123 reviews for Aquarium Sponge Filter for 5-20 Gallon Tanks
Rated 4 out of 5
Ye Ye –
I am replacing my power filters with sponge filters in order to run a whole fish room with a single pump. I ordered the medium size, which is the larger of the two sizes available, and put it in 29 gallon (high) tank. This filter came with two sponges already installed. Two sponges of this size are too much for this filter. They don¡¯t sit well or look good together. They put a lot of pressure on the cap and cause it to pop off. I think it is best to keep one of the sponges as spare. A single sponge was not tall enough to cover the entire air bar, but it eventually swelled enough to cover it. I think there could be a second piece of air bar, the height matching that of the sponge. This way, using single or double sponge would be optional and the filter could be adjusted to the size of the tank. An L-connector came as a separate part for air tube attachment. One end of it is inserted into the base of the filter. I was afraid that I could break the L-connector or the filter base itself while attaching the air tube, because the connector is not supported by anything other than the hole in the base. The filter kept floating (even after squeezing the air out of it) and when it finally sank, it barely sat on the bottom. I think if the filter material in the base were a little heavier, the filter would be anchored to the bottom much better. It eventually settled and now works fine. All in all, this is a good size filter with ample room to harbor beneficial bacteria, and it works, but there is room for improvement in its design.
Rated 4 out of 5
Customer Review –
I keep trying to find the ultimate sweet spot in keeping my African Drawf frog tank clean. I keep leaning toward this type of filter with the physical filtration sponge, which can be replaced, and the ceramic beads which are also replaceable and I keep those on hand as well, the beads act as the biochemical filtration. In my opinion, these types of filters seem to work better than the carbon ones. The price is reasonable so you are not losing much money if it doesn’t work out. I also use a skimmer along with a filter and so far this filter is doing a decent job. You will need an air pump, a hose, and an air stone to run this filter of which I have several. The good part is that you can clean the sponge and ceramic beads a few times before they need replacing. I dip my sponge in pure vinegar and rinse it well with hot water, I also rinse my ceramic beads with vinegar and rinse well with hot water. I do not let the sponge or beads soak in the vinegar as vinegar can eventually dissolve these things. I ordered the small sponge filter and it sits nicely in my tank, I feel it is safe for my two frogs. I would order this filter again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Nathan –
great air powered filter. fine foam helps get rid invest particles and helps polish the water. extra foam filter they supply allows for a quick and easy change and clean up. weighted base keeps it in pace. soft edges make this ideal for the most delicate of fish such as injured or even goldfish with big eyes, which is where mine is. Highly recommend this filter as an option for your successful fishkeeping.
Rated 5 out of 5
Hei Hei –
I am a teacher, and we made a cookie container fish tank (just over two gallons) for our kids out of random items left around the house. We have three neon tetras, a snail named Turbo, two glow fish neon tetras–one yellow and one orange, and a black kuhli loach. Yes, that’s a lot of fish in one small tank, but with a 20-gallon filter, it’s not an issue. This filter has been nothing short of amazing!
We tried this before with three minnows. The water was quickly cloudy, and the experiment didn’t last long. Then we decided to use an oversized filter. It’s been the best decision!
The tank sets in the kids’ room, and they love it. There is always action to watch.
Rated 5 out of 5
Hannah –
I switched this out with a smaller sponge filter that was in my 20 long (put my sponge filter in a different tank to instantly cycle that one) and this one has been working so well! I have a hob on the other side so I didnt lose my cycle but my tank water seems cleaner the longer Ive had it running so I think it has lots of area for beneficial bacteria and the size definitely looks like it has plenty of surface area Im very happy with this filter
Rated 5 out of 5
TGY –
The sponge filter works just like other sponge filters do. The difference here is that at the bottom of this filter, there are media balls to hold beneficial bacteria as the water passes through them. The only problem I see here is that, I don¡¯t think there will be a lot of water going through them as all the slots are on top of the box and on the tube. Maybe if the tube didn¡¯t have slots so the water is forced to go through the filter into the media chamber and then out the tube, that way there is water flow through the media chamber. In this design, it is like using a straw with holes in it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Matthew Holloway –
This is a unique filter, and I really like it. It produces more and smaller bubbles than any other sponge filter I have used. I don’t have as many problems with splashing out of the top as I do with other filters. I am using it in a UNS 30C which is 7.2 gallons. There is a lot of surface area on the sponge and my shrimp frequently hang out on it. I think this is a great option for those who don’t have fish in their aquariums.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ms. Peacock ?? –
I wanted an extra filter ,
bubbler in my new aquarium
to keep it spotless and give
the water extra oxygen-
This does it all.
It runs off my bubbler machine
and was super easy to install and use.
Squeeze out the air and it will sit on the bottom and do it¡¯s thing.
I kept both filters on it.
It works great !
It¡¯s not noisy just a
relaxing bubble sound
Rated 4 out of 5
Victoria M. –
In just 1 day my aquarium was crystal clear. I had already gone through 5 oher filters till I found this one that works great. I just wish it was prettier or had a better look, but it works and that’s what counts.
Rated 5 out of 5
Celeste Christman –
Easy to use, superior to other old fashioned sponge filters due to the bio ball chamber. Love the modern look of this square sponge filter, and it fits in the aquarium better too. Highly recommended, will buy more of these for my other aquariums.
Rated 4 out of 5
LO111 –
I really like this sponge filter. It was easy to set-up. The bio-filter pearls work well to help the beneficial bacteria to thrive. The sponge is easy to clean, just squeeze and rinse in clean water. It has a good stram of bubbles through the air stone to keep the water oxygenated.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ryan W –
Super easy to set up, and provides great filtration for something so small. Great for my 5 gallon tank. The extra filter media helps to house more beneficial bacteria than a sponge filter alone. Already thinking about getting some for my other tanks.
Rated 5 out of 5
Shaddii –
These used to be hard to find and expensive. I remember building my own out of soda bottles years and years ago. So nice to be able to pick up one for less that $15 and its already to go. These won¡¯t work instantly but will work great once they are properly cultured.
Quality of materials and construction is solid. The media in the bottom provides more than enough weight to keep it sunk.
Rated 4 out of 5
J. C –
Larger version compacts too sponge
Rated 5 out of 5
Lauren –
I¡¯ve been happy with it
Rated 5 out of 5
NickiJ –
This little submersible sponge filter worked great as a secondary filter for my 29gallon freshwater tank. It was a breeze to assemble and clean. Also, made a great ¡°perch¡± for my Cory cats.
Rated 5 out of 5
EE –
Using the same air pump as my last filter (not provided) this filter has more air flow and is doing much better at getting the debris from the tank and water. It is working really great and seems to be easy enough to clean.
Rated 5 out of 5
Carlotta Brainard –
This filter is very quiet.. although that would depend on the air pump you use. Very happy with it. A good size for my 20 long.. I prefer a larger filter and not undersized to keep the water clear.
Rated 5 out of 5
Raul Rodriguez –
Was looking for a replacement and I found this one. Works a lot better than I expected.
Rated 5 out of 5
Alex –
Works great, fits perfectly in corner of my 10g. Perfect for shrimp tanks actually. Great biological filter too.
Rated 5 out of 5
scoopz –
Great way to add a ton of oxygen into your tank!
Rated 5 out of 5
dana farris –
Great filter design i am going to attach it to a power head for better flow. it
Rated 5 out of 5
Karina –
The product does not come with an air pump or tubing so you will have to buy that separate. I’d say this is a good choice if you are planning on doing a simple aquarium set up for a Betta or other fish that does not need an extreme filter or movement in the tank. I can’t remember if the product came with an air stone or if I had to install it but air stones are pretty cheap on here so it’s not too much of a problem to supply. It is very easy to set up and I prefer this over the pack of sponges I had bought.
Rated 5 out of 5
Herringmommy –
We loved how small this and how quiet it is! We put this in our smaller tank and loved how nice it is working, makes plenty of bubbles to keeps air in the tank for the fish and it does prevent us from needing to clean as often. We loved it so much in our smaller tank we bought one for our larger tank! The sponges are easy to clean you just run them under water and squeeze out the extra water until it runs clean. Before placing in tank make sure you run them under water so they get up to size.
Rated 5 out of 5
dwight –
Really keeps the water clear. Dual bio filters.
Rated 5 out of 5
Denise Westmoreland –
very easy to install- produced many bubbles.
Rated 4 out of 5
Emily –
When I first got this in my tank it was strong the bubbles really came out nice after a month it¡¯s not working the same. It¡¯s not as powerful as it use to be. The bubbles come out weak. Keeps the tank clean I just wish it would work like it use to.
Rated 5 out of 5
Stephen & Andrea Martini –
Sponge filter was as described and works great. Easy to set up and use.
Rated 5 out of 5
alisha brown –
This filter works great! It was very easy to put together
I feel confident that it will do its job.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ryan Allerton –
The foam on this filter is very fine which is ideal for beneficial bacteria to grow in. The nosel which the air comes through does a great job at producing smaller bubbles so it’s jot to disturb the water surface to much. Great bang for your buck buy to get your betta tank started! Plus it came with extra filter media once the first one is wore out!
Rated 5 out of 5
Collin Kelley –
It’s quite and does a great job. Enough surface agitation for a 20g long. My shrimp of all sizes love it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Laura –
I have a 5 gal betta tank. I have to say this filter is very good! I was surprised to see the water looked great the next day. It was super easy to install. It sunk right away I actually pushed in into the sand. My betta checks it out so I guess he¡¯s ok with it. I was going to over the back filter but I¡¯m very happy with this sponge filer. They give you 2 of them which is a bonus but I¡¯d rather not switch out to new for beneficial bacteria purposes so the second one is kinda a waist for me.
