Review on Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Fish & Aquatic Pets ~ Aquarium Pumps & Filters by Colleen Vazquez

This filter works so well I think it's worth the extra cost compared to the cheap canister filters I've used. Filter maintenance is simplified with the freely loadable design. You won't break the handles on the trays because they won't wedge into the canister. A tiny water leakage between the media layers is negligible. And the grip feels comfortable. The pump button also works without any problems. However, if your canister is filled with water and your hoses aren't filled with air, you probably don't need to use it. The only time I needed a pump button was during the initial installation. Cut the hoses so that air can easily rise to the top. Then pump until the hoses are filled with water. The motor and water flow design is an improvement over cheap filters. The only possible complaint I have is that my model doesn't have any obvious markings on the inlet and outlet hoses. So they could be replaced during maintenance. I just marked the inlet hose and path with colored tape to avoid this mistake. The bowls are smaller than my other filter and the flow is slightly higher. Therefore, it must be cleaned at least every three weeks. He's doing his job! Mine comes with carbon, various media and two types of outlet streams. You shoot a jet at the water surface. And the other is a multi-section horizontal tube submerged an inch below the surface. If my cheap filter doesn't let me down, I'll buy another Pen-Plax. — Chris