Habitat - Indoor :: Dumbledore's happin' pad!

[steve]

Looks great! I think you're you're supposed to thaw those shots though... I have not tried them myself.

[Congelata]

I thought so too. I worry that if they are thawed they might break apart too easily before she can eat them.
They seem to thaw pretty well in the water though

[steve]

Sounds good. I think after awhile, she will gobble them up quicker.

[Congelata]

Well 100 zip ties later and multiple egg crate scratches later, Dumbledore has a new basking area!
I can easily remove the green padding for cleaning or replacement.
I also will add a door on the roof for easier access.

I really want to buy a big 100+ gallon tank and build her a fancier basking area. Sadly I need to get someone to inspect my apartment to make sure the 100 year old floors can withstand that much weight so it won't crash through my neighbors ceiling.

Eventually I will extend the basking area and give her more space to laze about.

[TortsNTurtles]

It looks great!

[Congelata]

Avast! Dumbledore now has a heater...finally.
It is getting really really cold and while her water is a steady 70ish, I got the heater.

I present the EHEIM Jager 300!
She also likes to swim into the glass a lot so I got her something prettier than my ugly mug.


EDIT:
Well my day just hit the fan. There is a leak where the rubber at the end of the tubing meets the aquastop valve.
Hagen/Fluval people weren't much help. I switched the aquastop valve with a new spare one that had come with the canister originally.
No dice.
next up is to buy a new hose. If that doesn't work I might have to buy a new stupid lid.

Not only that I stupidly tried to remove the hose from the valve while the intake piece was in the tank.

...water. everywhere.
I ripped off the top to remove the intake filter and sliced my finger open on the eggcrate.

I snuck into my downstairs neighbors apartment after the frantic clean up.
There were a few drops of water on the floor which obviously came from us due to their splash pattern.
I checked the ceiling and around the light fixture. Nothing was wet or dripping. Nothing around was wet either.

I keep checking to make sure there isnt any water.

So after all that I sent pictures to hagen, I really hope I sent them to the right place, and I removed the filter completely.
She already pooped and dirtied the crap out of the tank...

Dumbledore might have to go filterless for a few days till I can figure out what is wrong with it. I cant afford a new one

The upside is the tank graphic and heater look great.

I started just cleaning the tank at 10am today. I have finished everything at 4:51pm.

Ugh.

[TortsNTurtles]

That is a bummer! I hope you get it fixed and no complaints from the neighbors.

[steve]

Did you add any lube to the O-ring? I sit my filter in a plastic bin, just in case there is any leaking. I've had plenty of accidents

That is a nice graphic though

[Congelata]

I havent oiled up the Orings yet. I will and use the new valve and hope that works.
Hagen suggested I use just normal cooking oil. Any other suggestions of what to use that might work better?

Hmm a plastic bin sounds like a good idea! I thought about it but worried about the motor being dripped on.
I definitely do not want any more spills. Water damage is expensive
---
EDIT:
SHE LIIIIIVES!!!
I oiled the o-rings on the lid with olive oil. I also replaced the hose and used the spare valve.
no leaks!
Oh! I moved the screw ring down near the bottom of the rubber connector too.
I took steve's suggestion and put my filter in a container in case of leaks or spills. The bucket amplifies the filter though haha.

The new hose is still a bit stiff. I am hoping it will loosen and conform to its new position.

She dirtied the crap out of that water so I will wait a day and see if it clears. If not I will empty it and refill it

I am so happy! Thanks for all the advice! I would be lost and crying in a corner without this forum <3

[steve]

Great! You should be able to use an old towel to reduce sounds. Not sure if the FX5 comes with rubber feet, my XP3 does. Petroleum jelly or Vaseline should be fine.

[Congelata]

Well now the water reeks like a fart. Im going to replace the media in the filter and completely clean everything again. Hopefully it will change.

House smells like farts and sulfur

[steve]

Could be the cycling smell, but I don't think it should be that strong.

[Congelata]

It has never smelled before. It was only after the tank was fitted with the heater. I turned it down a bit too. I am due for some new filter media anyways.
I am guessing it has to do with the new heater. While it smelled a bit before the heat might be making the stench worse.

[steve]

I've never heard of that happening. There should be no smell from the heater nor do I think it could make any smell worse. How old is the filter media?

[ljapa]

Sulfur generally results from anaerobic bacteria. They produce hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide. Did you stir up your substrate recently, perhaps when placing the heater? You could definitely have no oxygen deep in the substrate. You won't smell it normally because other bacteria will use the sulfur gasses as it slowly diffuses up.