Rated 5 out of 5
Bill –
Ive only had it for 3 days in my tank there are no clear directions on connecting !nything so far it is working we will see in the future
Rated 5 out of 5
Jennifer Sorensen –
Works very well! Had my tank clearer than when I changed the water!
It¡¯s quiet and you can¡¯t beat a filter/air stone in one since it takes up less space.
My fish are also doing very well with the new filter! I am very pleased with this purchase
Rated 4 out of 5
Chelsea Kimball –
Works well super quiet however does float a teeny tiny bit when you first put it in. Wish it was prettier but what do you do. It’s functional and there is no longer a little waterfall going when the water gets low. ??¡â?
Rated 5 out of 5
susan –
So far I love it. It’s not even been 24 hrs but a totally new/difference type of filtering my 40 gal aquarium. (No longer using the hang on the side filter) love it
Rated 5 out of 5
Lori V. –
I am a huge proponent of sponge filters. I like this one better than the regular plain sponges because of the extra filter medium in the bottom which helps breed more healthy bacteria that the tank needs. This needs time to cycle and grow bacteria before adding fish, but once that is done you’re good to go. To clean it, I just remove it from the tank and give it a few squeezes in a bucket then put it back. You can rinse it, but ONLY with TANK WATER! Otherwise, you can damage the healthy ecosystem that should occur in an aquarium.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisa Tobleman –
I love this small sponge filter. It came with two sponges (so one to use now and a replacement) as well as filter media for the bottom basket. I replaced the media with the type I use in my canister but that¡¯s a personal preference the media it came with looks like the type used in Eheim canister filters. You plug the air hose in after rinsing the whole thing and voila. This lives inside my 100gal tank to use whenever I need a filter for a hospital or quarantine tank which means I can¡¯t say if it works for more than the two or three weeks I¡¯ve used it for that but when in my 5gal hospital tank it did a good aerating and some manual filtering with me changing water as needed. I would definitely buy again since these filters are made of plastic and do degrade over time. The Only thing I didn¡¯t like was how hard it was to get the filter media grate off without damaging the base. Other than that perfect.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kwame –
Its worth it for the price, first sponge filter.. Better than those that hang over the tank with the waterfall loud noise
Rated 5 out of 5
Kole&Cody –
This is keeping my outside pond so crystal clear my goldfish are happy I¡¯m happy
Rated 5 out of 5
ari –
I¡¯ve have to constantly change the water every 2 days for my goldfish because they had a lot of droppings and the water just got cloudy so fast. This filter works quite nice and is so far clearing the water (it¡¯s been about 6 hours in and no cloudiness at all).
Rated 5 out of 5
Jacob –
Very nice bubble flow
Rated 4 out of 5
AmazonCustomer –
Huge sponge filter. Comes with very good biological media. My only complaint is that the sponges are ugly. They are not as symmetrical as shown on the pictures. But the product works.
Rated 5 out of 5
Annabelle –
I’ve had this little filter (small) for a 5-20gal, I have a 20gal with two hang on the back aquatech 5-15 and now this! been running for 4 days now and my water is crystal clear the only thing I didn’t like so much is the speed of the bubbles which really don’t have nothing to do with the product itself they all seem to do that so to solve that issue got some of those little control valves to attach to the the airline (see photos) and that worked perfectly my fish don’t like a lot of fast bubbles!!! The one thing I do want to address is apparently the folks making those how to set up videos didn’t read the instructions in their product description as all of them showed them putting two sponges when only one is called for the other is an extra! What I did for set up is follow the directions rinsed the whole thing set it in some dechlorinated water and squeezed the sponge until I felt it was well saturated squeezed it out to add it to the tank and squeezed it full of water once it was in the tank until it sank to the bottom hid it behind some plants in the back and presto worked like a charm! I think if U want additional filtration in yur tank this is a great filter so far, I also have one of those battery back up air pumps so if the electric goes out I have aeration and filtration!!!! AMAZON is AMAZING!
Rated 5 out of 5
Shelby –
It has my tank looking nice
Rated 5 out of 5
jb11 –
I have a half-moon 3.5 gallon tank, with one betta, some live plants and some snails. The filters that come with the tanks are much too small. My poor betta was so sleepy and lethargic, clearly not getting enough oxygen, so I purchased this filter (along with the recommended hose and electric pump). It was incredibly easy to set up (note: once the sponge is filled with water, it rests nicely at the bottom). It has a little valve so you have total control of the air flow. It’s also very easy to clean! Mr. Wick is now his active, perky and playful li’l self. He now likes to hang out close to the filter and play in the bubbles. 🙂
Rated 4 out of 5
Brenda Mendofik –
These are bigger then expected and they accumulate lots of debris under the filter that when you lift it, a lot of junk goes into the tank water
Rated 5 out of 5
RyLee K. –
First of all, the manufacturer’s video for this product was great! I strongly suggest you watch THAT video before you watch the videos associated with reviews! I did. Then, when I watched the first 3 customer review videos, I was surprised. Yes, I was laughing, BUT I’m sure they’re nice people as they were considerate in making a video, so I hope they figure it out. Or perhaps, that’s the way they want to use this filter. I mean, even I am not going to use this in the exact and intended manner! They were leaving the TWO sponges intact, as it was shipped! Now, that won’t kill your fish, but water has to be able to flow, to some significant degree through the sponge. The sponge is already quite dense which increases the surface area exponentially, allowing more beneficial bacteria to grow and consequently allowing that bacteria colony to consume more microscopic feces before it turns into ammonia,…so smooshing two sponges together (which btw was a smart thing for the manufacturer to do because it saves them a whole lot on shipping, on storing inventory, on the costs for packaging, etc.), blocks the water flow that you would have benefitted from. At first I was hesitant to comment on this, but I figure, I better share the limited knowledge I have …and someone may correct me if I am wrong, and then I can learn too.
The material seems sturdy enough, but I learned the hard way not to tinker too much, or else I’ll have a full-on MacGyver job on my hands. The sponge seems like it’s dense and made of good stuff that will last. Sometimes sponges arrive with a foul smell; not these. But JIC, I’m soaked them and rinsed them well.
The plastic topper/cap that anchors the sponge seems to fit best if you line up the clamps and the grooves. These are tiny, so you have to look closely. This plastic might not last for years, but it’ll do for now.
In order to access the compartment where the ceramic bio balls are, you have to use a thin, flat screwdriver or something comparable. This is not the greatest design for me to be changing out the carbon, but hey, I created this challenge for myself by not using this filter in the exact way prescribed. Again, the plastic itself, as well as the open-close repetition will eventually break the areas that snap into place. I accept. So… I threw out the bio balls. I added my pelletized carbon, reassembled everything and then squeezed the air out of the sponge as I tried to submerse the filter. Because my air pump is so strong and because there is not any significant weight to hold the contraption DOWN without the bio balls, I had to open everything back up and add a couple of stones for weight. None of the carbon has escaped yet, so that’s success 🙂 And it stayed down.
The bubbles. OMG it’s a geyser of large sized air bubbles. I have a super strong air pump… with a cheap, crappy gang valve (but that is really the only kind in our local pet stores), so it was either feast or famine because there is no such thing as fine-tune adjustment on a cheap gang valve! There does not seem to be an airstone within the column, and after I tried to pull on the pieces a little… I decided not fix something that ain’t broken. So it just comes gushing out Not a bad thing, I guess.
Since a lot of the pieces, as well as how they are assembled, are shown in the manufacturer’s video, I avoided posting any of the parts. The video here shows my two sponge filters running. The one at the edge is the typical sponge on a pedestal. The one which is more or less centered in my video is the AQQA filter.
I think this is a nice looking sponge filter. It is definitely not the ghetto, cheap clear plastic “box filters” of the 1980s where you added filter wool and “charcoal”. Nor is it the typical round sponge filter on a pedestal that just looks ugly. If I had a display tank that required a sponge filter, this is the one I would choose. For me, I wanted to add chemical filtration to my pond where I breed veil tail rosy barbs. I am hoping this filter keeps them healthier and allows me at least a few day more between water changes.
Rated 5 out of 5
RyLee K. –
First of all, the manufacturer’s video for this product was great! I strongly suggest you watch THAT video before you watch the videos associated with reviews! I did. Then, when I watched the first 3 customer review videos, I was surprised. Yes, I was laughing, BUT I’m sure they’re nice people as they were considerate in making a video, so I hope they figure it out. Or perhaps, that’s the way they want to use this filter. I mean, even I am not going to use this in the exact and intended manner! They were leaving the TWO sponges intact, as it was shipped! Now, that won’t kill your fish, but water has to be able to flow, to some significant degree through the sponge. The sponge is already quite dense which increases the surface area exponentially, allowing more beneficial bacteria to grow and consequently allowing that bacteria colony to consume more microscopic feces before it turns into ammonia,…so smooshing two sponges together (which btw was a smart thing for the manufacturer to do because it saves them a whole lot on shipping, on storing inventory, on the costs for packaging, etc.), blocks the water flow that you would have benefitted from. At first I was hesitant to comment on this, but I figure, I better share the limited knowledge I have …and someone may correct me if I am wrong, and then I can learn too.
The material seems sturdy enough, but I learned the hard way not to tinker too much, or else I’ll have a full-on MacGyver job on my hands. The sponge seems like it’s dense and made of good stuff that will last. Sometimes sponges arrive with a foul smell; not these. But JIC, I’m soaked them and rinsed them well.
