Prevents small animals and debris from getting sucked up
Increases filter capacity
Uses coarse foam to extend time between cleaning
The pre-filter or intake sponge is a simple foam cylinder that is designed to slip over the intake tube ofhang-on-back (HOB) and canister filters. The filter intake tube often has large openings, so use a pre filter sponge to prevent fish, shrimp, and sizable debris from getting sucked up and ruining the filter motor. Not only does an intake sponge clear up your water, but it also provides valuable surface area to grow beneficial bacteria.
Find out which sponge size to get and how to properly fit it to your hang-on-back or canister filter intake by viewing the Sizing Chart and Video below. (Click the "Show More" button to expand the Directions/Specifications section.)
Increased Filter Efficiency
Increase the capacity of your filtration. A pre filter sponge provides valuable surface area to grow beneficial bacteria, which purify waste chemicals in the water and make it safe for your fish to live in. It also adds mechanical filtration that keeps bulk debris from clogging your finer filter pads and extends the life and efficiency of your filter media.
Prevent Fish, Snails, and Food From Being Sucked Up
The filter intake tube often has large openings that allow sizable objects to get sucked up by the filter, potentially ruining the motor, so use a pre-filter sponge to help prevent baby fish, long-finned fish, dwarf shrimp, snails, plant leaves, fish food, and other debris from entering the filter.
Easy To Clean and Reusable
Put a ziploc bag around your pre filter sponge when you remove it from the aquarium. Squeeze it until the water turns brown. Dump the dirty water on your favorite houseplant. Then get another bag of water and repeat until clean. Afterwards, place it back on your filter's intake. This reusable, re-washable prefilter will last you many years.
Proper Fitment
In general, a larger pre-filter sponge is always better because it gives you more time between cleanings and increases your filtration capacity. Use a zip tie or O-ring on the filter intake tube when you need a snug friction fit to keep the sponge from falling off, as shown in the picture. A rubber o-ring can be found at hardware stores or Amazon.
Fits Most Filters
Most hang-on-back and canister filters can be fitted with a pre filter sponge. With some filters like the Fluval 409 series, it slides right over the intake and is a direct fit. With other filters like the Fluval FX series, you must remove the intake screen or basket and use an o-ring or zip tie. See the Sizing Chart in this page's Directions/Specifications section to pick the right pre-filter sponge for your filter.
The large pore size does the job of keeping sand and large food particles out of the filter. I use them for both cannister and hang on back filters. I notice that the fish clean the food caught up on the outside surface instead of it getting sucked right into the filter.
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Cody B. (Columbus, OH, US)
Perfect For New Aquaclear 20
Bought this as a replacement for the pre-filter sponge included with my AC-20. This is more coarse and does not clog up/slow down flow as quickly.
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Cat (Bel Air, MD, US)
Finally needs replaced !!
I have a medium sponge on my 29 gallon and it's almost 5 years old at this point. It's just now getting to the point that I'm going to need to replace it. If i rinsed it every week , I could go 4 weeks between water changes. As it is I get lazy and wait until it starts to develop a "waist" , then do my water change and filter clean up. I can't imagine running an aquarium (especially with plants and small critters!) without one. Great product.
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Tony D. (Vassar, MI, US)
Always pleased
Been buying products 2019 . These sponge filter are awesome easy peasy to clean and maintain will buy more .
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Donald H. (Homosassa, FL, US)
Pre filter sponge
Using the pre filter sponge makes cleaning your HOB filter so much easier, once a week I remove the sponge, wash it out and put it back on the siphon tube. The one caution I have with this is make sure there is plenty of room around the sponge for fish to come and go.
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Mark W. (Minneapolis, MN, US)
Mawaquatics
Finally I found the proper coarse in a sponge l needed waisted alot of money on ebay and Amazon trying to find it. Thanks aquarium co op
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James (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, US)
Prefilter sponge; a NO brainer...
Unfortunately I have seen fishes and shrimps get stuck on the intake tube of various HOB filters. I've gone through it and some of my friends as well. This prefilter sponge gives me piece of mind. I don't worry about it... The sponge is coarse enough where the flow of the HOB filter keeps going and so easy to clean when you do your water change. Definitely recommend this product...
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Richard F. (Garland, TX, US)
This is the one.
Aquarium Co-op’s filters are by far the best on the market. They help stop Impurities from getting to your filter. That allows you to go longer between filter cleaning. Stores beneficial bacteria. Does all this without restricting water float through the intake. Great to keep babies safe from getting into the intake.
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Craig (Pinehurst, NC, US)
Great Pre-filter
Worked as intended. Keeps my shrimp fry from getting sucked into the filter. In fact, they love cleaning biofilm off of it. I use a 2nd one to diffuse incoming water during water changes. Completely eliminates the worry of disturbing substrate, plants, or animals. It even floats!
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Bill H. (Charlotte, NC, US)
Perfect
This is So genius. Helps your filter media last longer.
