Keeps my goldfish tank clear, which is hard to do! I have a ten gallon. It is very slim, which means I can push it very close to the wall and conserve the space on my desk. The only "flaw" is that it's clear which means algae grows on the filter cartridges.
I have owned many small tank filters. This filter is a heavy hitter. It is completely silent(as long as its not bumped against plastic lid). I had to stick my finger where the water runs out to tell if it was working. The filters do a great job but you have to change the media every three weeks. My only complaint is with myself. I ordered a 20 for my 10 gallon tank. It works supper good, but the plastic hood won't sit on top properly now. Easy button fix: drs foster and smith. Seven bucks for a glass top. Lights? I ordered led lights off eBay for under 12 bucks. Worth the adjustments and my tank looks awesome!!!
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When my niece started neglecting her Comet goldfish that was stuck in a tiny bowl, I decided to bring him home and add him to my 10 gallon unheated Danio tank. Considering I was already pushing the tank with the bioload of 6 1.5-2.5 inch full grown Danio, I was worried that the goldfish (terribly messy fish, known as the pig of the aquarium world) would destroy the fragile balance.
However, thank god for this filter, a once a week dosages of Seachem Prime, and a ton of Java Moss and Anubias, I've never had to worry about Ammonia, Nitrate or Nitrite levels. Levels on my poor overloaded tank was even fine when I had to leave town for a week!
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I've been using the Marina S20 filter for about six months with a 5 gallon tank stocked with four fancy guppies. For effectiveness and ease of use, the Marina filter cartridges simply cannot be beat. However, I sometimes fill the five slots with slot 1) Accurel white filter media to get out any fine particles that may flow in from the tank; slot 2) 2 bags of biomax; slots 3) & 4) each have a 100 ml bag of Seachem Purigen; and slot 5) Accurel ammonia reducing pad. On the front side of the Purigen slots, I have more of the white filter media. The replacement media doesn't necessarily work better, but it does go for longer periods without needing replacement. The filter cartridges and the replacement media (either one or the other) keep the water crystal clear and well balanced.
Even with the extra filtration media I've added, the water flows well, and the filter is very quiet. The water pouring back out of the filter provides a continuous, generous supply of tiny bubbles. Initially, the lid did vibrate a little if it wasn't seated just right, but I placed two quarters at one end and that took care of it. For some reason the vibration has just disappeared and I no longer need the quarters. The slim line of this filter allows the tank to set far back on a kitchen cabinet, giving extra inches of much needed workspace. The adjustable flow and the sponge covering at the intake are both great features not found on every filter system.
I am a novice aquarium owner and have twice phoned Marina's customer service with questions a more experienced person would never have asked. Both times I was immediately connected to a very polite, capable representative.
2/2/2013 Note: This filter is clear plastic and I have it up against a window. During the warmer months when the blinds were tilted up to keep direct sunlight out of the room, there was absolutely no algae growth in the filter. But this winter, with the blinds tilted level to allow as much sunlight as possible into the room there was a little algae growth in the filter but still none in the fish tank itself. When I first got the tank, I painted the outside back with a non-toxic paint (Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Pearl Aquarium Blue.) Since I still have the small roller and the paint, I have now painted the outside back and sides of the filter. This was very easy to do and has completely eliminated any trace of algae. Matching the exposed surfaces of the filter to the back of the tank looks good, too.
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I love this line of filters from Marina. The slimline is a great solution for smaller tanks from 5 gallons up to 20 they do a great job. They are virtually noiseless and are extremely easy to maintain and set up. The pre-sponge filters are great for those of us with fry or snails in the tank and I also love the ability to control the strength of the flow, very nice feature. I am very pleased with these units and this is the third one I have purchased.
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I am very pleased with the JBJ 6 gal Nano Cube. I've been running the 12 gal JBJ Nano Cube for 2+ years now and that tank hasn't given me any problems. This little 6'er is even sweeter than the 12 with the filter and lighting incorporated into the canopy, it makes for very tidy lines. I love the smooth, seamless corners up front and that the viewing area is made of glass and not acrylic. Update 3/6/2012 The cooling fans of the 6 gal Nano Tank are quite a bit noisier than the 12 gal model, making it not suitable for use in bedroom.