The plastic topper/cap that anchors the sponge seems to fit best if you line up the clamps and the grooves. These are tiny, so you have to look closely. This plastic might not last for years, but it’ll do for now.
In order to access the compartment where the ceramic bio balls are, you have to use a thin, flat screwdriver or something comparable. This is not the greatest design for me to be changing out the carbon, but hey, I created this challenge for myself by not using this filter in the exact way prescribed. Again, the plastic itself, as well as the open-close repetition will eventually break the areas that snap into place. I accept. So… I threw out the bio balls. I added my pelletized carbon, reassembled everything and then squeezed the air out of the sponge as I tried to submerse the filter. Because my air pump is so strong and because there is not any significant weight to hold the contraption DOWN without the bio balls, I had to open everything back up and add a couple of stones for weight. None of the carbon has escaped yet, so that’s success 🙂 And it stayed down.
The bubbles. OMG it’s a geyser of large sized air bubbles. I have a super strong air pump… with a cheap, crappy gang valve (but that is really the only kind in our local pet stores), so it was either feast or famine because there is no such thing as fine-tune adjustment on a cheap gang valve! There does not seem to be an airstone within the column, and after I tried to pull on the pieces a little… I decided not fix something that ain’t broken. So it just comes gushing out Not a bad thing, I guess.
Since a lot of the pieces, as well as how they are assembled, are shown in the manufacturer’s video, I avoided posting any of the parts. The video here shows my two sponge filters running. The one at the edge is the typical sponge on a pedestal. The one which is more or less centered in my video is the AQQA filter.
I think this is a nice looking sponge filter. It is definitely not the ghetto, cheap clear plastic “box filters” of the 1980s where you added filter wool and “charcoal”. Nor is it the typical round sponge filter on a pedestal that just looks ugly. If I had a display tank that required a sponge filter, this is the one I would choose. For me, I wanted to add chemical filtration to my pond where I breed veil tail rosy barbs. I am hoping this filter keeps them healthier and allows me at least a few day more between water changes.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lucee –
Works great for my betta tank. Would recommend
Rated 5 out of 5
notsoNEWKINDLEUSER –
Works well, good for a smaller tank. Using on a beta 2.5 gallon tank and it works fine. Nice design and will buy again
Rated 5 out of 5
Susan –
Works beyond expectations! Is a great filter especially for the cost. You won¡¯t find a better filter
Rated 5 out of 5
Mary Puppo –
An excellent sponge filter for a 20 gallon tank with four fish, a betta and 3 catfish. They look great! This is also my first sponge filter and I couldn’t believe the amount of mess that came out with the first squeeze cleaning after 2 weeks. I definitely recommend it!
Rated 4 out of 5
Nicholas Hansen –
It¡¯s quiet and seems to do a good job cleaning the tank. Minus a star because it is nowhere near as visually appealing as pictures claim.
Rated 5 out of 5
James G. –
Using as a supplemental filter in my 55. Also have 2 HOB filters as well(big fan of over filtration). Looks exactly as pictured. I believe the problem others were having, is that they kept the spare sponge on as well. I just took one, rinsed it in the sink along with everything else, and it looks like this.. Good buy.
Rated 5 out of 5
Libby Watson –
Since buying this filter I haven’t had to clean my betta fishes tank. My water is clear and clean. I love this.
Rated 5 out of 5
Happy mom –
Rated 5 out of 5
Edon Lang –
The filter works great! It has been working for well over a month now. I’d recommend getting it for fish that can handle a stronger current. If you get it for a betta, make sure you have many hiding spots from the current.
Rated 5 out of 5
kayla vargas –
i have a small fish tank and this was the second filter i purchased
it works super well and its easy to clean
and keeps the tank clear and clean
Rated 5 out of 5
priscilla o. –
Cleans the tank wonderfully except it floats around the tank. Wish it came with a suction for the bottom
Rated 5 out of 5
Colorgirl –
I wanted to have an additional filter in my neon tank. I have a hang on the back filter, but I wanted to replace the air stone with this.
HOW THIS COMES
This comes with TWO sponges on the base. Take one off- it is a back up.
HOW TO PREPARE
Then you pull off the bottom panel, make sure it is full of stones. You put ONE sponge back on the spindle and lock it in place. Hook up the hose to the place on the unit. When you put this in the tank, squeeze the sponge until it is full of water. (Rinse sponge out first in sink to be sure it is clean). Then this will sink to the bottom.
DOES IT HELP?
This does help keep the water cleaner. I like how simple it is and that it gives more air than just a tiny bubble stone. It helps keep the water cleaner in between water changes too.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This helps with my 5 gallon neon tank.
MY RATING
FIVE STARS. I would consider getting another one of these for my other tanks in the future. It is nice as an additional filter for smaller tanks. The larger one would be good for medium tanks.
Rated 5 out of 5
Rachel –
I¡¯m the type of person who likes to physically see that something is working. Unfortunately when using this item, I cannot tell if it¡¯s actually working or not. So I returned it, in exchange for your typical HOB filter.
Prior to purchasing this item, I came across video on YT on how to optimize sponge filters. People do not know that the flow rate of your air pump / air stone / bubbles, plays a major role with how much water (if any at all) is being sucked through the sponge.
I looked to see if there was a recommended air flow rate required to optimally run this filter, but I could not find anything.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sarah –
I absolutely love this design. It’s sturdy, blends in behind plants, and does a fantastic job filtering. 10/10 would recommend.
Rated 5 out of 5
UtahCamper –
Really liked the design and function. Be aware that it include two sponges. Only use one at a time, the second sponge is a replacement. I found this sponge filter to look much better then the standard sponge filter. the sponge is a very fine porous so may clog quicker but does a very good job clarifying the water. Can be cleaned by removing the sponge and squeezing in aquarium water .
Rated 4 out of 5
Emily D –
Works well and easy to put together. The only issue I faced was that the filter kept floating. After doing some research I found that all you have to do is squeeze the sponge underwater a few times. After doing that my filter stays to the bottom of the tank.
Rated 4 out of 5
Frank Hosbach –
I have this in my tank now and seems to be working great so far with great air flow. I did have a piece break before ever using which I fixed with wire tie to have it work. The inside middle where air bubbles come up has two plastic pieces that hold with little plastic clips that do not hold well because sponge is so big. While putting it on the little clip broke. You can’t use it like that because sponge will not stay on. Luckily I got that wire to hold it down. Also the top which goes on top to hold sponge down comes off very easy that popped off a few times before I got it to stay. A few tweaks and this would be 5 star as of now it’s 3-4. I hate being negative so I’ll do 4 star but 3 is just also. Just needs to be made better on those pieces.
Rated 4 out of 5
Kristena –
I have a very small tank (8G), so it suits my purposes. It wanted to float up, so I used a rigid straw and connected it into my plant (aquaponics) system and now it doesn¡¯t float away. Good for my needs.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jennifer smith –
I put two of these in a 55 gallon tank , my tank is super quiet now and buddy it¡¯s never been cleaner ! I will be purchasing more of these for my other tanks!
Rated 5 out of 5
Terri –
This little filter is just what I was looking for. Highly recommend. Just perfect
Rated 5 out of 5
Capella –
My betta fish was in a 5 gallon tank with horrible fin rot and I’d tried everything at this point. The Indian almond leaves, aquarium salt, etc. I decided I would set up a hospital tank and I bought this filter. I took out the media balls and just used it for its mechanical filtration. It also came with an extra sponge so after my betta fish’s fin rot stopped getting worse I was able to just use this filter normally by rinsing it really well and throwing away the sponge used with all the medication. It’s in his main tank now and his fin rot hasn’t gotten worse since 🙂
Rated 5 out of 5
quartisol –
Effecient comes with bio filter balls
Rated 4 out of 5
John R Brazil –
It’s pretty cool as a bubbler. Not sure how great of a filter it is, I have a regular canister filter as well.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jassim Al-oboudi –
Amazing product, I’ve been having huge issues with DANGEROUSLY HIGH NITRITE levels, I’ve been doing water changes 25% every other day, since this also has bio media inside I decided to try it out even though I have 150gallon tank with the fluval fx6, my water is CRYSTAL CLEAR, and my NITRITE AND NITRATE levels FINALLY dropped significantly! NITRITE went from 5.0ppm to 0ppm in a week, my NITRATE went from 40ppm to 10ppm so still almost there! Great buy
Rated 5 out of 5
Fab Riv –
I like the easy clean up, removable sponge and beads. Cover is fragile so be careful when you remove to wash sponge. Also, when it arrived, it had both sponges on it. Remove one to save for later, you’ll need it in 6 months. Only problem I had was, trying to order a replacement of sponges and beads.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mamaw tete –
I bought one for each of my tanks because it works so good!
Rated 5 out of 5
tride –
only had it 1 day but everything as promised and the price is good
Rated 5 out of 5
Andrew Russo –
Dealing with cloudy water no more! Water is crystal clear. Not necessarily aesethetically pleasing, but works well
Rated 5 out of 5
Raymond J Ducharme –
Surprising good quality for such a low price. I¡¯m using this in a newly set up quarantine tank.
Rated 5 out of 5
Autumn –
I love sponge filters and this one comes with an extra sponge! I bought 2 for my 35 gal tank as it has a high bioload and they work great!
Rated 5 out of 5
Skynyrd1488 –
Have two of these going in a 75g in addition to an Fx4. Works great and also has some bio-filtration built in. Tip – they give you an additional sponge. Only use one sponge on the filter.
