Penn-Plax Bubbler Filter For 10 Gallon Tank

Works as well as I remember box filters working. Does a great job at clarifying the water. Added a piece of medium foam, a layer of polishing pad and some lava rock in the bottom to add some extra biological filtration. Deducted a star because it’s far more expensive than it should be considering it doesn’t come with any media at all.

The price is great, and though it has many drawbacks, it certainly has uses. On the downside, the filter wants to float. It will not be deterred. You have to admire the determination. It simply will not sink or sit flat on its own accord, so ready the suction cups, ballast, etc. and prepare for a battle. The plastic is also quite brittle and delicate. Our first one arrived cracked, even though the box and shipping package were both in perfect condition. Additionally, the top does not fit tightly or snap on, so you’ll have to redneck engineer a simple solution to that too. However, the low price is nice, the filtering ability is very good, and the diminutive size is wonderful. Because it is so small it can be placed in just about any size aquarium, or hidden in just about any aquascape. As with all box filters, you can customize the contents to whatever filtering you seek, utilizing floss, pads, sponges, ceramic, rocks, etc. Useful and worth the purchase.

This little filter is exactly what I was hoping for. It’s small enough for my betta’s 3 gallon tank and arrived in perfect condition so the plastic is sturdy enough. I can customize the media to my liking and I will be buying more for my other nano tanks. Sometimes the old ways are the best and this is one example of that. The other filters I’ve tried overpower my fish, don’t work that well, require too much maintenance, and the filter replacements get expensive over time. This classic box filter is the answer to all of those concerns.

A few things – I’m the third generation of my family to use these so trust me, these tips will help – these are great filters if you know how to use them.

1. I Always put enough gravel in the bottom green tray to fill it after inserting the tubes but before putting it in the clear box (always rinse all parts prior). I never change this layer. This is better than the ceramic pieces sold for biofiltration. As a bonus, if it’s an existing setup, the bacteria is already established in the gravel. This is an optional layer but helps a lot.

2. Add about an inch of carbon or ammonia absorbing carbon after rinsing it.

3. Fill with aquarium filter floss (rinsed).

4. Attach air line, check valve, air line, and air pump.

5. If the filter floats, your pump is too strong. Use a smaller pump or, if it’s adjustable, back the rate down. Some splitters allow this adjustment too. An adjustment valve will help a lot.

6. When you change the floss, the green tray can be lifted a little to give more clearance to remove it. When changing the carbon, you can remove the tray completely, being careful of the gravel if you have any in the filter. The lid should fit snug if attached right and not cracked you can use a rubber band if needed but I’ve found that if it pops off, there may be a problem causing it (improperly attached tubing usually being the culprit. Interior tubing should be snug).

Overall, I love these filters for smaller tanks. I had to purchase one of these recently because I have a five gallon tank and I have a betta and a Cory cat fish (yes they are tank mates, and I admittedly have a weirdo betta. My boy is actually happier with the Cory than alone). Power filters were either too strong or too small, and frankly, the cartridges were too much money and harder to find. This is by far cheaper in the long run.

This type of filter (little larger than this one of course if memory serves right, same brand, same design) kept my late grandmother’s 20 gallon clear, with 3 fancy tail gold fish and a giant African water frog living in it.

As a bonus, it’s easier to hide in the tank than a power filter if you have live or artificial plants in it. The bubbles add a bit of ambience too.

Love it.

They are perfect.

I’ve got lots of filters, undergravel, powered, sponges, etc. I almost forgot how easy and effective a simple box filter is. I personally just fill it with poly fil and weigh it down with used aquarium gravel. Unlike sponge filters, it actually traps any detritus and holds it. Polishes water to very high degree, Super easy to toss old poly fil and replace once a month. Perfect for smaller tanks, dead spots with low flow, and quarantine tanks. For the low price, went wouldn’t you have these in your fish hobby?! Only bought two originally and will be replacing sponge filters with these. Starts off with fantastic mechanical filtration and becomes biological after a few days as well. Highly recommend

Okay use this nice little plastic corner filter as a pre-filter for my diner master air pump seems to be working really well I just left some polyester in it and hook it up and it seems to be doing fine filtering the air