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Michael La Grange - The best filter I have ever used. This Hagen AquaClear filter has no crummy gimics like the Penguin Bio-Wheel, itīs sturdy and I've never had a problem with the priming thing. All aspects of filtration are the best.

Victor Tassone - I have been using the AquaClear 200 on my 75 L tank for 11 years. It has not stopped once in that 11 years, and it is still running as strong as it did when it was fresh out of the box. A+ product.

Justin Fraley - I bought an Aquaclear 300 a few months ago, and it was my best investment in filtration EVER. When I realized what a bargain this was, I purchased another 300, both of which keep my 55 gallon community tank clean as can be. The priming issue is not a problem. If you have a tiny bit of patience, it is not a problem. As another comment said, about there being a bubble in the siphon tube, correct. I have found that when this bubble appears, adjust the flow to low, and then back on high, and you should be good to go. I definitely recommend this filter, if you want good, quality filtration with many ways of using it, for years to come!

Shawna - I love these Hagen AquaClear filters! Inexpensive and very easy to maintain. I have a 300 on my 29 gallon, and a mini on my son's 10 gallon. In addition to the sponge and the carbon, I also keep a bunch of polyester quilt batting to help "polish" the water. Without the batting, the filter still does a wonderful job. I've never had a problem with "priming" at all, but I can see how it could be a problem for some. It takes around 45 seconds to let the filter prime itself and if there is a big air bubble in the tube, it can cause some problems. Overall, I love the ACīs and not only RECOMMEND them, but I also PURCHASE them for people if I'm helping them set up fish tanks of their own.

Louie Armstrong - I have found the Hagen AquaClear to be a great filter with the three stages.  You can leave out the charcoal and use a treatment to control algae.  It really helps keep the water clean and the tank clean.

Tyler - Amen! I've been using AquaClear filter's for as long as I've been keeping tanks. Though nowadays I have to use different filters for nanos, and cubes have built-in filters, there is no doubt as to which filter I would use if I were setting up a tank with HOB from 10-55 gallons.

Marcos Avila - The AquaClear is possibly the most popular Power Filter series in the market. An AC 200 was my first ever power filter, and nowadays I have half a dozen on several tanks, ranging from the AC Mini to the AC 300. What I like best about AquaClears is their versatility...the design makes them incredibly easy for me to reconfigure filter media any way I want, and also for me to add/remove home-made media. AquaClears are also very silent and reliable, and the output flow doesn't disturb the water surface too much, making it an ideal filter for live plant tanks (in which case I also don't use the carbon insert). The foam insert lasts virtually forever, all you have to do is rinse it once in a while. Two minor drawbacks are the facts that you cannot regulate the water flow too well, and that the intake tube doesn't allow much level adjustment. But these filters' advantages by far outweigh the disadvantages.

Benjamin Sherman - The AquaClear is my first and only filter. I think itīs a really good filter except for the restarting problem. The water regulation switch is quit useful. I found the filter media reasonably easy to replace. It does a good job filtering and is usually quiet.

Jackson Davis - I recently bought an Aqua-Clear 150 for my 20 gallon tank. I was having an algae problem and felt inadequate filtration may be the cause. I replaced my old Whisper filter, and within a few hours, the tank was crystal clear. These filters are an awesome buy. Instead of using a dinky insert, they have a huge block of foam and plenty of room for whatever other medium you like (carbon, phosphate remover etc...). I have experienced the restarting problem, and found that increasing the water flow corrects it. I would recommend this filter over any other filter for smaller tanks.

Kiwibird - I just purchased the Marineland Penquin 150 filter and it is great! By far the best filter I've had. Great quality, attractive and quiet. I also like that the bottom "arm" that sucks the water up has very fine plastic mesh. I breed guppies and swordtails and this is great because it won't suck up the babies! Overall, great filter. Looks great, sounds great, and keeps the water and fish healthy (and the water crystal clear!)