Rated 5 out of 5
Anne K. Simmons –
I¡¯ve had two (what I thought were) quality HOB filters quit on me. I woke up the other day to find the latest breakdown. Fortunately I had just bought one of these sponge filters. It cleaned up the cloudy water quickly and created nice, gentle circulation. And the shrimp like grazing on the sponge. I¡¯m expecting this to last longer than the other filters because of the simple design. The biggest downside is that it takes up a chunk of real estate in the tank.
Rated 5 out of 5
edo –
Great filter for a small tank and excellent customer service. When cleaning the filter, I found a broken tab that connects the filter to the base and contacted the seller. Even though it was a couple of months after buying it, the seller was quick to respond and sent me a replacement filter.
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
Does exactly what it is supposed to do! I pulled two false cack filters out of two tanks and replaced with these and have been nothing but impressed. I did swap out the bio-media with Seachem Matrix. Water quality has been great!
Rated 5 out of 5
Shawn –
I love my pump!! It keeps my tank so clean!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Ricky savage –
for the money this is more than i asked for. good flow and nize sized filter. good place to put your media and added carbon if wanting to. and very quiet i have this filter in a 55 gallon tank
Rated 5 out of 5
David Barrett –
This sponge filter setup is perfect for me. The description was accurate. It comes with an extra-replacement sponge. The compartment with the bio ceramic balls is awesome. If you don’t like the ceramic, you can put whatever you want in there including carbon. I would highly recommend. Kudos!
Rated 5 out of 5
Tim –
The shipping was fast and it works good. I have it in my 55gal tank and with regular water changes, I¡¯ve had no problems with it.
Rated 5 out of 5
A. Edmond –
I finally installed it in my fishtank. Normally when I clean the tank and add water to the tank ; it takes hours for the water to clear. This time, it took about an hour. I am really, really happy with this product. I will highly recommend it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Stephanie Knapp –
This is a great little filter – and works great in my 10 gallon tank with mystery snails and guppies.
Rated 5 out of 5
Graciano Batista –
excellent
Rated 5 out of 5
Sarah –
Great filters! Use them in all 4 of my tanks
Rated 5 out of 5
joan wolman –
This is the best little gadget to produce air bubbles! My beta loves to swim in them and just sit and let them rub on his body I guess it feels good to him. The size is great because it’s so small I can just put it in the corner of my aquarium and if there is no noise except the beautiful noise of the bubbles which puts you to sleep! The quality is exceptional considering the price.
Rated 5 out of 5
RosaRoe –
This is a great filter! Especially for the price. It works so well in my 30 gallon tank. It’s pretty big, so I wouldn’t recommend it for smaller tanks.
Rated 5 out of 5
HMJ –
I love the concept of how this works
Rated 5 out of 5
jessica folger –
Got this for my axolotl tank. I love it it’s easy to use and easy to clean
Rated 5 out of 5
deborah hall –
Great, easy to use works wonderfully. I would and have ordered again.
Rated 5 out of 5
ASA YAMA –
This is a great filter!
Plan to buy more.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ellen West –
The filter seems to work well so far. Only one week in the tank but no complaints. Remember to remove the extra sponge before putting it in the tank.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dan The Man –
I have this attached to a little Whisper 10 pump, filtering a 20 gallon long cherry shrimp tank with probably only 10 gallons of water in it. It works well! I’m a beginning aquarist and can’t really assess it relative to the competition, but it’s doing the job for my shrimp! Make sure to remove the spare filter which is jammed in. For me it sunk readily after squeezing it a few times. It does seem neutrally buoyant for me, so maybe some people with waters of different specific gravity will have it float, ymmv. 3 months in and I don’t see any signs of it clogging, since the shrimp bioload is so minor. I did clean it once and it has the same smell as the shallow sediment of a lake, so probably full of good bacteria. It makes vigorous bubbles that help oxygenate the water and also allow CO2 to offgas. The shrimp seem to sometimes graze on it, which is cool to see! It’s not the most beautiful product, but performance and price are good!
Rated 5 out of 5
Callie Lily –
Cleans out debris, oxygenated the tank, very quiet, wonderful product. The fish are lively and happy with it.
Rated 5 out of 5
jacqueline charneske –
Used for axilata tank. Have 3 and they work very well
Rated 4 out of 5
jameshspencerjr –
This filter works well
Rated 5 out of 5
carlos lopez –
Cleared up my tank quick. Great value.
Rated 5 out of 5
Abraham –
Nice sponge filter that I can barely see in the back of my tank thanks to all my plants, I know is there because I see bubbles.
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
I upgraded my fish from a 10 gallon to a 20 gallon and decided to get them some better filtration/aeration. The sand I moved over was absolutely filthy, my last filter just wasn’t talking care of the dirt and had almost no flow.
This one turned that gross, murky water crystal clear in just over 24 hours. Not only that, but it has a whole compartment for filter media and the dirt on the sponge doesn’t impact the aeration whatsoever, giving me more time to wait before I need to clean it off.
Love the functionality and ease with this. It came almost completely pre-assembled, just needed to be hooked up to the air pump. I think this is a great value for what I spent, and isn’t too big inside the tank, making it easily hidden behind plants or decorations.
I’m completely blown away on how well it holds onto the dirt in my aquarium without clogging anything, I may eventually get a larger one for one of my bigger aquariums. I’d definitely recommend this to any beginner aquarists, especially those who are too busy for frequent maintenance.
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
I upgraded my fish from a 10 gallon to a 20 gallon and decided to get them some better filtration/aeration. The sand I moved over was absolutely filthy, my last filter just wasn’t talking care of the dirt and had almost no flow.
This one turned that gross, murky water crystal clear in just over 24 hours. Not only that, but it has a whole compartment for filter media and the dirt on the sponge doesn’t impact the aeration whatsoever, giving me more time to wait before I need to clean it off.
Love the functionality and ease with this. It came almost completely pre-assembled, just needed to be hooked up to the air pump. I think this is a great value for what I spent, and isn’t too big inside the tank, making it easily hidden behind plants or decorations.
I’m completely blown away on how well it holds onto the dirt in my aquarium without clogging anything, I may eventually get a larger one for one of my bigger aquariums. I’d definitely recommend this to any beginner aquarists, especially those who are too busy for frequent maintenance.
Rated 5 out of 5
Miss Kitty –
We didn’t expect too much with these considering the price but we ended up buying 3 more for all our tanks. They’re silent and work great!
Rated 5 out of 5
June Angel Mejia –
Super quiet! Even looks good in my fish tank.
Rated 5 out of 5
Patricia Spurgeon –
Helping g clean up my tanks, I have 2 of these now.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gaming On Board –
So, I purchased the medium one and it already came assembled (which was nice!) the only thing I had to move was the extra sponge. I cleaned my tank, added fresh water and submerged the filter like it says. I squeezed until all the air bubbles were out however, I can’t get it to sit. It lightly floats and my frogs can easily get under it. Other than that, it cleared my tank up within 30mins after the clean. I definitely like this a lot better than the last filter I used.
Rated 4 out of 5
Cee –
I only gave it 4 stars because the air stone that comes with it doesn’t work so I took it out. I’ll try to find a better air stone to put in there.
Rated 5 out of 5
Daniel Vargas –
Works great love it, gave it a poor review at first but didn¡¯t read instructions that there was an extra sponge
Rated 5 out of 5
Sergio A –
Works good, not noisy, good price, easy to install.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sergio A –
Works good, not noisy, good price, easy to install.
Rated 3 out of 5
johnson –
good for baby tank but doesnt keep tank very clean
Rated 5 out of 5
Steven P –
It releases finer bubbles compared to basic sponge filters, which generates much more lift, hence increases efficiency. Plus, bio balls at the bottom helps culturing bacteria. Very good product
Rated 5 out of 5
Steven P –
It releases finer bubbles compared to basic sponge filters, which generates much more lift, hence increases efficiency. Plus, bio balls at the bottom helps culturing bacteria. Very good product
Rated 5 out of 5
Candra France –
Working great worth getting
Rated 5 out of 5
Candra France –
Working great worth getting
Rated 5 out of 5
QineusP –
Pretty good product! Most of the bad reviews i saw on here were from people who are clearly new to the hobby and had complaints like it looks bulky and ugly, ¡°i didn¡¯t know you need an air pump¡± ??¡á?, ¡°why is my filter floating¡±, or complaints about it getting dirty¡ if any of these are your issue, do a little research on what a sponge filter is and how it works¡ i will give you a run down of what i think about this filter¡ the truth is i gave it 5 stars, but really i wish I could give a 4.5 rating and here is why:
Pro¡¯s:
1) gives a good flow.
2) extra bio media at the bottom is a great idea! Makes more surface area for nitrifying bacteria.
3) very affordable for what you get!
4) i like the ability to down-stack it for shallower setups.
Con¡¯s:
1) does not come with air-stone, nor can you add 1¡ (though i feel that the dispersion system it uses is pretty sufficient for most uses by itself already, and it isn¡¯t super loud or anything)
2) could be made with better plastics¡ (though for the price you get it for this is understandable).
3) is a little bulkier than other filters of the same caliber (although this is not a problem for me as my fish are pets not decorations, and i can always scape a tank to hide this if i want to set up a more display oriented tank).
