General Care Discussion :: Filter scare

[BiteyBits]

I was just sitting here wondering if I should make a petsmart run today, because I forgot to get an intake guard last time, or wait for Wed when I have more time, when I look over at my tank and see Speedy get her HEAD caught in the filter intake. It was only caught for seconds, I practically leapt across the room and turned the power strip off to free her. She sat on the bottom for a bit looking around like, [!!!] just happened to me? She's now swimming around fine.

I needed to tell someone.

I have sacrificed something lacy and a rubberband to make a temporary cover that should block turtle heads but won't block water flow.

I'm checking when the next bus comes around that goes that way, Petsmart run it is!

[BullDog]

Scary! There have been more than a few incidents with turtles getting limbs stuck in the filter.
It's recommended you silicone the intake onto the filter.

Glad Speedy is OK!

[jozzep]

I was just sitting here wondering if I should make a petsmart run today, because I forgot to get an intake guard last time, or wait for Wed when I have more time, when I look over at my tank and see Speedy get her HEAD caught in the filter intake. It was only caught for seconds, I practically leapt across the room and turned the power strip off to free her. She sat on the bottom for a bit looking around like, [!!!] just happened to me? She's now swimming around fine.

I needed to tell someone.

I have sacrificed something lacy and a rubberband to make a temporary cover that should block turtle heads but won't block water flow.

I'm checking when the next bus comes around that goes that way, Petsmart run it is!

I came up with a way of avoiding this problem all together.
On all my filter intakes i drill about 15 to 20 small holes along the whole tube (as long as the highest one is below the water line) and this distributes the suction to all the holes instead of one big one.Try that if you don't want to wait for the bus.

[BiteyBits]

I was reading about all the recent limb entrapments, that's why I meant to get a guard piece last Wed. I seem to have lost mine in storage. And i saw each turtle get their shells stuck for a few moments and break free, so I knew it was only a matter of time.

Unfortunately, Petsmart apparently no longer carries the packs of filter tubes and guard pieces, so my lace fix will have to do for now.

Jozzep- that's a good idea, I might try that in the future when I have a drill.

I did, however, get a moss ball and 5 mini-rosy reds. And some small 'pest' snails.
Last time I got the reds and snails, Shiloh ate 2 of the 3 fish, and Speedy hunted down ALL the snails. So I'm going to release them into the tank with the turtles out basking and give the snails time to hide.

[steve]

I came up with a way of avoiding this problem all together.
On all my filter intakes i drill about 15 to 20 small holes along the whole tube (as long as the highest one is below the water line) and this distributes the suction to all the holes instead of one big one.Try that if you don't want to wait for the bus.

Sounds like a good idea! Do you cap the end too?

[jozzep]

I came up with a way of avoiding this problem all together.
On all my filter intakes i drill about 15 to 20 small holes along the whole tube (as long as the highest one is below the water line) and this distributes the suction to all the holes instead of one big one.Try that if you don't want to wait for the bus.

Sounds like a good idea! Do you cap the end too?

There is one that i custom made for my hatchling tank cause i bought the filter used and it didn't have any hoses. that one has a cap. All others are just tubes without the strainer.
Pic included.



It's kind of a reverse spray bar.

[jwinters]

It is scary what can happen with a necessary piece of equipment. Not too long ago (about a month or so) I found one of my turtles with his head up the intake tube. Not a fun experience.

[BiteyBits]

Oh no! Was your turtle ok?

[jozzep]

Jozzep- that's a good idea, I might try that in the future when I have a drill.

I used a drill, but if you don't have one, just use a philips scredriver, put it on the burner of the stove till it's nice and hot, and burn the holes.When it cools down, heat it up again and repeat.
I'm like McGyver when i need to get stuff done

[BiteyBits]

That's pretty cool. I'm using a kinda old filter and I'm not certain it could take holes being drilled in it without breaking. But I will keep that idea in mind for when I upgrade come winter!

My lace fix is working, it's similar to a 'fry guard' I used to make when i bred guppies to prevent the fry from being sucked into the filter.

[jwinters]

Oh no! Was your turtle ok?

Yep, I guess I got to him in time. The people on this forum were very helpful. He's more active now that he's gotten over the trauma then he was before. Although when I got him a new filter I was all (-_-) because the first thing he did was put his head up to the intake. -sigh-

[BiteyBits]

That's awful, but I laughed anyway. The things they do, huh? Like children. Glad he's OK