AQUANEAT Pre-Filter Sponge, 6-Pack

AQUANEAT pre-filter sponges are foam sleeves that slide over a filter intake. They stop baby fish, shrimp and snails from being pulled into hang-on filters, canister filters and powerheads. You get six in a pack, so you can cover several intakes or keep spares for swapping during cleaning.

Will it fit your intake?

Each sponge is about 3.2 inches tall and 1.8 inches across, with a 0.8 inch hole. The foam stretches, so AQUANEAT says it fits intakes from roughly 0.8 to 1 inch (20 to 25.4 mm). Measure your intake tube before you order. The hole doesn’t go all the way through, so the closed end sits at the bottom of the tube.

Benefits beyond safety

• Catches flakes, plant bits and large particles before they reach the filter.
• Keeps the filter cleaner for longer between services.
• Grows bacteria on its surface, adding a little biological filtration.

Out of the package

They ship vacuum-packed and flattened. Unpack them, rinse them in dechlorinated water and they’ll puff back to full size.

Keeping flow up

A pre-filter catches debris, which means it clogs. How often you rinse it depends on your stocking and feeding. In a heavily fed tank, check it weekly. Squeeze it in old tank water and slide it back on. Having spares lets you swap a clean one on and rinse the dirty one later. A clogged sponge can starve the filter of water, so don’t let it go too long.

Good matches

They suit hang-on filters like the Seachem Tidal 35 and AquaClear 110 in shrimp and breeding tanks. For intakes wider than an inch, look for a larger size.