Overall this is an excellent product. If you do get this, keep in mind that you do need an air pump and lining to make this work. You should also make sure to have some way to control air flow (either an adjustable pump, or just an air control valve) and a check valve. Also know that sponge filers, unlike hanging filters, take up floor space of your tank¡
Rated 5 out of 5
Aneta –
This filter is great. It does the job. I had cloudy water problem with my tank and since I put in this filter ( 4 weeks already) the water has been clear the whole time. Plus it¡¯s nice and small and my plant completely covered it.
Rated 5 out of 5
OGSanFrancisco –
I did some needed modifications and upgrades on my 50 gallon Blue Dream Shrimp Aquascape.
I previously utilized one submersible electric powerhead filter paired with one hang on back filter for this tank, but I actually had much too much flow in the Shrimp really did not like it¡ I replaced it with one large a QQA sponge filter and not only is my water cleaner and clear, but my shrimp are breeding like they never have¡ It shipped on time all the parts were in the box. It was an easy assembly and install¡ I have multiple tanks. These are the only filters I will use from here on out. I am a very satisfied customer¡ When I do water changes, I utilize the water change water to rinse out the sponge filter. It only takes minutes to clean it and get it back online in the tank¡ It is a quality product that does a top quality job.
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
I’ve had this in my planted shrimp and betta thank for a couple years and it’s been great. Keeps the water clear and aerates without creating too strong a current for these small creatures. Baby shrimp don’t get sucked in, in fact they like picking at the detritus on the sponge. You will need a small air pump, some air line, and maybe an air regulator valve for it. I know that sounds complicated, but it’s easy and inexpensive.
Ye Ye –
I am replacing my power filters with sponge filters in order to run a whole fish room with a single pump. I ordered the medium size, which is the larger of the two sizes available, and put it in 29 gallon (high) tank. This filter came with two sponges already installed. Two sponges of this size are too much for this filter. They don¡¯t sit well or look good together. They put a lot of pressure on the cap and cause it to pop off. I think it is best to keep one of the sponges as spare. A single sponge was not tall enough to cover the entire air bar, but it eventually swelled enough to cover it. I think there could be a second piece of air bar, the height matching that of the sponge. This way, using single or double sponge would be optional and the filter could be adjusted to the size of the tank. An L-connector came as a separate part for air tube attachment. One end of it is inserted into the base of the filter. I was afraid that I could break the L-connector or the filter base itself while attaching the air tube, because the connector is not supported by anything other than the hole in the base. The filter kept floating (even after squeezing the air out of it) and when it finally sank, it barely sat on the bottom. I think if the filter material in the base were a little heavier, the filter would be anchored to the bottom much better. It eventually settled and now works fine. All in all, this is a good size filter with ample room to harbor beneficial bacteria, and it works, but there is room for improvement in its design.
Customer Review –
I keep trying to find the ultimate sweet spot in keeping my African Drawf frog tank clean. I keep leaning toward this type of filter with the physical filtration sponge, which can be replaced, and the ceramic beads which are also replaceable and I keep those on hand as well, the beads act as the biochemical filtration. In my opinion, these types of filters seem to work better than the carbon ones. The price is reasonable so you are not losing much money if it doesn’t work out. I also use a skimmer along with a filter and so far this filter is doing a decent job. You will need an air pump, a hose, and an air stone to run this filter of which I have several. The good part is that you can clean the sponge and ceramic beads a few times before they need replacing. I dip my sponge in pure vinegar and rinse it well with hot water, I also rinse my ceramic beads with vinegar and rinse well with hot water. I do not let the sponge or beads soak in the vinegar as vinegar can eventually dissolve these things. I ordered the small sponge filter and it sits nicely in my tank, I feel it is safe for my two frogs. I would order this filter again.
Nathan –
great air powered filter. fine foam helps get rid invest particles and helps polish the water. extra foam filter they supply allows for a quick and easy change and clean up. weighted base keeps it in pace. soft edges make this ideal for the most delicate of fish such as injured or even goldfish with big eyes, which is where mine is. Highly recommend this filter as an option for your successful fishkeeping.
Hei Hei –
I am a teacher, and we made a cookie container fish tank (just over two gallons) for our kids out of random items left around the house. We have three neon tetras, a snail named Turbo, two glow fish neon tetras–one yellow and one orange, and a black kuhli loach. Yes, that’s a lot of fish in one small tank, but with a 20-gallon filter, it’s not an issue. This filter has been nothing short of amazing!
We tried this before with three minnows. The water was quickly cloudy, and the experiment didn’t last long. Then we decided to use an oversized filter. It’s been the best decision!
The tank sets in the kids’ room, and they love it. There is always action to watch.
Hannah –
I switched this out with a smaller sponge filter that was in my 20 long (put my sponge filter in a different tank to instantly cycle that one) and this one has been working so well! I have a hob on the other side so I didnt lose my cycle but my tank water seems cleaner the longer Ive had it running so I think it has lots of area for beneficial bacteria and the size definitely looks like it has plenty of surface area Im very happy with this filter
TGY –
The sponge filter works just like other sponge filters do. The difference here is that at the bottom of this filter, there are media balls to hold beneficial bacteria as the water passes through them. The only problem I see here is that, I don¡¯t think there will be a lot of water going through them as all the slots are on top of the box and on the tube. Maybe if the tube didn¡¯t have slots so the water is forced to go through the filter into the media chamber and then out the tube, that way there is water flow through the media chamber. In this design, it is like using a straw with holes in it.
Matthew Holloway –
This is a unique filter, and I really like it. It produces more and smaller bubbles than any other sponge filter I have used. I don’t have as many problems with splashing out of the top as I do with other filters. I am using it in a UNS 30C which is 7.2 gallons. There is a lot of surface area on the sponge and my shrimp frequently hang out on it. I think this is a great option for those who don’t have fish in their aquariums.
Ms. Peacock ?? –
I wanted an extra filter ,
bubbler in my new aquarium
to keep it spotless and give
the water extra oxygen-
This does it all.
It runs off my bubbler machine
and was super easy to install and use.
Squeeze out the air and it will sit on the bottom and do it¡¯s thing.
I kept both filters on it.
It works great !
It¡¯s not noisy just a
relaxing bubble sound
Victoria M. –
In just 1 day my aquarium was crystal clear. I had already gone through 5 oher filters till I found this one that works great. I just wish it was prettier or had a better look, but it works and that’s what counts.
Celeste Christman –
Easy to use, superior to other old fashioned sponge filters due to the bio ball chamber. Love the modern look of this square sponge filter, and it fits in the aquarium better too. Highly recommended, will buy more of these for my other aquariums.
LO111 –
I really like this sponge filter. It was easy to set-up. The bio-filter pearls work well to help the beneficial bacteria to thrive. The sponge is easy to clean, just squeeze and rinse in clean water. It has a good stram of bubbles through the air stone to keep the water oxygenated.
Ryan W –
Super easy to set up, and provides great filtration for something so small. Great for my 5 gallon tank. The extra filter media helps to house more beneficial bacteria than a sponge filter alone. Already thinking about getting some for my other tanks.
Shaddii –
These used to be hard to find and expensive. I remember building my own out of soda bottles years and years ago. So nice to be able to pick up one for less that $15 and its already to go. These won¡¯t work instantly but will work great once they are properly cultured.
Quality of materials and construction is solid. The media in the bottom provides more than enough weight to keep it sunk.
J. C –
Larger version compacts too sponge
Lauren –
I¡¯ve been happy with it
NickiJ –
This little submersible sponge filter worked great as a secondary filter for my 29gallon freshwater tank. It was a breeze to assemble and clean. Also, made a great ¡°perch¡± for my Cory cats.
EE –
Using the same air pump as my last filter (not provided) this filter has more air flow and is doing much better at getting the debris from the tank and water. It is working really great and seems to be easy enough to clean.
Carlotta Brainard –
This filter is very quiet.. although that would depend on the air pump you use. Very happy with it. A good size for my 20 long.. I prefer a larger filter and not undersized to keep the water clear.
Raul Rodriguez –
Was looking for a replacement and I found this one. Works a lot better than I expected.
Alex –
Works great, fits perfectly in corner of my 10g. Perfect for shrimp tanks actually. Great biological filter too.
scoopz –
Great way to add a ton of oxygen into your tank!
dana farris –
Great filter design i am going to attach it to a power head for better flow. it
Karina –
The product does not come with an air pump or tubing so you will have to buy that separate. I’d say this is a good choice if you are planning on doing a simple aquarium set up for a Betta or other fish that does not need an extreme filter or movement in the tank. I can’t remember if the product came with an air stone or if I had to install it but air stones are pretty cheap on here so it’s not too much of a problem to supply. It is very easy to set up and I prefer this over the pack of sponges I had bought.
Herringmommy –
We loved how small this and how quiet it is! We put this in our smaller tank and loved how nice it is working, makes plenty of bubbles to keeps air in the tank for the fish and it does prevent us from needing to clean as often. We loved it so much in our smaller tank we bought one for our larger tank! The sponges are easy to clean you just run them under water and squeeze out the extra water until it runs clean. Before placing in tank make sure you run them under water so they get up to size.
dwight –
Really keeps the water clear. Dual bio filters.
Denise Westmoreland –
very easy to install- produced many bubbles.
Emily –
When I first got this in my tank it was strong the bubbles really came out nice after a month it¡¯s not working the same. It¡¯s not as powerful as it use to be. The bubbles come out weak. Keeps the tank clean I just wish it would work like it use to.
Stephen & Andrea Martini –
Sponge filter was as described and works great. Easy to set up and use.
alisha brown –
This filter works great! It was very easy to put together
I feel confident that it will do its job.