Adrian Gitch - I have a Marineland Penguin 330 and 170 on my 55 gallon tank, and a penguin 125 on my 20 gallon tank. I've had this hobby for about 15 years and love these filters. I have no problems with the biowheels not spinning and no problems with water noise. The smaller penguins have no flow adjustment, which is no big deal as long as you don't over feed. If you follow the directions you won't have any problems with the biowheels not spinning. Also, if you plan on cleaning the flossy side of your cartridge over and over again, that's not a good idea because the carbon loses its chemical cleaning effect after about 30 days or so.

Brandon1 - I bought the Marineland filter for my 15 gallon tank after my petco stopped selling filter cartridges for my old filter. It seems to be working very well but it's noisy! You can hear a hum from the moter spinning and it sort of jets the water into the tank which is pushing their food away before they get it.

Jennifer Beil - The Marineland bio-wheel filtration itself is pretty good. Taking the beast apart and cleaning it non-stop isn't particularly pleasing. Also, when the power flow stops the annoying grinding sound it makes while trying to get back going is really annoying. It didn't seem to matter how much water I poured into it, the priming was horrible and loud and lasts almost an hour.

Jayct - I got the Marineland 350 for my 55 galon tank. One bio wheel stoped turning in about a week. I had this filter 2 weeks now and my water is not clear. Filer needs to be cleaned. I have use older filter systems witch worked so much better and if I could find the one I had used I would so go back to it. I had to get a new filter to add to the tank to pick up where this one lacks. I don't have a lot of fish in my tank. Nor I don't over feed them.

Michael9999 - Within a week the pump of the Marineland power filter got so loud, I had to close the bedroom door, just to be able to sleep. I have a 10 gal tank with sand. Fish activity around the pump intake causes sand to get into the pump, particularly the impeller assembly. I will replace the impeller... and the sand with gravel... and keep my fingers crossed.

Petfreak101 - For a box filter, the Marineland bio-wheel filter is the best your going to get it has the right circulation not too noisy as long as you keep your water level high less changing of the filter w/ bio wheels it keep a natural balance of beneficial bacteria that your fish need to live " do not replace or clean unless broken.

Sandman89 - The Cascade power filter is really easy to use filter system.  very easy to maintain.

Wendy L. Porter - I have a couple Cascade 100's and a 300 and just ordered the canister filter. I love them - easy to clean, easy to use. As for the sponges and replacemens parts, I just ask the store I bought the filter from and they have been more than willing to order whatever I needed. And now carry Pen Plax Cascades with their fish supplies. I brag about the Cascades to everyone

Kelsey L. - The Cascade is a great filter. I have had one that lasted a couple of years.

Wesley B. -  Im pretty sure that the Cascade 300 is the correct size filter that we have. Either way, it works great. It is a very powerful yet quiet filtering system. Our water stays crystal clear and our fish stay healthy.

Techwrite.Techcomm - I've been using a Penn Plax Cascade 500 for a year in my bowfront 29 gal tank. It's inaudible, a cinch to clean, and it does a great job of filtering the water. And it doesn't leak. I advised my son to get the same filter for his turtle tank but he got a Fluval 105 instead, and it's been nothing but problems. You're supposed to grease the o-ring with special Fluval grease every time you take it apart, and even then it continues to leak. In the end, it's easier to replace the o-ring every time you clean the filter, which is a joke. We're going to trash the Fluval and get another Penn Plax Cascade 500.

R. Perrin - Cascade works well up to it's specified capacity. Relativly simple to set up ,clean , & reasemble. Good quality product for the price in comparison to to other higher priced units.   Will purchase this series of products again.

Mark Myszka - I don't like the Millennium. I have a Millennium 2000 on my 75 liter tank with cichlids. The tank is cloudy most of the time. There is not enough charcoal in cartridge to prevent the water from smelling. It's a nice concept, but needs to be redesigned to make it more versatile and efficient.

Doug - skip the Millennium filter line, there are better filters available. I had an Emperor and Penguin for a 55 gal tank and did not like the performance of the Penguin. Local store recommended Millennium because it was about $10 cheaper and did not have priming problem of the Emperor. The advantages of the Millennium 3000 are: 1. few pump priming problems; 2. adjustable water flow; 3. less obvious lift tubes. The disadvantages are: 1. original filter media which worked well has been replaced with standard filter. Doesn't fit the same and reduces water flow unnecessarily; 2. lift tubes break at the connector and replacements are not available. Bottom line: filter won't work with broken connectors; 3. Smoke tint is too light and algae grow at top of lift tube and because of the water flow adjuster it is hard to clean with brushes. My recommendation: either stick with Emperor line or go to something like a canister filter system.

