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.