XINYOUXY-2822 Air Pump Double Sponge Water Filter for Aquarium (4-Pack)

So, I had heard great things about sponge filters, but I really had NO IDEA what they were, how they worked, how to install them, etc. So, I read the reviews and decided this was, I guess, a size that should be able to work for my 20G or 40G tanks. I obtained the package and, of course, it's all horribly translated English. No instructions on how to set it up, what went where, etc. So, I suppose on that account, it might deserve a 4 star. But, let's get to the nuts and bolts of why 5 star.First, the reviews indicated I would need to buy an air tube. So, connecting the air tube was a pain, I'll be honest, but the tube needs to be secure. After a few minutes of fighting with the tubing, I was able to get it connected. I wasn't sure which way was right side up, so I put it in the tank in the formation the image shows. This was the correct way. Still, I had no idea how it was really supposed to function.I fill the tank with water and plug in the air pump - that's when the magic happened.So, for everyone like me who knows NOTHING about these things, there is a small air tube next to the giant clear tube. The air gets pumped into that tiny tube. This creates a vacuum-kind of effect where the air causes the water in the tank to get sucked through the sponges and up into the big clear tube. This now-filtered water is then spurted back into the tank along with the bubbles from the air tube.Extremely excellent water filtration, water aeration, AND save money by not having to buy filter cartridges - just take the sponges and rinse them out (with the tank's water) every so often. And, because there are TWO sponges, you can alternate when the sponges are cleaned to help prevent greatly changing the environment of the tank.I REALLY wish I had learned of this type of filtration before I spent all the money I did on the filters you find at most pet stores. Ugh!

Great filter for extra biological support for any tank. Safe for all inhabitants, economical, and only as loud as the air pump you connect it to. The only downside is the space it takes up in the tank, but with some plants and/or driftwood, it all but disappears. If you tend to overstock you tanks, like most of us do, do yourself and your fish a favor and add one of these. They are also great for when you need to set up a new tank. Just put one of the mature sponges in the new tank and your cycle is well on its way. I suggest you never clean them beyond plucking them to free any debris, But if you do need to remove the sponges to clean them, soak gently in a container of tank water. Do not use untreated water and do not agitate it a lot or you will lose the bacteria.

I love this filter. It's easy to use and works great! It will keep your tank clean so long as you keep it clean. Right now, I have a lot of live plants in with my goldfish in a 50 gallon aquarium, so there isn't a bunch of crap to clean out of the water anyways since the plants do most of the work, but I did have it in a 10 gallon with 3 goldfish and only had to clean it once a week. For those of you who know how much goldfish poop, you will understand that this is great! I haven't had to clean it now for about 3 weeks and it doesn't look like I will have to touch it in the next 3 weeks. I highly recommend getting this instead of wasting your money on more expensive filters that you have to buy replacements for all the time. I still have ALL the same parts, including the black filters. All you have to do is actually clean them. I put the spray option on my kitchen faucet on and hold it right on them to push all the poop and dirt out of every crevasse. Cleaning the filter takes about 5 minutes if you really let it get dirty, but usually only about a minute on each side.

Bought one of these for an overstocked 10 gallon (mollies, platies, shrimp, and snails) and it's doing really well. I totally forgot to cycle it before sticking it in and pulling the other one out which was a mistake but after about a week of daily water changes, it does an awesome job. One of my big concerns with other filters is my aquarium pants but this filter is bothering them at all. In fact, I have since added duckweed to the tank because the filter won't disturb it. I liked this so well that I decided to buy two more to stick in my 65-gallon tank just for surface agitation (replacing my airstones), they won't be my main filter but I've never heard of too much filtration!! These filters have so many pros I don't know why I didn't use them before!!

Great little filter but I recommend disassembling and gluing all joints. It seems the air inlet tube in particular likes to lose its seal and bleed air. I have noticed the flow of air decrease several times in the near three years which confused me because I could not find escaping air bubbles. Occasionally reseating an air tube would help which kept me looking at joints, etc. Removing foam did not help either considering a potential blockage. With a recent incident, I could not find anything. So I bit the bullet and pulled one of these out. I superglued the air inlet tube where it slides into the bottom assembly, instantly got triple the air coming out. Great filter, but a little tlc up front will save work later on.

I bought these not realizing how big they are, which was not a bag thing. I have two, 5-gallon tanks that were in need of new filters. And I am not a fan of the suction gravity type filters because they do not allow for the natural growth of healthy microbes that stabilize an aquarium like these do. These clear the water in both tanks in three hours. One tank has 4 tetras and the other has a single male betta. And with these types of filters, I do not have to mess with the chemicals at all because of the microbial growth ability that these allow. I recommend these over other types of filters for this reason. And one of these filters for every 10 to 15 gallons is definitely adequate. Just make sure you have an air pump that is also 10-15 gallons equivalent.