Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well this is my new turtle hatchling with the one leg deformed and his new tank. I just set up the tank today and that darn fluval filter took forever to start.

Haha! I know how you feel. I warned you . Trust me, you won't regret getting that thing, especially if you've dealt with other types of filters before. Did you decide on the 304 or 305?

Actually its the 305 because I couldn't afford the 405 which was like 50 dollars more and it allready cost me 125. But I think I only have about 30gals of water actually in the aquarium so it works well. After all I don't wanna make the water too deep he can't swim that well due to his leg.

I have a question for you or anyone that could help me with the fluval filter 305. I don't have the siphon completely submerged underwater because I don't want the water to be too high for this little guy. Anyhow my filter lets out air for some reason like every 3 mins any ideas why this could be? I tried to contact fluval but I doubt I will get an answer.

The entire siphon hose doesn't not need to be submerged. The water only has to be covering the inlet...meaning, no air should be entering the system. I have my tank only about 5 inches full, and the siphon is all the way down to the bottom of the tank. The sounds you are hearing happened with mine also. Little air bubbles are still trapped in the filter, and it can take quite a long time for them to "work" themselves out. I think it took several weeks before I never heard anymore noise. Now, when I clean the filter, it only makes noise for a couple of hours after starting. If it persists, make sure all of your connections are secure. I actually just noticed that you did name your turtle Captain Morgan...haha, I'm flattered!

Yeah but I thought of it before I saw your post. haha it reminds me of rum.

The less water you have in tank rather the closer the filter intake is to surface the more air it will suck up and spit out .

Your set up is nice I like that natural river gravel to .