I've been a faithful user of a well-known company's brand of hang-on-the-back filter for over 30yrs. in the fish keeping hobby, but design changes to my go to filters in recent years have made them insufferably noisy & sent me searching for a diff't option. That's how I came upon EA Performance filters. Though there were no reviews for them, I figured I'd give them a shot.
The first thing I noticed right out of the box is the generous amt. of room for media in the filter box. The design gives the hobbyist so many media options! Yes, they come with pre-assembled carbon-based filter along with sponge-like media, but you really can set this filter up with any media you want to use. The amt. of room in the filter box, makes this an excellent biological filter! From ceramic media to lava rock media to sponges to polyester fiber and any combination in between, this filter can handle it. Of note on media, also, is that they can take the large filter pouches made for Whisper [by Tetra] filters — which are a much cheaper &, [in my opinion] better designed option than the filter pouches made for this filter.
The flow control knob is a bit deceptive in that, in practice, it's more of a high or low flow knob than true flow control through the whole turn process from high to low. But, that wouldn't deter me from purchasing again. The flow rate is very good….. Not suitable for fish, like Bettas, who prefer near-still waters, but definitely fine for most aquarium fish — even tested it with my big fancy-finned Goldfish & the flow didn't bother her unless set on high where she had noticeable trouble with the current.
The filter tubes come with extension options to allow this filter to be used in taller/deeper tanks than many other such filters of the same capacity. Do note that the strainer portion isn't a baby saver, nor will it keep fancy fins from being pulled into the filter (fancy Goldfish owners take note!), nor can average size cleaner snails (Malaysian Trumpet, Ramshorn, Olive Nerite for example) survive a crawl onto the slated portion of the intake tube (they get sucked out of their shells & it's not a pretty way to go). HOWEVER, it can easily be modified…. I cut the plastic from a tank divider, rolled the small bit into a tube shaped, and slid it into the tube's slatted bottom portion to prevent baby Endler Livebearers, snails, & my fantailed Goldfish's very long fins from being sucked up. It also keeps plant debris from getting pulled in & coating the bio media (which would reduce effectiveness). The plastic has lots of tiny holes that don't impede water flow. I don't like using sponge-like baby savers because they tend to clog and they also grab onto "stuff" preventing my cleaning crew of plant-safe snails from doing their jobs — not to mention decreasing water flow &, thereby, reducing filter effectiveness.
As for noise level….. This filter is not silent, but it's the closest I've found on the market (quieter than even those who tout low noise in their very brand name!) and there is a bit of a vibration [from the motor] induced rattle to the cover, but that's easily solved with a decorative rock sitting in just the right spot…. Has a low, even hum.
So, in short…. A very effective, versatile, relatively quiet, well-designed filter for aquariums under 55 USG. As with ANY filter, if you keep messy species (like Goldfish, for instance), the filter becomes suitable for less water volume (no more than 40 USG in this case). For my heavily planted, deeper tank, I use this model as a 2-stage filter alongside their smaller (30 USG) model as a biological filter (both set on low flow). For my Goldfish aquarium I use this filter as a 2-stage filter (chemical filtration concentration), a smaller filter of the same type from a diff't manufacturer (one I already had) functions alongside it as a biological filter and an internal biological filter.
After 3 years of use, this seasoned fish hobbyist can comfortably recommend this filter =)
Fizgig –
Quiet effectiveness!
I’ve been a faithful user of a well-known company’s brand of hang-on-the-back filter for over 30yrs. in the fish keeping hobby, but design changes to my go to filters in recent years have made them insufferably noisy & sent me searching for a diff’t option. That’s how I came upon EA Performance filters. Though there were no reviews for them, I figured I’d give them a shot.The first thing I noticed right out of the box is the generous amt. of room for media in the filter box. The design gives the hobbyist so many media options! Yes, they come with pre-assembled carbon-based filter along with sponge-like media, but you really can set this filter up with any media you want to use. The amt. of room in the filter box, makes this an excellent biological filter! From ceramic media to lava rock media to sponges to polyester fiber and any combination in between, this filter can handle it. Of note on media, also, is that they can take the large filter pouches made for Whisper [by Tetra] filters — which are a much cheaper &, [in my opinion] better designed option than the filter pouches made for this filter.The flow control knob is a bit deceptive in that, in practice, it’s more of a high or low flow knob than true flow control through the whole turn process from high to low. But, that wouldn’t deter me from purchasing again. The flow rate is very good….. Not suitable for fish, like Bettas, who prefer near-still waters, but definitely fine for most aquarium fish — even tested it with my big fancy-finned Goldfish & the flow didn’t bother her unless set on high where she had noticeable trouble with the current.The filter tubes come with extension options to allow this filter to be used in taller/deeper tanks than many other such filters of the same capacity. Do note that the strainer portion isn’t a baby saver, nor will it keep fancy fins from being pulled into the