AquaClear 110 Power Filter

The AquaClear 110 is the largest hang-on-back filter in Fluval’s AquaClear line, rated for aquariums from 60 to 110 US gallons. It hooks over the back rim of the tank, pulls water up through an intake tube, runs it through the media and spills it back over a lip. It comes with media, so you can set it up as soon as it arrives.

Why choose a hang-on-back filter

A hang-on-back filter keeps everything above the water line and within reach. There are no hoses under the stand to leak, and you can lift the lid to check the media in seconds. For a large tank, a filter this size gives you a lot of capacity without the setup and priming work a canister needs.

Setup tips

• Check the clearance. The filter measures about 6.9 x 13.6 x 9.2 inches, so leave room behind the tank and under any lid or light.
• Fill it before plugging in. Add tank water to the filter box first so the pump isn’t run dry.
• Protect small fish and shrimp. A pre-filter sponge over the intake stops fry and shrimp from being pulled in, and it catches debris before it reaches the media.
• Seed it if the tank is new. A bottled bacteria product such as Tetra SafeStart Plus helps the media start working sooner.

Maintenance

Rinse sponges in a bucket of old tank water during water changes, not under the tap, so the bacteria living on them survive. Replace media in stages, never all at once. Every few months, pull the intake tube and impeller and clean out the slime and debris that slow the flow.

Who should look elsewhere

If your tank is under 60 gallons, a smaller filter is a better fit. For heavily stocked tanks over 110 gallons, or setups where you want hidden filtration, a canister such as the Fluval FX6 has more room for media.