stunning, natural aesthetic, adding serene motion to your aquarium’s top layer.

We highly recommend Resin (SLA) printing to capture the intricate shell texture and delicate flipper details. However, the models can be scaled and printed on Filament (FDM) machines for a larger display. These files are provided clean, requiring your custom hollowing and support setup for the best floating and printing results.

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Recommended Settings

Assembly & Installation

Changelog

Recommended Settings

⚙️ Recommended Print Settings

Since this set is highly versatile, settings are provided for both popular printing methods. Achieving buoyancy is key for both methods, requiring different techniques.

SLA/Resin Settings (Recommended for Detail & Quality)

Material: Standard UV Resin (Clear, Grey, or White).
Layer Height: 0.05 mm or finer for maximum detail on the wings and shell.
Orientation (CRITICAL): We recommend orienting the model with the shell facing up. This preserves the texture of the visible shell surface and helps drain the model.
Preparation (MANDATORY): These files require the user to perform hollowing, custom support placement, and drainage hole addition before slicing to achieve buoyancy and prevent print failure.

FDM/Filament Settings (Alternative for Larger Scales)

Material: PETG or PLA. PETG offers better long-term water resistance.
Layer Height: 0.2 mm.
Infill Density: 0%. The model must be hollow to float.
Wall/Perimeter Count: 2 or 3. This low count reduces print time, but increases the risk of leakage.
Orientation (CRITICAL): We recommend orienting the model with the shell facing up to minimize layer lines on the visible surface. Note: Printing flat is traditionally safer for sealing floaters. Angled printing requires more complex supports and carries a higher risk of compromising the watertight seal.

Important: Always thoroughly clean your final print before placing it in an aquarium. Avoid using metal-filled or abrasive filaments. For long-term use, ensure your chosen material is chemically stable in water.

Assembly & Installation

🛠️ Preparation & Post-Processing Steps

This section focuses heavily on the mandatory preparation required for safe, buoyant resin prints.

Slicer Preparation (Resin Only)

To ensure buoyancy and print success, you must use your slicer software (e.g., Lychee, Chitubox) to:

Hollow the model.
Apply custom supports for the chosen angled orientation.
Add a drainage hole (ideally on the underside) to allow uncured resin to escape.

Sealing Drainage Holes (Resin Only)

After washing and initial curing, the drainage hole MUST be sealed to prevent water ingress. Use a small dab of liquid UV resin and cure it instantly with a UV light/pen to plug the hole.

Cleaning (CRITICAL)

Before placing the floaters in your tank, wash them thoroughly to remove all residues. A soak in an aquarium-safe cleaner followed by a thorough, final water rinse is highly recommended.

FDM Sealing Note

When printing FDM, the low wall count (2-3) combined with an angled orientation may require careful calibration to ensure a perfectly watertight seal. Consider using a higher flow rate for the perimeters or testing a flat orientation if leaks occur.

📦 Required External Tools (Resin Prints)

- Liquid UV Resin: Required to seal the drainage holes after cleaning.
- Small UV Light/Pen: Required to cure the resin used to seal the holes quickly.

🎨 Optional Realistic Painting Guide

Want to take your turtle floaters to the next level? Follow these simple steps using acrylic paints:

Base Coat: Apply a solid, opaque color (black or deep brown) over the entire shell and the top of the head. Let this layer dry completely.
Detail Rub: Take a small amount of tan acrylic paint on a dry brush (the dry brush method) and lightly rub it over the shell texture. This allows the tan to catch only the raised details, making the shell texture pop.
Safety Seal: Once all paint is dry, seal the entire model with a coat of gloss clear acrylic spray paint. This step is crucial for waterproofing the paint and protecting the color from water degradation.
Curing: Let the sealed model sit for a minimum of 24 hours before introducing it to the aquarium.