Ryan Allerton –
The foam on this filter is very fine which is ideal for beneficial bacteria to grow in. The nosel which the air comes through does a great job at producing smaller bubbles so it’s jot to disturb the water surface to much. Great bang for your buck buy to get your betta tank started! Plus it came with extra filter media once the first one is wore out!
Collin Kelley –
It’s quite and does a great job. Enough surface agitation for a 20g long. My shrimp of all sizes love it.
Laura –
I have a 5 gal betta tank. I have to say this filter is very good! I was surprised to see the water looked great the next day. It was super easy to install. It sunk right away I actually pushed in into the sand. My betta checks it out so I guess he¡¯s ok with it. I was going to over the back filter but I¡¯m very happy with this sponge filer. They give you 2 of them which is a bonus but I¡¯d rather not switch out to new for beneficial bacteria purposes so the second one is kinda a waist for me.
Bill –
Ive only had it for 3 days in my tank there are no clear directions on connecting !nything so far it is working we will see in the future
Jennifer Sorensen –
Works very well! Had my tank clearer than when I changed the water!
It¡¯s quiet and you can¡¯t beat a filter/air stone in one since it takes up less space.
My fish are also doing very well with the new filter! I am very pleased with this purchase
Chelsea Kimball –
Works well super quiet however does float a teeny tiny bit when you first put it in. Wish it was prettier but what do you do. It’s functional and there is no longer a little waterfall going when the water gets low. ??¡â?
susan –
So far I love it. It’s not even been 24 hrs but a totally new/difference type of filtering my 40 gal aquarium. (No longer using the hang on the side filter) love it
Lori V. –
I am a huge proponent of sponge filters. I like this one better than the regular plain sponges because of the extra filter medium in the bottom which helps breed more healthy bacteria that the tank needs. This needs time to cycle and grow bacteria before adding fish, but once that is done you’re good to go. To clean it, I just remove it from the tank and give it a few squeezes in a bucket then put it back. You can rinse it, but ONLY with TANK WATER! Otherwise, you can damage the healthy ecosystem that should occur in an aquarium.
Lisa Tobleman –
I love this small sponge filter. It came with two sponges (so one to use now and a replacement) as well as filter media for the bottom basket. I replaced the media with the type I use in my canister but that¡¯s a personal preference the media it came with looks like the type used in Eheim canister filters. You plug the air hose in after rinsing the whole thing and voila. This lives inside my 100gal tank to use whenever I need a filter for a hospital or quarantine tank which means I can¡¯t say if it works for more than the two or three weeks I¡¯ve used it for that but when in my 5gal hospital tank it did a good aerating and some manual filtering with me changing water as needed. I would definitely buy again since these filters are made of plastic and do degrade over time. The Only thing I didn¡¯t like was how hard it was to get the filter media grate off without damaging the base. Other than that perfect.
Kwame –
Its worth it for the price, first sponge filter.. Better than those that hang over the tank with the waterfall loud noise
Kole&Cody –
This is keeping my outside pond so crystal clear my goldfish are happy I¡¯m happy
ari –
I¡¯ve have to constantly change the water every 2 days for my goldfish because they had a lot of droppings and the water just got cloudy so fast. This filter works quite nice and is so far clearing the water (it¡¯s been about 6 hours in and no cloudiness at all).
Jacob –
Very nice bubble flow
AmazonCustomer –
Huge sponge filter. Comes with very good biological media. My only complaint is that the sponges are ugly. They are not as symmetrical as shown on the pictures. But the product works.
Annabelle –
I’ve had this little filter (small) for a 5-20gal, I have a 20gal with two hang on the back aquatech 5-15 and now this! been running for 4 days now and my water is crystal clear the only thing I didn’t like so much is the speed of the bubbles which really don’t have nothing to do with the product itself they all seem to do that so to solve that issue got some of those little control valves to attach to the the airline (see photos) and that worked perfectly my fish don’t like a lot of fast bubbles!!! The one thing I do want to address is apparently the folks making those how to set up videos didn’t read the instructions in their product description as all of them showed them putting two sponges when only one is called for the other is an extra! What I did for set up is follow the directions rinsed the whole thing set it in some dechlorinated water and squeezed the sponge until I felt it was well saturated squeezed it out to add it to the tank and squeezed it full of water once it was in the tank until it sank to the bottom hid it behind some plants in the back and presto worked like a charm! I think if U want additional filtration in yur tank this is a great filter so far, I also have one of those battery back up air pumps so if the electric goes out I have aeration and filtration!!!! AMAZON is AMAZING!
Shelby –
It has my tank looking nice
jb11 –
I have a half-moon 3.5 gallon tank, with one betta, some live plants and some snails. The filters that come with the tanks are much too small. My poor betta was so sleepy and lethargic, clearly not getting enough oxygen, so I purchased this filter (along with the recommended hose and electric pump). It was incredibly easy to set up (note: once the sponge is filled with water, it rests nicely at the bottom). It has a little valve so you have total control of the air flow. It’s also very easy to clean! Mr. Wick is now his active, perky and playful li’l self. He now likes to hang out close to the filter and play in the bubbles. 🙂
Brenda Mendofik –
These are bigger then expected and they accumulate lots of debris under the filter that when you lift it, a lot of junk goes into the tank water
RyLee K. –
First of all, the manufacturer’s video for this product was great! I strongly suggest you watch THAT video before you watch the videos associated with reviews! I did. Then, when I watched the first 3 customer review videos, I was surprised. Yes, I was laughing, BUT I’m sure they’re nice people as they were considerate in making a video, so I hope they figure it out. Or perhaps, that’s the way they want to use this filter. I mean, even I am not going to use this in the exact and intended manner! They were leaving the TWO sponges intact, as it was shipped! Now, that won’t kill your fish, but water has to be able to flow, to some significant degree through the sponge. The sponge is already quite dense which increases the surface area exponentially, allowing more beneficial bacteria to grow and consequently allowing that bacteria colony to consume more microscopic feces before it turns into ammonia,…so smooshing two sponges together (which btw was a smart thing for the manufacturer to do because it saves them a whole lot on shipping, on storing inventory, on the costs for packaging, etc.), blocks the water flow that you would have benefitted from. At first I was hesitant to comment on this, but I figure, I better share the limited knowledge I have …and someone may correct me if I am wrong, and then I can learn too.
The material seems sturdy enough, but I learned the hard way not to tinker too much, or else I’ll have a full-on MacGyver job on my hands. The sponge seems like it’s dense and made of good stuff that will last. Sometimes sponges arrive with a foul smell; not these. But JIC, I’m soaked them and rinsed them well.
The plastic topper/cap that anchors the sponge seems to fit best if you line up the clamps and the grooves. These are tiny, so you have to look closely. This plastic might not last for years, but it’ll do for now.
In order to access the compartment where the ceramic bio balls are, you have to use a thin, flat screwdriver or something comparable. This is not the greatest design for me to be changing out the carbon, but hey, I created this challenge for myself by not using this filter in the exact way prescribed. Again, the plastic itself, as well as the open-close repetition will eventually break the areas that snap into place. I accept. So… I threw out the bio balls. I added my pelletized carbon, reassembled everything and then squeezed the air out of the sponge as I tried to submerse the filter. Because my air pump is so strong and because there is not any significant weight to hold the contraption DOWN without the bio balls, I had to open everything back up and add a couple of stones for weight. None of the carbon has escaped yet, so that’s success 🙂 And it stayed down.
The bubbles. OMG it’s a geyser of large sized air bubbles. I have a super strong air pump… with a cheap, crappy gang valve (but that is really the only kind in our local pet stores), so it was either feast or famine because there is no such thing as fine-tune adjustment on a cheap gang valve! There does not seem to be an airstone within the column, and after I tried to pull on the pieces a little… I decided not fix something that ain’t broken. So it just comes gushing out Not a bad thing, I guess.
Since a lot of the pieces, as well as how they are assembled, are shown in the manufacturer’s video, I avoided posting any of the parts. The video here shows my two sponge filters running. The one at the edge is the typical sponge on a pedestal. The one which is more or less centered in my video is the AQQA filter.
I think this is a nice looking sponge filter. It is definitely not the ghetto, cheap clear plastic “box filters” of the 1980s where you added filter wool and “charcoal”. Nor is it the typical round sponge filter on a pedestal that just looks ugly. If I had a display tank that required a sponge filter, this is the one I would choose. For me, I wanted to add chemical filtration to my pond where I breed veil tail rosy barbs. I am hoping this filter keeps them healthier and allows me at least a few day more between water changes.
RyLee K. –
First of all, the manufacturer’s video for this product was great! I strongly suggest you watch THAT video before you watch the videos associated with reviews! I did. Then, when I watched the first 3 customer review videos, I was surprised. Yes, I was laughing, BUT I’m sure they’re nice people as they were considerate in making a video, so I hope they figure it out. Or perhaps, that’s the way they want to use this filter. I mean, even I am not going to use this in the exact and intended manner! They were leaving the TWO sponges intact, as it was shipped! Now, that won’t kill your fish, but water has to be able to flow, to some significant degree through the sponge. The sponge is already quite dense which increases the surface area exponentially, allowing more beneficial bacteria to grow and consequently allowing that bacteria colony to consume more microscopic feces before it turns into ammonia,…so smooshing two sponges together (which btw was a smart thing for the manufacturer to do because it saves them a whole lot on shipping, on storing inventory, on the costs for packaging, etc.), blocks the water flow that you would have benefitted from. At first I was hesitant to comment on this, but I figure, I better share the limited knowledge I have …and someone may correct me if I am wrong, and then I can learn too.
