So I set up a new Filstar XP-L less than a month ago. Everything's working great, but for the past few days my turtle has been fixated on the inlet strainer, trying to chomp away at it. This evening, I see a small blue plastic stick laying on the bottom of the aquarium - it seems my turtle has managed to break a piece off of it!
It seems the XP filter strainers are extremely weak - great for fish, I'm sure, but not for a strong 19 year old RES. With my previous set up (also an XP filter), she managed to bend 2 strainers to the point of needing replacement, and kept pulling the "intake pipe extensions" apart until I replaced them with a bit of aquarium hose. (I highly recommend this to anyone with an XP filter!)
So: I'm wondering if anyone knows of an alternative STRONGER inlet strainer that will fit my set up - or another solution I could try?
I've tried just discarding the strainer all together, but then she got her foot stuck... she freed herself, but it was traumatizing for both of us!
Thank you!