On January 10, 2012:
If you are going to buy a hang on back filter then you should not consider any filter other than this. Instead of being stuck with having to purchase the manufacture media cartridges that you have to change every month, which causes you to throw away beneficial bacteria, the media in this filter is totally customizable so you can make it suit your needs.

On January 7, 2012:
I have had aquariums since I was kid. I moved so am in the process of setting up a new tank, the kit I bought included a different brand filter. I know already I will buy one of these in the near future. I had one of these filters for 20 years, no problems. As others have mentioned, the ability to use different filtering media is a big plus. It also rides much higher above the tank so I can accommodate a higher water level. Very good filter. Worth the money.

On January 6, 2012:
This filter has been up and running for two weeks and I am very pleased with its performance. I bought the AquaClear 30 for a 10 gallon tank. It is quiet. I like the way I can adjust the flow especially during feeding time to keep food from being sucked up into the filter.

On November 30, 2011:
After spending a lot of money on other filters, a friend told me to purchase the AquaClear filter for my 90 gallon tank. I shopped around and was pleasantly surprised to find the filter I had been looking for locally at about 30% less at Petmountain. I set up the filter and within a day, the water was crystal clear and the fish were swimming around, so happily. I'm so pleased with my purchase and have told many friends about Petmountain.

On May 29, 2011:
THE BEST HANG ON TANK FILTER I EVER HAD. LOW COST MEDIA AND THE SPONGE FILTER IS REUSABLE. JUST RINSE CLEAN.. I WASTED MY MONEY ON TETRA WHISPER, LOUD!!! AND MARINELAND EMPEROR ALSO LOUD!!! THEY WORKED GREAT BUT JUST SO ANNOYINGLY LOUD!!!!! I COULDN'T STAND IT, AND I AM SURE MY FISH AND FROGS COULDN'T EITHER. AQUACLEAR, THUMBS UP!!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!

On May 14, 2011:
This is a great filter! I was nervous to buy it, but am so glad that I did. Helped cycle my tank so much faster!!! This is a must buy for anyone!!!

On April 29, 2011:
I purchased this to replace a Whisper 30 that was on my 30 gallon tank which was recently converted to clay/sand substrate...I am so glad I did! In less that 12 hours the Aqua Clear got my tank cleaner than the Whisper had in 3 weeks with 3 filter cartridge changes!

On April 17, 2011:
I have 14 aquariums and have used only AquaClear filters for over 20 years.

On December 27, 2010:
I got a 55 gallon tank that had a aqua tech filter, it would always overflow and not filter out the water efficiently until I got the aqua clear70....very efficient, no overflow, only 100% clean water...very clever design

On December 9, 2010:
I have this type of filter on my 55g aquarium and I recently purchased this one for my 29g tank. I have not lost a fish in over two years with this type of filter and the water is always crystal clear. The 3 stage filter is the secret.

On November 24, 2010:
these are not very good filters ok 4 tetras n such but not good for large cichlids or cichlid community tanks as ur water will stay cloudy i bought magnum 250 h.o.t cleared tank cloudiness up in 48hrs and i haven't even used polishing filter yet no need water is now crystal clear if ur thinking of purchasing this type of filter do urself a favor and buy the magnum 250 h.o.t it'll save u money time and aggravationoh yea i've put the aquqclear 110 bk on my 55gal bloodparrot tank and use it only for mechanical and biological filtration in conjunction with my magnum 250 h.o.t but definitely recommend against buying this filter for anything other than SMALL tetra community tanks

On October 23, 2010:
I have had a 50 Gal aquarium in our family room for 31 years. The Aqua Clear filter maintains clear water, cleans up water fast after tank cleaning and is quiet. I don't consider any other when replacement required. After 31 years, I am replacing the filter for the third time.

On September 16, 2010:
this is by far the quietest filter on the market and the upflow design allows a huge selection of media.

On July 22, 2010:
The AquaClear HOB filters are by far the most superior of their kind on the market still. I absolutely love the huge media basket and the media is easy to replace. The AquaClear 20 keeps my 10 gallon planted Amazon biotope in pristine clarity and the biological cycle of the tank couldn't get any better. This is definitely the best filter for anybody who doesn't want to make the leap to canisters.

On July 21, 2010:
Finally a filter that the flow of water can be adjusted! It is very appreciated.

On July 11, 2010:
I have this on my fish only saltwater tank..and I love it. It seems to always get the job done.

On June 30, 2010:
Thing works great....Bought the 50 model and couldn't be happier. Keeps the water clear and clean.

On June 16, 2010:
I have only been in the fish hobby for a few years, but I am very familiar with a LOT of HOB (hang on back) filters. I prefer the AquaClear over the other types because they tend to clog less with planted tanks and are easy to clean and keep running. I also like that you can individually add/change out the individual filter media bits as needed. These are the best performing HOB filters for newbies and experienced aquarists alike. I recommend them for small to medium sized tanks because they are simple to set up and easy to maintain.

On May 31, 2010:
Really awesome filter! Media is pricey though.