Rob - I have a Millennium 3000 and I have to say that its really great! I put it in my 60 gallon tank and works so great that I put it up against a fluval 304 in the same tank and it out performed the 304. I gave the 304 a good two week run and it could never get the water as clear as my M-3000.

Mark White - I have been using a single Millennium 3000 filter in my 200 L tank, no problems. As for cleaning the water flow adjuster, my small brush and some vinigar works great. The the lift tubes will crack if not handled with care, so be careful. Overall, I would recommend this filter to everyone. You can purchase repalcement carbon filters on line for about $11.00 for a pack of four.

Jeff Hanks - After I had my Penguin Mini filter died in my 40 liter tank, an employee at a local fish store recommended the Millenium model to me, as it was new at the time. Anyway, it's been going for about two years now with no problems. It was an excellent purchase then and I totally recommend it to others. The gimmicky BioGrid actually functions and provides good biological filtration (I took it out for a week to see if it made a difference and ammonia levels jumped). It's a bit noisy, but I sleep in the same room with it running, so it's not much of a problem. This plagues most filters of this type, but when the power shuts off, you must reprime it quickly, or the motor will get hot and possibly burn out. Also it's not as popular as other filters such as the Penguin or Emperor models, so filter cartriges might be a little hard to find, so check on the internet if you have to. Overall, I am very satisfied with this product and recommend it.

Megan - I have the Millenuim 3000, and I love it! It's so quiet! I can't find the replacement cartridges for it though, so for a lot cheaper, I just make my own! I buy activated carbon (the black stuff) for $5.99 and a big bag of filter floss for $1.99 and it lasts me a LONG time. I also like the fact that its clear...its easier to see inside the filter if you need too, but if you have a lot of algae its not pretty to look at. The pros out-weigh the cons by far!

Al Young - I have a different opinion concerning Whisper filters. Of course they are cheap, but that alone should not be a selling point. The biggest drawback that I can attest to, is the problematic motor I had the Whisper rated for a 20 to 40 gallon tank on a 30 gal. long. The filter cloggs too easily and the water flows over the flow tube thus no filtrated water. But the biggest problem of all is the motor itself. If you have a power failure, once power is restored the pump (2 out of 3 times) the motor will not start on its own. You have to shake the flow tube to get it going again. I'll stick with my AquaClears.

Scott Fike - I have owned several Whisper filters over the years. Overall, I think they are only average at best. They are very reliable, silent and affordable but the constant changing of the pads that clogs up too easily, starts to become an expensive proposition. So I guess they are good for only sparsely populated tanks. This is definitely not a good Goldfish filter! I have switched to the Aquaclears and I recommend everyone else do the same.

Eric Brown - This Whisper filter is very quiet I can say, I sleep with one in my bedroom :). But it doesn't do that good of a job I think. If you have a planted aquarium you can get the oxygen needs, but this filter is wimpy! I have a pretty full tank and it does not give sufficient water flow! Thus, I do not recommend it for aquariums with active fish.

Ray Newton - The tetra Whisper filter did not perform as I had hoped for.  My water was always cloudy and I lost alot of fish.  I replaced the filter with a Hagen AquaClear and all my problems went away.

Mary Jo Fisher - I have a Whisper 200. While durable the motors are faulty. My first, the impeller cracked, jammed, stopped the motor which overheated and compromised the gasket which then started dripping. After replacing all of these parts it was, as before, loud, violently vibrating, and sloshy. It is a great mechanical filter. I have it and a penguin on my 25Tall. It is a great combination, and unlike the penguin it fulfils its flow rate. Penguins lose flow quickly, because their impeller wells are very narrow and snug. Overall I give it a 5 for its ease of filter cartridge change, slim size, and powerful flow.

Jim Usowicz - I have had two Whisper filters, and neither one has worked properly. One died after 3 months and the other would not run for more than 15 minutes without shaking the tube. I went and bought an AquaClear and have not had a problem since.

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