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๐Ÿ  increase your aquarium's water filtration with the aquarium technology, inc. filter max pre-filter logo

๐Ÿ  Increase Your Aquarium's Water Filtration with the Aquarium Technology, Inc. Filter Max Pre-Filter Review

6

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Average

Revainrating 3.5 out of 5ย ย 
Ratingย 
3.5
๐Ÿ  Aquarium Pumps & Filters, ๐Ÿ  Fish & Aquatic Pets

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Description of ๐Ÿ  Increase Your Aquarium's Water Filtration with the Aquarium Technology, Inc. Filter Max Pre-Filter

Extend filter media and replacement cartridge life while protecting small fish; simply connect to your impeller tube or powerhead to keep larger debris out of a sand filter, UV sterilizer, or protein skimmer. Trusted by casual hobbyists and pros alike - whether part of an internal or external power filtration system, the Filter Max is a great introductory point to sponge filters. Whisper-quiet and easy to clean - simply rinse and squeeze in used tank water (not tap water!) to maintain nitrogen-fixing bacteria in freshwater or saltwater. Soft foam filters across a wide surface area, creating bubbles to reduce protein buildup and increase oxygen. Ideal for low-current breeding, betta, discus, and turtle tanks. Fast-cycle a new tank by transferring a filter sponge from old to new. For even more pristine water try our Hydro-Sponge Pro line.

Reviews

Global ratings 6
  • 5
    2
  • 4
    1
  • 3
    1
  • 2
    2
  • 1
    0

Type of review

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Saved my little fish (updated: doesn't last long)

I run a Fluval 406 and it has gaps in its included screen big enough to suck up my little smoldering tetras (I got 4 from the canister saved ). With a sponge at the inlet, that certainly won't happen again. The included adapters made it easy to mount to the intake manifold so installation was a breeze. As with other ATI products, the construction is top-notch, the plastic is thick and strong, and the coarse sponge should last you a decade. Overall I am very happy with this purchase. Updatedโ€ฆ

Pros
  • Easy install
Cons
  • Little things

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Works, but material could be better.

Has adapters that fit Aquaclear 70. Sponge material is good. The sponge only restricts the flow when it is heavily soiled. Once a sponge is dirty it's not difficult to clean, but it takes a lot of rinsing and squeezing to completely remove the dirt. How often you need to clean it depends on the conditions of your aquarium. The reason for the 3 stars is the build quality. The plastic feels heavy and looks thick, but it breaks very easily. Be sure to do a few test fittings before firmly attaching

Pros
  • Good thing
Cons
  • Some problems

Revainrating 5 out of 5

as in the product photo

This pre-filter has only been in my tank for a few minutes, so my rating is not based on its effectiveness. My rating is based on a very common issue this product has which is broken knees when assembling the product. I read the reviews before purchasing the filter and I knew this was a problem but was hoping to avoid it. It turns out that this is almost impossible. If you just put two elbows together the risk of one of them breaking is very high and in my case unavoidable. I thought readingโ€ฆ

Pros
  • Everything is fine!
Cons
  • How it works

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Mandatory pre-filter

The benefits of this pre-filter make it a must for me. I've been using it with the SunSun Hw303B 370GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit for about a year. It comes with enough adapters to fit almost anything. It was easy to assemble and install. This pre-filter helps me in three ways. It protects the juvenile fish in my tank, increases the filtering area (although this is probably negligible compared to a canister filter) and keeps solids from getting into the main filter. This keeps the filter cleanโ€ฆ

Pros
  • Very good value for money
Cons
  • Good but not great

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Very versatile inlet pre-filter, flimsy adapters.

This pre-filter is ideal for a wide range of hob and canister filters. I have one for my Sunsun 303b canister and I just bought a second one for my Aquaclear 70. You can see how it fits the Aquaclear 70 (and 110) inlet. The only reason I'm giving this four stars is for the same reason everyone else mentions the clear plastic elbows. They are brittle and will break. It won't crack, it will crack. I installed the first one on my Sunsun intake manifold about three weeks ago, no cracks. About aโ€ฆ

Pros
  • Ideal for outdoor activities
Cons
  • Almost never

Revainrating 5 out of 5

The good news is that the sponge assembly is a regular sponge.

This is exactly what I was looking for in a general purpose pre-filter. The sponge is approximately 5 inches long with an overall diameter of 2.5 inches and the walls of the sponge are approximately 3/4 inch thick. This is a coarse foam designed to prevent larger particles from entering the main filter. There are enough adapters in the box to fit almost any round air intake - see my attached pictures for instructions/diagram. This is NOT suitable for a square entry. The good news is that theโ€ฆ

Pros
  • Price
Cons
  • Clarity