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.