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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:

Brand

Model

Type

Pre-Filter Size

Notes

Aqueon

Quietflow LED 10

HOB

Mini or Medium

 

Aqueon

Quietflow LED 20

HOB

Medium

 

Aqueon

Quietflow LED 30

HOB

Medium

 

Aqueon

Quietflow LED 50

HOB

Large*

Use an O-ring, zip tie, or extra sponge to make it stay

Aqueon

Quietflow LED 75

HOB

Large*

Use an O-ring, zip tie, or extra sponge to make it stay

Fluval

Aquaclear 20

HOB

Mini

 

Fluval

Aquaclear 30

HOB

Medium

 

Fluval

Aquaclear 50

HOB

Medium

 

Fluval

Aquaclear 70

HOB

Large*

Use an O-ring, zip tie, or extra sponge to make it stay

Fluval

Aquaclear 100

HOB

Large*

Use an O-ring, zip tie, or extra sponge to make it stay

Fluval

C2

HOB

Medium

 

Fluval

C3

HOB

Medium

 

Fluval

C4

HOB

Large*

Use a zip tie to make it stay

Fluval

107

Canister

Large

 

Fluval

207

Canister

Large

 

Fluval

307

Canister

Large

 

Fluval

407

Canister

Large

 

Fluval

FX4

Canister

Large*

Remove basket and use an O-ring or zip tie to make it stay

Fluval

FX6

Canister

Large*

Remove basket and use an O-ring or zip tie to make it stay

Marina

Slim S10

HOB

Mini

 

Marina

Slim S15

HOB

Mini

 

Marina

Slim S20

HOB

Mini

 

Marineland

Emperor 400

HOB

Large*

Remove basket and use an O-ring or zip tie to make it stay

Marineland

Penguin 75

HOB

Mini or Medium

 

Marineland

Penguin 100

HOB

Medium

 

Marineland

Penguin 150

HOB

Medium

 

Marineland

Penguin 200

HOB

Large

Fit over the intake basket

Marineland

Penguin 350

HOB

Large*

Remove basket and use an O-ring or zip tie to make it stay

Seachem

Tidal 55

HOB

Large

 

Seachem

Tidal 75

HOB

Large

 

Seachem

Tidal 110

HOB

Large

 

Tetra

Whisper IQ 20 / 30 / 45

HOB

Large*

Use a thick O-ring or zip tie to make it stay

Tetra

Whisper EX 20

HOB

Medium

 

Tetra

Whisper EX 30

HOB

Medium

 

Tetra

Whisper EX 45

HOB

Medium

 

Tetra

Whisper EX 70

HOB

Large*

Use a thick O-ring or zip tie to make it stay

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.



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