The material seems sturdy enough, but I learned the hard way not to tinker too much, or else I’ll have a full-on MacGyver job on my hands. The sponge seems like it’s dense and made of good stuff that will last. Sometimes sponges arrive with a foul smell; not these. But JIC, I’m soaked them and rinsed them well.
The plastic topper/cap that anchors the sponge seems to fit best if you line up the clamps and the grooves. These are tiny, so you have to look closely. This plastic might not last for years, but it’ll do for now.
In order to access the compartment where the ceramic bio balls are, you have to use a thin, flat screwdriver or something comparable. This is not the greatest design for me to be changing out the carbon, but hey, I created this challenge for myself by not using this filter in the exact way prescribed. Again, the plastic itself, as well as the open-close repetition will eventually break the areas that snap into place. I accept. So… I threw out the bio balls. I added my pelletized carbon, reassembled everything and then squeezed the air out of the sponge as I tried to submerse the filter. Because my air pump is so strong and because there is not any significant weight to hold the contraption DOWN without the bio balls, I had to open everything back up and add a couple of stones for weight. None of the carbon has escaped yet, so that’s success 🙂 And it stayed down.
The bubbles. OMG it’s a geyser of large sized air bubbles. I have a super strong air pump… with a cheap, crappy gang valve (but that is really the only kind in our local pet stores), so it was either feast or famine because there is no such thing as fine-tune adjustment on a cheap gang valve! There does not seem to be an airstone within the column, and after I tried to pull on the pieces a little… I decided not fix something that ain’t broken. So it just comes gushing out Not a bad thing, I guess.
Since a lot of the pieces, as well as how they are assembled, are shown in the manufacturer’s video, I avoided posting any of the parts. The video here shows my two sponge filters running. The one at the edge is the typical sponge on a pedestal. The one which is more or less centered in my video is the AQQA filter.
I think this is a nice looking sponge filter. It is definitely not the ghetto, cheap clear plastic “box filters” of the 1980s where you added filter wool and “charcoal”. Nor is it the typical round sponge filter on a pedestal that just looks ugly. If I had a display tank that required a sponge filter, this is the one I would choose. For me, I wanted to add chemical filtration to my pond where I breed veil tail rosy barbs. I am hoping this filter keeps them healthier and allows me at least a few day more between water changes.
Lucee –
Works great for my betta tank. Would recommend
notsoNEWKINDLEUSER –
Works well, good for a smaller tank. Using on a beta 2.5 gallon tank and it works fine. Nice design and will buy again
Susan –
Works beyond expectations! Is a great filter especially for the cost. You won¡¯t find a better filter
Mary Puppo –
An excellent sponge filter for a 20 gallon tank with four fish, a betta and 3 catfish. They look great! This is also my first sponge filter and I couldn’t believe the amount of mess that came out with the first squeeze cleaning after 2 weeks. I definitely recommend it!
Nicholas Hansen –
It¡¯s quiet and seems to do a good job cleaning the tank. Minus a star because it is nowhere near as visually appealing as pictures claim.
James G. –
Using as a supplemental filter in my 55. Also have 2 HOB filters as well(big fan of over filtration). Looks exactly as pictured. I believe the problem others were having, is that they kept the spare sponge on as well. I just took one, rinsed it in the sink along with everything else, and it looks like this.. Good buy.
Libby Watson –
Since buying this filter I haven’t had to clean my betta fishes tank. My water is clear and clean. I love this.
Happy mom –
Edon Lang –
The filter works great! It has been working for well over a month now. I’d recommend getting it for fish that can handle a stronger current. If you get it for a betta, make sure you have many hiding spots from the current.
kayla vargas –
i have a small fish tank and this was the second filter i purchased
it works super well and its easy to clean
and keeps the tank clear and clean
priscilla o. –
Cleans the tank wonderfully except it floats around the tank. Wish it came with a suction for the bottom
Colorgirl –
I wanted to have an additional filter in my neon tank. I have a hang on the back filter, but I wanted to replace the air stone with this.
HOW THIS COMES
This comes with TWO sponges on the base. Take one off- it is a back up.
HOW TO PREPARE
Then you pull off the bottom panel, make sure it is full of stones. You put ONE sponge back on the spindle and lock it in place. Hook up the hose to the place on the unit. When you put this in the tank, squeeze the sponge until it is full of water. (Rinse sponge out first in sink to be sure it is clean). Then this will sink to the bottom.
DOES IT HELP?
This does help keep the water cleaner. I like how simple it is and that it gives more air than just a tiny bubble stone. It helps keep the water cleaner in between water changes too.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This helps with my 5 gallon neon tank.
MY RATING
FIVE STARS. I would consider getting another one of these for my other tanks in the future. It is nice as an additional filter for smaller tanks. The larger one would be good for medium tanks.
Rachel –
I¡¯m the type of person who likes to physically see that something is working. Unfortunately when using this item, I cannot tell if it¡¯s actually working or not. So I returned it, in exchange for your typical HOB filter.
Prior to purchasing this item, I came across video on YT on how to optimize sponge filters. People do not know that the flow rate of your air pump / air stone / bubbles, plays a major role with how much water (if any at all) is being sucked through the sponge.
I looked to see if there was a recommended air flow rate required to optimally run this filter, but I could not find anything.
Sarah –
I absolutely love this design. It’s sturdy, blends in behind plants, and does a fantastic job filtering. 10/10 would recommend.
UtahCamper –
Really liked the design and function. Be aware that it include two sponges. Only use one at a time, the second sponge is a replacement. I found this sponge filter to look much better then the standard sponge filter. the sponge is a very fine porous so may clog quicker but does a very good job clarifying the water. Can be cleaned by removing the sponge and squeezing in aquarium water .
Emily D –
Works well and easy to put together. The only issue I faced was that the filter kept floating. After doing some research I found that all you have to do is squeeze the sponge underwater a few times. After doing that my filter stays to the bottom of the tank.
Frank Hosbach –
I have this in my tank now and seems to be working great so far with great air flow. I did have a piece break before ever using which I fixed with wire tie to have it work. The inside middle where air bubbles come up has two plastic pieces that hold with little plastic clips that do not hold well because sponge is so big. While putting it on the little clip broke. You can’t use it like that because sponge will not stay on. Luckily I got that wire to hold it down. Also the top which goes on top to hold sponge down comes off very easy that popped off a few times before I got it to stay. A few tweaks and this would be 5 star as of now it’s 3-4. I hate being negative so I’ll do 4 star but 3 is just also. Just needs to be made better on those pieces.
Kristena –
I have a very small tank (8G), so it suits my purposes. It wanted to float up, so I used a rigid straw and connected it into my plant (aquaponics) system and now it doesn¡¯t float away. Good for my needs.
Jennifer smith –
I put two of these in a 55 gallon tank , my tank is super quiet now and buddy it¡¯s never been cleaner ! I will be purchasing more of these for my other tanks!
Terri –
This little filter is just what I was looking for. Highly recommend. Just perfect
Capella –
My betta fish was in a 5 gallon tank with horrible fin rot and I’d tried everything at this point. The Indian almond leaves, aquarium salt, etc. I decided I would set up a hospital tank and I bought this filter. I took out the media balls and just used it for its mechanical filtration. It also came with an extra sponge so after my betta fish’s fin rot stopped getting worse I was able to just use this filter normally by rinsing it really well and throwing away the sponge used with all the medication. It’s in his main tank now and his fin rot hasn’t gotten worse since 🙂
quartisol –
Effecient comes with bio filter balls
John R Brazil –
It’s pretty cool as a bubbler. Not sure how great of a filter it is, I have a regular canister filter as well.
Jassim Al-oboudi –
Amazing product, I’ve been having huge issues with DANGEROUSLY HIGH NITRITE levels, I’ve been doing water changes 25% every other day, since this also has bio media inside I decided to try it out even though I have 150gallon tank with the fluval fx6, my water is CRYSTAL CLEAR, and my NITRITE AND NITRATE levels FINALLY dropped significantly! NITRITE went from 5.0ppm to 0ppm in a week, my NITRATE went from 40ppm to 10ppm so still almost there! Great buy
Fab Riv –
I like the easy clean up, removable sponge and beads. Cover is fragile so be careful when you remove to wash sponge. Also, when it arrived, it had both sponges on it. Remove one to save for later, you’ll need it in 6 months. Only problem I had was, trying to order a replacement of sponges and beads.
Mamaw tete –
I bought one for each of my tanks because it works so good!
tride –
only had it 1 day but everything as promised and the price is good
Andrew Russo –
Dealing with cloudy water no more! Water is crystal clear. Not necessarily aesethetically pleasing, but works well
Raymond J Ducharme –
Surprising good quality for such a low price. I¡¯m using this in a newly set up quarantine tank.
Autumn –
I love sponge filters and this one comes with an extra sponge! I bought 2 for my 35 gal tank as it has a high bioload and they work great!
Skynyrd1488 –
Have two of these going in a 75g in addition to an Fx4. Works great and also has some bio-filtration built in. Tip – they give you an additional sponge. Only use one sponge on the filter.
Anne K. Simmons –
I¡¯ve had two (what I thought were) quality HOB filters quit on me. I woke up the other day to find the latest breakdown. Fortunately I had just bought one of these sponge filters. It cleaned up the cloudy water quickly and created nice, gentle circulation. And the shrimp like grazing on the sponge. I¡¯m expecting this to last longer than the other filters because of the simple design. The biggest downside is that it takes up a chunk of real estate in the tank.
edo –
Great filter for a small tank and excellent customer service. When cleaning the filter, I found a broken tab that connects the filter to the base and contacted the seller. Even though it was a couple of months after buying it, the seller was quick to respond and sent me a replacement filter.
