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Cover the intake of a hang-on-back (HOB) or canister filter with a pre-filter sponge to stop small fish, snails, and debris from clogging the filter motor.
Increases Filter Capacity
Prevents Small Fish and Debris from Getting Sucked Up
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 of hang-on-back (HOB) and canister filters. 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, dwarf shrimp, little snails, plant leaves, fish food, and other debris from entering the filter. (depending on filters suction, and size of animal, tiny fry/shrimp/snails can still get through in some cases)
An intake sponge also 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. Finally, it adds mechanical filtration that extends the life and efficiency of your filter media.
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.)
Mini:Intake hole: 0.5 inches Diameter: 1.25 inchesLength: 2.75 inchesPore Size: approximately 25 ppi
Medium:Intake hole: 0.5 inchesDiameter: 2.5 inchesLength: 3 inchesPore Size: approximately 25 ppi
Large:Intake hole: 1.25 inchesDiameter: 3.5 inchesLength: 5.5 inchesPore Size: approximately 20–25 ppi
Cleaning Instructions: Use a large fish bag, ziplock bag, or pitcher to put around the sponge while inside of the aquarium. Lift the water and sponge out to catch the majority of debris that comes off during removal. Next, squeeze the sponge inside the container of aquarium water. Discard the dirty water, get more water from the aquarium, and repeat until sponge filter is mostly free of debris. (If you're only using the pre filter sponge as a mechanical filter, you can also rinse it at the sink.) Reinstall the sponge and wait for a couple hours for the water to clear back up from the debris released when removing and reinstalling.
Sizing Chart:
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)
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Recommend a pre-filter sponge for my needs
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The pre-filter or intake sponge is a simple foam cylinder that is designed to slip over the intake tube of hang-on-back (HOB) and canister filters. 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, dwarf shrimp, little snails, plant leaves, fish food, and other debris from entering the filter.
Aquarium Co-op Pre Filter Sponge Large