filter (fancy Goldfish owners take note!), nor can average size cleaner snails (Malaysian Trumpet, Ramshorn, Olive Nerite for example) survive a crawl onto the slated portion of the intake tube (they get sucked out of their shells & it’s not a pretty way to go). HOWEVER, it can easily be modified…. I cut the plastic from a tank divider, rolled the small bit into a tube shaped, and slid it into the tube’s slatted bottom portion to prevent baby Endler Livebearers, snails, & my fantailed Goldfish’s very long fins from being sucked up. It also keeps plant debris from getting pulled in & coating the bio media (which would reduce effectiveness). The plastic has lots of tiny holes that don’t impede water flow. I don’t like using sponge-like baby savers because they tend to clog and they also grab onto “stuff” preventing my cleaning crew of plant-safe snails from doing their jobs — not to mention decreasing water flow &, thereby, reducing filter effectiveness.As for noise level….. This filter is not silent, but it’s the closest I’ve found on the market (quieter than even those who tout low noise in their very brand name!) and there is a bit of a vibration [from the motor] induced rattle to the cover, but that’s easily solved with a decorative rock sitting in just the right spot…. Has a low, even hum.So, in short…. A very effective, versatile, relatively quiet, well-designed filter for aquariums under 55 USG. As with ANY filter, if you keep messy species (like Goldfish, for instance), the filter becomes suitable for less water volume (no more than 40 USG in this case). For my heavily planted, deeper tank, I use this model as a 2-stage filter alongside their smaller (30 USG) model as a biological filter (both set on low flow). For my Goldfish aquarium I use this filter as a 2-stage filter (chemical filtration concentration), a smaller filter of the same type from a diff’t manufacturer (one I already had) functions alongside it as a biological filter and an internal biological filter.After 3 years of use, this seasoned fish hobbyist can comfortably recommend this filter =)
Amazon Customer –
This is a Very Good Filter and amazing for the price!
I bought 3 Aqua-Tech filters in about a year in a half…DO NOT BUY THEM. They stop working in 4-6 months. They are flimsy and temperamental…basically junk! This filter works much better. I have had it over 6 months and it is going strong.
Klaudija Baier –
Satisfied, but a few small quirks I noticed
After using this product for over a year now, I can definitely say the durability is unmatched! The design is very easy to understand, with the intake tube pieces each having interlocking mechanisms that are quite intuitive and easy to reconnect once you’ve taken it apart for cleaning.That being said, I’d only be willing to give this product a 4/5 stars because despite the filter being advertised as quiet, I find that the water ends up looping in on itself at times, and overflowing back out and down the outside of the intake filter. This causes water to splash onto the rim of my aquarium, and I’ve unfortunately lost a few shrimps to this phenomenon when I hadn’t noticed it occurring at first… My tank is a 10 gallon and the filter hangs on the back of it at a bit of an awkward angle, I ended up putting a cement ring from a plant I bought in between the filter and the glass of the tank to cushion it and get the filter sitting parallel to the tank rather than laying crooked on it.On the bright side, I’ve never really had any issues cleaning it. I just leave it out to air dry for a while and then put it back together and it’s good as new! However the cleaner it is, the more likely the backflow problem I mentioned is going to occur… I think it has something to do with the speed of the motor, because despite me setting the stopper on the intake tube to the slowest setting (blocking as much intake flow as possible/reasonable) it still seems to backflow and sounds like a koi pond in my room all day, for many weeks until the algae builds up in there again! Fix the speed with the next version of this please!!However, other than the backflow issue and the awkward crooked angle the filter sits at, the durability is awesome, it has been through many cleanings and many weeks with me and it hasn’t leaked nor broke at all. As for ease of cleaning, there’s one section I wish would separate near the top bend of the intake tube, and you do need to find a larger cylinder sponge to cover every single hole at the bottom of the intake tube if you have shrimps, but I’m overall fairly satisfied with the purchase for the price listed.
Kathleen L. –
Works well
Used in 30 gal long tank and have no issues with it. Quiet flow.
Terry L Barreneche –
DO NOT BUY THIS FILTER
DO NOT BUY THIS FILTER. I EXPECT A FILTER TO LAST AT LEAST 3 YEARS. This filter lasted just over 1 year before it started making an awful noise. Actually it wasn’t even a year because I didn’t start using right away. I am a very experienced fish and shrimp breeder. I know how to clean and fix filters. Nothing helped. Customer service treated me like I was an idiot. Telling me in 2 different emails to clean it; which is SOP and I had already done. Save your money and irritation. Made to self destruct after one year.
DMC3323 –
Very nice filter
I’ve had 2 Aqua Clear filters break down on me in the last 1.5 years. Decided to change it up and saw this one on here. It arrived today. Was very simple to put together and install on my 40 gallon breeder tank. Has enough room to add extra media if you’d like. Can’t speak to longevity yet, but the water flow is good and it even came with a small sponge to put over the end of the intake tube. So far, I’m impressed.
jg1256 –
Permanent fixture
Worked well before it stopped working. I also canât remove it. Itâs stuck to the back of my 55 gallon tank. I have a topfin 55 gallon aquarium for reference.