AquaClear 70 Power Filter - Up to 70 gal.

Pros: Reusable sponge filter, great flow , circulates surface water very well.

Cons: The lid and housing sometimes resonate, and the media basket likes to raise, lifting the cover.

I've had this filter now for about 7 years. It runs 24hrs 365 days a year. I have never had a problem with this filter. I run two of these filters for my 90gal tank. It does get a break once a month when I clean it. That shows you how reliable they are. I like the fact that I can change what filter media I use. With the stackable media I can easily pull the basket, and change the carbon out if I'm medicating the tank. I read one review where the media basket floats and lifts the lid off. That is a design of the filter which means the filters are clogged,and its time for a cleaning. Its to safeguard the motor, and keep it from burning up. There is nothing wrong with the filter try cleaning it. I do agree that the cover does tend to vibrate and make a rattling noise. I put a small bead of silicon around the top of the filter to stop the noise. I was using a small rock on top of the lid to eliminate the noise. I also have aquaclear 50's filters, and they do not do this. These are one of the best filters I've ever owned.

I love this filter. I use one on a 55 gal African cichlid tank and it does wonderfully. The design is like having a canister filter in hang on form. You can put whatever type of filter media you like in the unit and you don't need to get stuck in the cycle of buying specific filter bags or cartridges.

Yes they are a little bit more expensive but they are definitely worth the extra money. They are extremely sturdy and beefy filters. They do run a little noisy but this is easily remedied. The filter is quiet but the water return is a little bit higher causing some noise.

The previous comments about the basket rising is true in that they will rise but this is in my experience only because the filter sponge(which can be reused basically until it physically falls apart) needs cleaned.

I've had this filter for about 6 hours. Yes, I said, HOURS! And I'm returning it.
First the good news.
1) It is POWERFUL! The flow creates incredible turbulance in the water, like a waterfall!
2) It statrs up and the motors is very quiet.

Now the bad news;
1) The waterfall effect, is so noisey it drives me out of the room! I cannot stand listening to the splash, splash, splash!!
Some may like the sound of a waterfall in their livingrooms,..not me!

This has been a pretty good power filter. It is a lot more quiet than Whisper, Aqueon. Emperor and the penguin. It keeps the water fairly clear. I run two filters on my 75 gallon freshwater tank. The only down side is it is a bit hard to clean.
The media basket is larger than a dinner plate so you will need a basin or loaf pan to carry the filter basket to the cleaning area in my case the patio.

this is the best power filter that you can buy. aquaclears have the highest flow rates. you can also replace the carbon (lasts 1 month) with chemi-pure (can last 6 months). once you do that, you are just rinsing the sponge for the next six months and not changing cartridges every 4 weeks.

had it 3 months very noisy replaced impeller and that did nothing. plus it fills the tank with bubbles if the tank water level isn't very high. gonna have to replace it with a hydor canister filter.

Great filter but the sponge gets clogged up every 3 to 4 days. I removed the sponge and replaced it with a more porous filter media. I cut it to size and layered it 3 deep. It's silent and does the job, Every week I remove the pads and shake them out against the sides of a bucked. Do not rinse them off as this will remove beneficial bacteria. Then put the 3 pads back in first,then a carbon bag and an ammonia removing bag and good to go. Don't forget every week to do your 10% water change.