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Aquarium Co-Op Pre-Filter Sponge

Aquarium Co-Op Pre-Filter Sponge

  • Increases Filter Capacity
  • Prevents Small Fish and Debris from Getting Sucked Up
  • Uses Coarse Foam to Extend Time Between Cleanings

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.

Directions/Specifications

Mini:

  • Intake hole: 0.5 inches 
  • Diameter: 1.25 inches
  • Length: 2.75 inches
  • Pore Size: approximately 25 ppi

Medium:

  • Intake hole: 0.5 inches
  • Diameter: 2.5 inches
  • Length: 3 inches
  • Pore Size: approximately 25 ppi

Large:

  • Intake hole: 1.25 inches
  • Diameter: 3.5 inches
  • Length: 5.5 inches
  • Pore 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

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

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)

Seachem

Tidal 55

Large

Seachem

Tidal 75

Large

Seachem

Tidal 110

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)

 

Select Size
From $1.79

Original: $5.11

-65%
Aquarium Co-Op Pre-Filter Sponge

$5.11

$1.79

Product Information

Shipping & Returns

Description

  • Increases Filter Capacity
  • Prevents Small Fish and Debris from Getting Sucked Up
  • Uses Coarse Foam to Extend Time Between Cleanings

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.

Directions/Specifications

Mini:

  • Intake hole: 0.5 inches 
  • Diameter: 1.25 inches
  • Length: 2.75 inches
  • Pore Size: approximately 25 ppi

Medium:

  • Intake hole: 0.5 inches
  • Diameter: 2.5 inches
  • Length: 3 inches
  • Pore Size: approximately 25 ppi

Large:

  • Intake hole: 1.25 inches
  • Diameter: 3.5 inches
  • Length: 5.5 inches
  • Pore 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

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

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)

Seachem

Tidal 55

Large

Seachem

Tidal 75

Large

Seachem

Tidal 110

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)