Habitat - Indoor :: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issues

Turtle tank setups and other indoor configurations.

Post Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:40 am   Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issues

I guess the filter is taking in air somewhere...that's my best guess, bc that's what it has been doing since I got it. The other day, I took the tubing off, started and primed the filter lower than the canister, made a big mess, but I got it going without air bubbles in the tubing. Now it's stopping and starting again. I had to turn it off for a day or two before that bc of the grinding noise it makes when it stops. I was afraid something inside would break.

Plus, the basking bridges aren't working anymore. The suction cups won't suction to the glass so when spots tries to climb on, the bridges fall off the PBS support and float to the bottom of the tank. I use two like these: http://www.petsmart.com/reptile/habitat ... 3Dcategory

Do you think I can get the auctions cups out? They are glued into the holes, but the hole doesn't go all the way through...so even if the suction cups come out, how would I attach the bridges to the tank?
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Post Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:59 am   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

The only solutions I've come up with are to try to drill though the holes and then zip tie them to the PVC support, or buy a cork bark tile, drill holes, zip tie to PVC. But for the 2nd option, I'd also have to figure out a ramp...maybe a smaller tile zip tied at an angle?
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Post Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:36 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

For the filter, check that the o-rings are lubed and seated properly. Also check that the impeller is installed correctly.

For the bridge, there is probably a little lip. Try soaking in very warm water for a few minutes, then pull it out.
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Post Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 2:57 am   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

Thanks...what do I do with it after I pull the suction cups out?
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Post Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:39 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

MY sunsun 304b sucks in air if the extendable part of the inlet pipe isint covered to the top joint with water. Also I read online to ditch the compression hose clamps and use regular hose clamps like used on car hoses because they are prone to leaking. Knowing those 2 things mine has worked perfectly without having any air issues.
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Post Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 5:40 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

@ MerryMenagerie - isn't your intention to replace them?


@ james04si - thanks for the tips!
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 5:11 am   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

I took them out tonight and easily drilled through the hole they were in. Now I can zip tie them to the PVC support. I would have replaced the suction cups but eventually they would have stopped working again. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

When I originally put the sunsun together, I had to put tape around the place where the curved input bar met the straight input bar, is that what you mean? #12 and #14 in this picture...http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showt ... 58&page=17

I don't know what clamps you're talking about...
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 5:02 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

Right but I actually used the whole 12, 13 ,14, 15 piece. But where 12 connects to whatever next piece of pipe would leak some air on mine so I just filled the tank to above the seam.

The clamps I replaced are the ones that hold the green tube to the hard plastic by screwing down on top of it. I replaced it with regular automotive hose clamps that can be found at any auto parts store, home depot or I have even seen then in Walmart before. Here is an amazon link for what they look like
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001HWGMBG?cache=c2f490582efa8e02a2176a55dc9b0a58&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1404765831&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1
They just slide over the tube and screw down to tighten it.

Sorry I'm on my phone at work but tonight I will take a picture of how it looks.
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Post Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:08 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

You can find those in a plumbing section too. I think they are stainless and won't rust.
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 12:38 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

Sorry I got a little busy and forgot all about posting the pictures. Better late than never.

Image

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Post Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:12 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

Ah, thank you. It is still making me nuts. I zip tied the bridges to the PVC platform I had been using, but I can't get it to rest over the edge of the tank. The PVC for the platform is 1/2 inch. I had previously been using 1/2 inch elbows over the edge. That won't work anymore, so I bought 1/2-3/4 elbows...Must have bought the wrong ones. Now I have about $18 dollars in parts I need to return and figure out which are the right ones.

Filter is still having problems. I haven't had time to check the o-rings or impeller.

The whole thing is just a mess. I wish I had someone nearby to help...
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Post Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:36 am   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

I think I got the filter working...at least, it was working last night. I haven't checked it yet this morning. I took it outside, dumped the water, checked the impeller, checked the media, put it all back together...The trick was getting the water to come all the way to the top of the output hose. I had to really work to get it going. I also filled it up past the 2nd seam...the top one is covered with tape, filling past that one would make the water level too high for our tank.

So, I'll be spending some time at the hardware store today, still trying to figure out a basking dock that works with the tank (55long) and our big girl. I need to measure her, but I think she's around 9 inches now. I know, the tank is too small for her. As soon as we move, she'll get an upgrade.
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Post Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:30 am   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

Have you made a lot of modifications to the filter?
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:30 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

I haven't made any modifications...I wouldn't even know what modifications to make or how. Everything I know about RES and their care, I learned here.

The filter is working...I left the spray bar off, it is much quieter that way. I'm going to the hardware store now to return all the elbows that didn't work. I'm going to start from scratch on a new platform. Wish me luck!
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:53 pm   Re: Sunsun filter is making me nuts! Plus basking area issue

Good luck! What style basking area are you going to make?
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