On May 19, 2010:
One of the best things about this filter is its versatility. With the large generous basket you can use many types of media in this filter. I currently have the AquaClear 110 model on my marine tank and it does an awesome job.

On May 18, 2010:
i have an aquaclear 110. best filter on the market. had it for roughly 2 years now. easy to clean, media allows customization, and replacement parts from angry fish are easy to find. versatile filter!!! recommended!

On November 23, 2009:
I had sworn off HOB filters in the past for reasons such as noise, leaks, overfilling/clogging and troubles keeping the filters running over the years. When one of my internal Fluvals started putzing out (not to mention getting sick of it taking up valuable space from the fish), I tried the AquaClear after reading many positive recommendations on various fish forums. I thought I was going to be disappointed again but how could so many people be wrong?? Turns out this is one of the best filters I have tried and I am slowly outfitting most of my tanks with AquaClears. I totally love the efficiency, the fact they are so quiet and they are very flexible as far as filter media goes. I would recommend this filter to anyone! PS.. I wonder if one of the poor reviews were for Aqua-TECH or Aqueon filters as I have only seen those in the "starter kits" and I do agree that those two don't last long.

On November 4, 2009:
I absolutely love this filter as I've had it running for well over a year now without a single problem. It has always worked and been virtually care free, not to mention its incredibly quiet, I almost never hear it unless its eating a granule of sand that my sharks have kicked up. Even then I've been very impressed having expected it to die rather quickly from some of the sand buildup, but I've been continually impressed as it just flushes out the sand and keeps on going. I also love the fact that it wasn't made in china and as such isn't designed to break like other filters I've owned that cost more and break after a mere 8 months of use. I also love the flexibility this filter affords me as I can simply remove the cartridge stack and easily insert new and different media for it when I need to. The options are great for media and parts. I also love the clear plastic as it's neat to watch it run sometimes. It keeps my shark tank very clean and in excellent balance with the good bacteria and removes the ammonia and other toxins from the water. It also has a nice waterfall type affect that can be adjusted depending on what fish you have in your tank, you can keep it on full strength for fish that like a more stream effect or tone it down for fish like Betta's that enjoy a slower running environment. Another helpful aspect of the filter is the wide availability of the media for it at my local pet store, Petsmart, and Petco too so its the ideal filter for me. The only one I've ever had outdo it is my Magnum filter which has worked flawlessly for 5 years straight. I would highly recommend the AquaClear filter to anyone that wants a high quality, quiet, easy and simple filter that just works.

On September 28, 2009:
I have had my Aquaclear 110 for quite a few years. Well, lets just say it was called a 500 when I bought it. I have never had any problems with it and it is one of the few that I have seen that will restart on it's own without being primed when we have a short power outage. I really love that I can change out the media to meet my needs. Buy this one!

On August 16, 2009:
This a great power filter far better than any other HOB out there. I use it on my 5 tanks and I use it on my customers tanks for my Aquarium maintenance business.

On March 9, 2009:
I prefer the Aquaclear to all other filters. Keeps tank crystal clear and allows replacement of separate filter material to maintain bacteria.

On September 25, 2008:
Aquaclears are my favorite internal power filters. They seem to "flow" better than the traditional cartridge filters, with less backup. The bag system allows you the flexibility to change the media to suit your current needs. I really love these filters.

On September 8, 2008:
I bought two Aquaclear 50 filters to replace the two Whisper filters that I was using on my 55 gallon tank and I am so happy that I replaced them. These filters are great and I recommend them to anyone who's looking for a good hang-on-back/HOB filter.

On February 27, 2008:
The AquaClear 70 power filter is one of the best power filters on the market today. This filter is very reliable, quiet, has a great filter media set up for a very clean tank.

On February 12, 2008:
ordered this from the website and absolutely love it. its nice that its clear instead of black on the back on the tank. it also runs very quietly. im very happy with this product.

On October 12, 2007:
I have used many power filters for my freshwater tank, and this one is the best yet. The clear compartment means I can see when algae begins to clog the sponge, and having separate media bags makes maintenance so much easier. This is like having the simplicity of a canister filter for the price and size of a hang-on power filter. Also, this is the quietest filter I have ever used.

On August 15, 2007:
Like the title says, I think this is the best non-canister filter out there. The huge media chamber allows you to pack in whatever you want, and the flow rates are more than adequate to produce good mechanical filtration and good flow in the tank. The media is somewhat interchangeable, too, which is nice. I leave a small bag of ceramic in my AC110 and drop it in my AC20 when I need it for the 10 gallon quarantine tank.

The only modification I do is to cut the sponge into smaller pieces so it doesn't lift up when it gets full of debris. Leaving it intact causes it to rise and push the lid off after a few weeks. The water level rises in the filter, too, and can cause flooding. Cutting the sponge prevents this.

On August 10, 2007:
This filter works okay but not the best. The replacement filters are hard to find. I can only find them online or either drive an hour to the pet store to buy one.

On July 4, 2007:
I got this filter along with my 10 gallon tank, it was a starter kit.
I've had this kind before and usually they will last for a few months before wearing out.
They keep the water pretty clean, but could do a lot better. For the price though, I guess it's worth it.