Habitat - Indoor :: Water filter broken?

[Billy Black]

I came home today to an unusually silent room, and find that my turtle has detached the filter again. I have a Rena Filstar, and he likes to knock down the part that sucks up the water. Well, I reattached it, filled up the tube with water again, and plugged it back in... but nothing happens. No sound at all.

What is going on? I've had it for almost exactly one year with basically no problems at all. Is there something I'm overlooking? I don't know what to do right now.

[Vtolds]

Probably dirty, take it apart piece by piece cleaning everything. You can then try and dry start it and if it makes noises then you should be good to go, You can also fill it up in the tub or sink and see if it turns on or not. But my bet is it is just all clogged up with something.

[Billy Black]

When I fill it up with water without blocking off the connector, water comes out the other end, so it can't really be blocked. I feel like it should at least make some sort of noise when I turn it on, though, even if it's blocked up.

[marisa]

You don't even hear the motor?

[Billy Black]

Absolutely no sound at all, unfortunately.

[marisa]

Are you plugging the filter directly into a wall socket or to a strip light/surge protector? If it's the latter, are you sure the strip light is plugged in? It's strange that there's absolutely no sound...

[Billy Black]

It''s in a power strip, but the light is on, and other things connected to it are working. I just tried plugging it into a different socket, and still nothing

[Billy Black]

Also, what does this mean for my turtle? I know that fish need oxygenated water, but I don't have any, and turtles breathe air anyway. How long can he go like this with standing water?

[marisa]

Some people, especially those that have smaller tanks, keep their turtles in standing water (not recommended). It won't hurt him at least for a while---water will just become dirty (if he has to stay many days in it, I'd do partial water changes and try to keep the water as clean as possible) and the heat from the water heater won't really circulate throughout the tank evenly. .

I'd keep trying to figure out what's wrong with the filter.

[Billy Black]

I mean, I don't know what else to do. Is there a pet store or something that I could take the filter to that could check it out? It's a really nice filter and I cannot afford to buy another one.

Though I actually have one of those cheapo water fall filters that came with my tank... i guess I could use that for the time being.

[mikee]

Bil-Bak -- Your turtle can last a short time without your filter, however, if you don't clean and change the water the chances of him getting sick or some sort of disease gets higher. You will need to change the water quite often until you get a filter/pump going. It sounds like you filter motor is not getting any current. Good Luck!!

[Billy Black]

Ok, I've got his waterfall filter running right now. Had to go to the store to buy a filter for it.

But I really need to get my Filstar filter working. If anyone knows of a place to take it to get it looked at, that would be fantastic.

[Cramer]

if it was sucking air for a while, or 'dry-running', it probably had a burn out. Filter/water/pond pumps are water cooled: dry-running damages the motor.

[megcornell]

Where did you buy it? I know most of the chain petstores will accept filters back at any time, I returned one after a year once. Sometimes you have to speak to a manager but it is worth it.

[Billy Black]

I got it online a year ago at Christmas time. It was a gift, so I'm not sure where it was from.

if it was sucking air for a while, or 'dry-running', it probably had a burn out. Filter/water/pond pumps are water cooled: dry-running damages the motor.

If this is the case, is there a way to fix it?