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I've got 2 RES (red ear sliders) that i got in NY like 2 years ago when they were the size of half dollars and now there about 6 inches long or so. I also started off in a 10 gallon tank, but you'll find out soon enough that it won't be big enough. I went from 10g, to 30g, to now 60g! LOL In the beginning, I used floor tiles and broke them in half and stacked them up until they were high enough out of the water for them to bask, but that was kind of stupid of me because I had to restack them everytime I cleaned the water and it was kinda dangerous cuz one time the tiles fell over in the water but the turtles were OK.
As far as building the dryland section out of plywood, I don't really have experience with that since I went to Petsmart shortly after the tiles and picked up the floating dryland section that sticks to the side of the tank..I now have two dryland floating sections in the 60 gallon tank- one that's about 12"x6" and one that sticks in the corner of the tank and the RES have taken to them well. When I turn the basking lamp on, they swim right up on them and chill out. Your idea with the plywood would be cool if you thought it out well, maybe something like a base with pebbles and rocks on it that they can climb out of the water to?
But ya, they like to swim, so give them enough water so they can go under and swim around. Just remember,. they have to have a basking area to keep their body temp up, so a basking lamp is needed as well as D3 light for their shells to stay hard and healthy.
I'd first suggest that you research online or pick up a guide at a pet shop so you can care for them correctly though.
If you got any Q's or wanna see some pics of my tank, just lemme know.
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