Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc.

After purchasing a pair of small salamander larvae and moving them from their plastic 'critter keeper' to a 5.5 gallon aquarium once they had grown, we were at a loss for filters. We tried a hang on back, and the current was just too strong. We tried an internal filter and not only did it raise the water temperature substantially, but just didn't work very well. At the advice of several members of a salamander forum, I ordered this filter and couldn't be happier. It's quiet, much more effective than the other filters we've tried, and oxygenates the water without creating harsh currents and/or water flow. Set up was a breeze and our caudata larvae are already much more active and spend a lot of time out in the open now that the water is so calm. The fact that this filter keeps the water crystal clear also makes viewing them much easier. So whether you've got fish fry, amphibian larva, or something that just needs peaceful water conditions, I'd definitely recommend this product. Two thumbs up.

I bought this sponge filter for my angelfish, who were suddenly spawning every week. The babies were not able to survive if I left the regular filter on. I ended up having to move them to a ten gallon tank, and thus the need for this filter. I have to say, I've never had a better filter. You attach an aerator line to the inside, and that's the only thing you need. The air bubbles oxygenate the water while they also work to draw water through the sponge. All the muck that usually accumulates pretty quickly in my tank was drawn in, and the sponge works to break it all down naturally, which is actually healthier for my fish and plants. And no babies were harmed by this little device. it's gentle, but effective. And the best part is that you do not have to buy filters! Just rinse and squeeze the sponge under room-temp water for a moment and you're done. I'm definitely going to replace my old money-devouring filters in my 55 gallon tank with some like this. These are well worth buying, and actually pretty cheep considering it all. I advise anyone thinking of getting one of these to make the leap. You won't be sorry.

This pump is great, not loud, move work enough to keep tank clean but not stress out my fish. Filter works great, weekly testing of water shows that it's perfectly balanced. For my 10-gallon tank it great and I would highly recommend. Also, cleaning is super simple and fast. You cannot control the power of the pump, they do have those option available for a little more price, but honestly if you have one tank that you are starting, I'd say start with this.

Easy to assemble; nice, heavy base keeps it stable in the gravel. Nice low-flow filter doesn't kill frogs or baby guppies. Update: It's now 2019; my NEWEST filter is at least a few years old now. My oldest is probably 6ish years old and it's still working well, but finally time to replace the sponge part. I appreciate that this company sells the sponge part separately, so that I can save money and help the environment by re-using the parts that are still in good condition (the base, frame, and chimney tube). Tip: you can attach the airline directly to the nub inside the plastic frame, which gives you larger bubbles, or you can thread the tube a bit further down and connect an airstone to the end for smaller bubbles. The airstone and smaller bubbles will make your air pump work a bit harder, but it does make for a lot less splashing than the larger bubbles/no airstone option. The filter functions either way.

Make sure you check it when you get it! Just got mine in damaged, manufacturing box looked like it went thru a boxing match and item wasn't even in the packaging

I use this filter in a 10 gallon Betta tank. He is the only inhabitant and this filter is perfect for him. It does take up some room in the tank but he enjoys resting on top of it. I attached an air stone to the air line inside of it so the bubbles are smaller and more water flows through the sponge. I like the way the bubbles look and the water is not disturbed at all. If you know anything about Bettas, they prefer very calm water, and a regular HOB filter creates too much water current. I have had this filter running for almost 5 months not and I am still very happy with this purchase. My water stays very clear with only monthly water changes.

I'm giving this five stars because it was a solid quality product. It wasn't flimsy or cheap. I'm returning it though because it was freaking huge and would have taken up a large portion of our little three gallon tank. I've never used a sponge filter before, so I didn't know what to expect.

I ordered two and both came assembled. When attempting to disassemble, inorder to add an air stone, the bullseye was impossible to remove. It snapped right off. Going forward I will only use Aquarium Co-op. They care about this hobby, have integrity, and offer loads of support because they want people will succeed and thrive in this hobby. They deserve our support because they are passionate and want aquarists to love what they do just as they do!