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I've read so many times about gluing the filter strainer onto the intake tube, and I've seen what can happen if that intake comes off. I've even recommended to people to silicon the intake a few times. But I never actually did it myself! I know. I'm a hypocrite.

I read about it after I set up Frankie's filter, and when I got Ralph's filter, I just plum forgot (at least those were my excuses).

But last night, Ralph discovered what fun it is to go behind his filter intake again, and again, and again. (Side note to anyone with an FX5: Make sure you take the suction cups off the bottom of the filter strainer. This, I actually HAVE done!). I've seen Frankie do this before, but it didn't worry me too much. Even though she's only 1.5" longer in shell length than Ralph, she's about twice his mass. There's not much that can stop her. I noticed when Ralph was going behind the intake, he had to struggle a bit more to get his "little" body behind it. (Don't worry, there's no way he could get stuck). He was kicking a lot more at the intake than Frankie ever does.

Anyhow, I checked up on them this morning, and there Ralph is, playing behind the intake again. No more excuses! I turned the filter off and took the intake out of the water and let it dry. Took what was left of my silicon (most of it has dried up now), put a thin layer of it all the way around on the intake tube, and put the strainer back on.

To do both filters probably took less than 10 minutes. The turts will be without a filter for a day, but it gives me peace of mind! Plus, it'll give me a good chance to do a partial water change tomorrow.

So the point to my long and rambling story is, if you've thought about siliconing the filter strainer, or even if this is the first time you've heard about it, just bite the bullet and do it now. It'll take 10 minutes to do, and you'll never have to think about "what if..."

Did that when I was setting up my 404. I used hot glue. Was ready to be put back in the tank in about 4 min. haha. It sure adds a lot of insurance doesnt it?

Hot glue is a good idea! I don't trust my hot glue much though. It's like, 30 years old or so, and who knows what kind of nasty chemicals are in there! Today, they've got much more non-toxic hot glue sticks.

you take the suction cups off the intake of the FX5? i just leave them on but cujo cant get behind it. he did however manage to knock the output off this morning which was a minor catastrophe. sand is all over the inside of the tank and havent had time to fix it.

Im thinking of getting the FX5 in a few months and im wondering exactly what it is your saying. Are you saying to glue it on because it can fall off and suck your turtle into it? Also what about the "suction cups" you are talking about removing? Are they there to stick the intake to the side of the tank to keep it from moving? And if so why should they be removed?

Daniel - Yes, I took them off. Actually, it was Frankie who took hers off. When I first set it up, Frankie was pushing her head behind the tube, and I thought, "Hmm, I should probably take those suction cups off." Then a few minutes later, when I went to take them off, the intake was loose, but the suction cups were still stuck to the side of the aquarium

My concern with the suction cups was that the gap it creates between the intake tube and the aquarium wall is about the right size for an adult RES head to get stuck in, or a hatchling's shell. That's why I took them off.

Skittles - Yes, there has been a couple instances where the intake fell off or was knocked off, and part of the turtle got sucked into it. In one instance, the turtle drowned, and in another, the turtle's leg got sucked in, and even with vet treatment, he ended up passing from his injuries

So that's why it's recommended that you glue the intake tube to the strainer.
(Glue this bit:

to this bit:


Since the strainer is large, there are two suction cups on the back of it, to hold it in place. You can see one of the suction cups on the strainer in this pic:


They just slip out.

cujo is too big to get his shell in there and too small to get his head stuck. guess he must be in the sweet spot haha

How long do you have to wait to put the filter back in the water?

It usually takes about 24 hours for the silicone to cure, sometimes a bit longer. If you can still smell the vinegary smell, it needs a bit longer.

Torti's intake isnt covered and she's never had a problem. She likes getting herself stuck to the intake. She'll sit there with her shell suctioned and then kick off the wall when she's done.

zoologist wrote:Torti's intake isnt covered and she's never had a problem. She likes getting herself stuck to the intake. She'll sit there with her shell suctioned and then kick off the wall when she's done.

Yikes! That would make me nervous! What sort of filter is it???