Which pre-filter sponge should I get?
Prefilter sponges are great for covering filters intake tubes to prevent small items (e.g., leaves, fish food, baby fry) from getting sucked up and to grow more beneficial bacteria. To figure out which pre filter sponge will fit your filter the best, measure the diameter of the filter's intake tube. Then match it up with the appropriately sized pre-filter sponge:
- Mini pre-filter sponge: 0.5 inch hole without much give
- Medium pre-filter sponge: 0.5 inch hole with some stretch to give
- Large pre-filter sponge: 1¼ inch hole
Click on the product link above to see each sponge's overall length and width dimensions. To help you select the right size, see our chart that lists some of the most popular filters in the fishkeeping hobby:
|
Filter Brand |
Filter Model |
Pre-Filter Size |
Fitment |
|
Aquatop |
CF 300 |
Large |
|
|
Aquatop |
CF 400 UV |
Large |
|
|
Aquatop |
FZ13 |
Large |
|
|
Aquatop |
FZ27 |
Large |
|
|
Aquatop |
Walmart brand |
TBD |
|
|
Aquatop |
Canister Filter |
Large |
|
|
Aqueon |
QuietFlow LED 10 |
Mini or Medium |
|
|
Aqueon |
QuietFlow LED 20 |
Medium |
|
|
Aqueon |
QuietFlow LED 30 |
Medium |
|
|
Aqueon |
QuietFlow LED 50 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Aqueon |
QuietFlow LED 75 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Fluval |
AquaClear 20 |
Mini |
|
|
Fluval |
AquaClear 30 |
Medium |
|
|
Fluval |
AquaClear 50 |
Medium |
|
|
Fluval |
AquaClear 70 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Fluval |
AquaClear 100 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Fluval |
C2 |
Medium |
|
|
Fluval |
C3 |
Medium |
|
|
Fluval |
C4 |
Large |
Needs zip tie (see video) |
|
Fluval |
107 |
Large |
|
|
Fluval |
207 |
Large |
|
|
Fluval |
307 |
Large |
|
|
Fluval |
407 |
Large |
|
|
Fluval |
FX4 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Fluval |
FX6 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Marina |
Slim S10 |
Mini |
|
|
Marina |
Slim S15 |
Mini |
|
|
Marina |
Slim S20 |
Mini |
|
|
Marineland |
Emperor 400 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Marineland |
Canister 160 |
Large |
|
|
Marineland |
Canister 220 |
Large |
|
|
Marineland |
Canister 360 |
Large |
|
|
Marineland |
Canister 530 |
Large |
|
|
Marineland |
Penguin 75 |
Mini or Medium |
|
|
Marineland |
Penguin 100 |
Medium |
|
|
Marineland |
Penguin 150 |
Medium |
|
|
Marineland |
Penguin 200 |
Large |
|
|
Marineland |
Penguin 350 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Marineland |
Penguin Pro HOB |
TBD |
|
|
Oase |
Canister Filters |
Medium |
|
|
Oase |
Hang-on-Backs |
Medium |
|
|
Penn-Plax |
Cascade Canister Filters up to 1500 |
Large |
|
|
Penn-Plax |
Cascade Max Flow |
Large |
|
|
Penn-Plax |
Cascade Hang-on-Backs |
Medium |
|
|
Seachem |
Tidal 55 |
Large |
|
|
Seachem |
Tidal 75 |
Large |
|
|
Seachem |
Tidal 110 |
Large |
|
|
Sicce |
Whale 100-400 |
Large |
|
|
SunSun |
Canister Filters |
Large |
|
|
Tetra |
Whisper IQ 20 / 30 / 45 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
|
Tetra |
Whisper EX 20 |
Medium |
|
|
Tetra |
Whisper EX 30 |
Medium |
|
|
Tetra |
Whisper EX 45 |
Medium |
|
|
Tetra |
Whisper EX 70 |
Large |
Needs O-ring or zip tie (see video) |
A pre-filter sponge can also be used with our power head to transform it into a mini power filter. Just attach two zip ties to the powerhead's intake basket, cut off the excess tails, and slide on a large prefilter sponge.
To see a demonstration of how to modify the intake tube if the prefilter sponge is too loose, see the following video:
For more information on intake sponges, read our full article.