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Last weekend I decided to do a full tank + filter clean. I took apart the fluval, cleaned it, put some new carbons in, and put it back together. For some reason I remembered a story about someone putting the motor housing on the wrong way, so I double checked it, and locked it on.

Wow, just as I was writing this, I think I figured out my problem I'll post the rest anyway in case this ever happens to anyone else.

So anyhow, I hook it all up, but had a HECK of a time priming it! Then I realized it would probably help if I actually opened up the flow lever
So I got it running, and let it go for a while before I put Ralph in. I went back up half and hour or so later, and it smelled like wet wood - never a good sign. I looked at the filter and everything - the stand, the filter, the carpet - was soaking wet! So I shut off the filter immediatly, unhooked it, and figured out the water seemed to be coming from the right hand side at the seal. I took it apart, looked it over, and gave the top and bottom seal a wipe, and put it back together. After I dryed everything, I hooked it back up, and ran it again. There was no problems, but I kept my eye on it.

In writing this, I suspect it was my attempt at priming with the flow turned off that caused the leak, but has anyone else had this happen?

I haven't had it happen - yet. It will probably happen to all of us eventually.

Because I really don't want the dirty turtle water all over our new carpet I set the canister (I use an XP3) in a big plastic tub inside the cabinet. I know it won't stop a mess if the leak is in the tubes after they leave the canister but it should stop a catastrophe if it happens to the filter itself.

Also, following Steve's suggestion, I've got all the electric things plugged into a socket with a GFCI on it. That's a devise that's supposed to cut the power off if there's a ground so fast that there won't be a fire or electrocution.

That's a good idea, putting it in a tub! Fortunatly for me, it was clean water that leaked.
I'm not sure if the socket it's plugged into has a GFCI, I'll have to find out. It didn't even occur to me about a short or something with that water... The plug is up off the ground though, which is a good thing.

A GFCI outlet will have a Test and Reset button in the middle of it. The other way to protect an outlet is to run it off of another GFCI outlet upstream on the same circuit or to have a GFCI circuit breaker on the breaker panel (more expensive but it covers the entire circuit). Most building codes now require GFCI in bathrooms and kitchens.

The rubber seal was the main culprit with my leaky Fluval. Make sure its seated properly... I think they also sell lube for it.

Before you put the housing back on, rub a small amount of silicone lube on the rubber seal (you could use Vasiline, or KY in a pinch). Then clamp it down evenly.