Amazon Customer –
Does exactly what it is supposed to do! I pulled two false cack filters out of two tanks and replaced with these and have been nothing but impressed. I did swap out the bio-media with Seachem Matrix. Water quality has been great!
Shawn –
I love my pump!! It keeps my tank so clean!!
Ricky savage –
for the money this is more than i asked for. good flow and nize sized filter. good place to put your media and added carbon if wanting to. and very quiet i have this filter in a 55 gallon tank
David Barrett –
This sponge filter setup is perfect for me. The description was accurate. It comes with an extra-replacement sponge. The compartment with the bio ceramic balls is awesome. If you don’t like the ceramic, you can put whatever you want in there including carbon. I would highly recommend. Kudos!
Tim –
The shipping was fast and it works good. I have it in my 55gal tank and with regular water changes, I¡¯ve had no problems with it.
A. Edmond –
I finally installed it in my fishtank. Normally when I clean the tank and add water to the tank ; it takes hours for the water to clear. This time, it took about an hour. I am really, really happy with this product. I will highly recommend it.
Stephanie Knapp –
This is a great little filter – and works great in my 10 gallon tank with mystery snails and guppies.
Graciano Batista –
excellent
Sarah –
Great filters! Use them in all 4 of my tanks
joan wolman –
This is the best little gadget to produce air bubbles! My beta loves to swim in them and just sit and let them rub on his body I guess it feels good to him. The size is great because it’s so small I can just put it in the corner of my aquarium and if there is no noise except the beautiful noise of the bubbles which puts you to sleep! The quality is exceptional considering the price.
RosaRoe –
This is a great filter! Especially for the price. It works so well in my 30 gallon tank. It’s pretty big, so I wouldn’t recommend it for smaller tanks.
HMJ –
I love the concept of how this works
jessica folger –
Got this for my axolotl tank. I love it it’s easy to use and easy to clean
deborah hall –
Great, easy to use works wonderfully. I would and have ordered again.
ASA YAMA –
This is a great filter!
Plan to buy more.
Ellen West –
The filter seems to work well so far. Only one week in the tank but no complaints. Remember to remove the extra sponge before putting it in the tank.
Dan The Man –
I have this attached to a little Whisper 10 pump, filtering a 20 gallon long cherry shrimp tank with probably only 10 gallons of water in it. It works well! I’m a beginning aquarist and can’t really assess it relative to the competition, but it’s doing the job for my shrimp! Make sure to remove the spare filter which is jammed in. For me it sunk readily after squeezing it a few times. It does seem neutrally buoyant for me, so maybe some people with waters of different specific gravity will have it float, ymmv. 3 months in and I don’t see any signs of it clogging, since the shrimp bioload is so minor. I did clean it once and it has the same smell as the shallow sediment of a lake, so probably full of good bacteria. It makes vigorous bubbles that help oxygenate the water and also allow CO2 to offgas. The shrimp seem to sometimes graze on it, which is cool to see! It’s not the most beautiful product, but performance and price are good!
Callie Lily –
Cleans out debris, oxygenated the tank, very quiet, wonderful product. The fish are lively and happy with it.
jacqueline charneske –
Used for axilata tank. Have 3 and they work very well
jameshspencerjr –
This filter works well
carlos lopez –
Cleared up my tank quick. Great value.
Abraham –
Nice sponge filter that I can barely see in the back of my tank thanks to all my plants, I know is there because I see bubbles.
Amazon Customer –
I upgraded my fish from a 10 gallon to a 20 gallon and decided to get them some better filtration/aeration. The sand I moved over was absolutely filthy, my last filter just wasn’t talking care of the dirt and had almost no flow.
This one turned that gross, murky water crystal clear in just over 24 hours. Not only that, but it has a whole compartment for filter media and the dirt on the sponge doesn’t impact the aeration whatsoever, giving me more time to wait before I need to clean it off.
Love the functionality and ease with this. It came almost completely pre-assembled, just needed to be hooked up to the air pump. I think this is a great value for what I spent, and isn’t too big inside the tank, making it easily hidden behind plants or decorations.
I’m completely blown away on how well it holds onto the dirt in my aquarium without clogging anything, I may eventually get a larger one for one of my bigger aquariums. I’d definitely recommend this to any beginner aquarists, especially those who are too busy for frequent maintenance.
Amazon Customer –
I upgraded my fish from a 10 gallon to a 20 gallon and decided to get them some better filtration/aeration. The sand I moved over was absolutely filthy, my last filter just wasn’t talking care of the dirt and had almost no flow.
This one turned that gross, murky water crystal clear in just over 24 hours. Not only that, but it has a whole compartment for filter media and the dirt on the sponge doesn’t impact the aeration whatsoever, giving me more time to wait before I need to clean it off.
Love the functionality and ease with this. It came almost completely pre-assembled, just needed to be hooked up to the air pump. I think this is a great value for what I spent, and isn’t too big inside the tank, making it easily hidden behind plants or decorations.
I’m completely blown away on how well it holds onto the dirt in my aquarium without clogging anything, I may eventually get a larger one for one of my bigger aquariums. I’d definitely recommend this to any beginner aquarists, especially those who are too busy for frequent maintenance.
Miss Kitty –
We didn’t expect too much with these considering the price but we ended up buying 3 more for all our tanks. They’re silent and work great!
June Angel Mejia –
Super quiet! Even looks good in my fish tank.
Patricia Spurgeon –
Helping g clean up my tanks, I have 2 of these now.
Gaming On Board –
So, I purchased the medium one and it already came assembled (which was nice!) the only thing I had to move was the extra sponge. I cleaned my tank, added fresh water and submerged the filter like it says. I squeezed until all the air bubbles were out however, I can’t get it to sit. It lightly floats and my frogs can easily get under it. Other than that, it cleared my tank up within 30mins after the clean. I definitely like this a lot better than the last filter I used.
Cee –
I only gave it 4 stars because the air stone that comes with it doesn’t work so I took it out. I’ll try to find a better air stone to put in there.
Daniel Vargas –
Works great love it, gave it a poor review at first but didn¡¯t read instructions that there was an extra sponge
Sergio A –
Works good, not noisy, good price, easy to install.
Sergio A –
Works good, not noisy, good price, easy to install.
johnson –
good for baby tank but doesnt keep tank very clean
Steven P –
It releases finer bubbles compared to basic sponge filters, which generates much more lift, hence increases efficiency. Plus, bio balls at the bottom helps culturing bacteria. Very good product
Steven P –
It releases finer bubbles compared to basic sponge filters, which generates much more lift, hence increases efficiency. Plus, bio balls at the bottom helps culturing bacteria. Very good product
Candra France –
Working great worth getting
Candra France –
Working great worth getting
QineusP –
Pretty good product! Most of the bad reviews i saw on here were from people who are clearly new to the hobby and had complaints like it looks bulky and ugly, ¡°i didn¡¯t know you need an air pump¡± ??¡á?, ¡°why is my filter floating¡±, or complaints about it getting dirty¡ if any of these are your issue, do a little research on what a sponge filter is and how it works¡ i will give you a run down of what i think about this filter¡ the truth is i gave it 5 stars, but really i wish I could give a 4.5 rating and here is why:
Pro¡¯s:
1) gives a good flow.
2) extra bio media at the bottom is a great idea! Makes more surface area for nitrifying bacteria.
3) very affordable for what you get!
4) i like the ability to down-stack it for shallower setups.
Con¡¯s:
1) does not come with air-stone, nor can you add 1¡ (though i feel that the dispersion system it uses is pretty sufficient for most uses by itself already, and it isn¡¯t super loud or anything)
2) could be made with better plastics¡ (though for the price you get it for this is understandable).
3) is a little bulkier than other filters of the same caliber (although this is not a problem for me as my fish are pets not decorations, and i can always scape a tank to hide this if i want to set up a more display oriented tank).
Overall this is an excellent product. If you do get this, keep in mind that you do need an air pump and lining to make this work. You should also make sure to have some way to control air flow (either an adjustable pump, or just an air control valve) and a check valve. Also know that sponge filers, unlike hanging filters, take up floor space of your tank¡
Aneta –
This filter is great. It does the job. I had cloudy water problem with my tank and since I put in this filter ( 4 weeks already) the water has been clear the whole time. Plus it¡¯s nice and small and my plant completely covered it.
OGSanFrancisco –
I did some needed modifications and upgrades on my 50 gallon Blue Dream Shrimp Aquascape.
I previously utilized one submersible electric powerhead filter paired with one hang on back filter for this tank, but I actually had much too much flow in the Shrimp really did not like it¡ I replaced it with one large a QQA sponge filter and not only is my water cleaner and clear, but my shrimp are breeding like they never have¡ It shipped on time all the parts were in the box. It was an easy assembly and install¡ I have multiple tanks. These are the only filters I will use from here on out. I am a very satisfied customer¡ When I do water changes, I utilize the water change water to rinse out the sponge filter. It only takes minutes to clean it and get it back online in the tank¡ It is a quality product that does a top quality job.
Amazon Customer –
I’ve had this in my planted shrimp and betta thank for a couple years and it’s been great. Keeps the water clear and aerates without creating too strong a current for these small creatures. Baby shrimp don’t get sucked in, in fact they like picking at the detritus on the sponge. You will need a small air pump, some air line, and maybe an air regulator valve for it. I know that sounds complicated, but it’s easy and inexpensive.