UPDATE: I’m still using this product and you can’t beat it. Best value for the money. Can’t help posting pictures of the Plecos Ive been using this filter pad for a year now and couldnt be happier. This filter pad is being used in the sump for my 220 gallon African Cichlid show tank thats running a Sicce Syncra 5.0 pump 1321 GPH. To answer the question Ive seen several times now, Yes this filter pad plugs up faster when you first start using it or if you over feed. Thats because its a dual density filter pad and its grabbing all the extra crap your other filter was missing. No, I dont work for this company and I really dont care if you buy this filter or not. If your on the fence its a great product and works well. Ive uploaded a picture to give you an idea of how clean my water is.

It works well on top of your sponge filter. I don’t use charcoal but use this filter pad with the polish pad. My water is very clear compared to not using these filters. I rinse and squeeze them once a month and change them every other month, when flow decreases noticeably. How often you change them depends on your bioload (how many fish per size of tank, generally). So the rate may be different for everyone. At about the 2 month mark, the filter pad starts to separate into 2 layers and i know it is time to change it. The amount in each package is very generous. I am glad i found this item and recommend it to others.

This medium really keeps my aquarium crystal clear I love that I can cut it to fit any filter.

I have two of the Fluval C series filters, each is a different size. All you have to do it cut to the size you need and install. Much more economical.

I have been working on cycling my aquarium for about a month and a 1/2 now and have really been struggling with the nitrites. Despite the many water changes and beneficial bacteria Ive been adding in they just havent gone down and have been at a dangerous level. My nitrites were reduced overnight just by adding these to my filter cartridge. I dont think they were even advertised as nitrite reducers but they certainly have done the trick when nothing else has. This is such an affordable replacement for the carbon filters I have been using and they offer sicker and way more protection and can be customized according to size and preference. You can even add 2 layers of these for even more filtration. No more pricey rip off cartridge filters for me!

Previous to finding this duel density filter pad, Id spend tons of money on precut Fluval and Hydor media for my filter. Not only is this stuff a quarter (or less) of the cost, it is of much higher quality, and doesnt disintegrate after a month in my external canister filter. If can be rinsed and reused 2 or 3 times before discarding, and I usually clean the filter of my tank once every month or two. My water is always crystal clear and I always get comments about the clarity and health of my tank. I cut a paper stencil as a guide to the shape of my filter and keep in in the bag with the pads, so creating a perfect fitting match takes less than a minute with a sharp pair of scissors. Consider the savings of using this product: I used to buy both fine and course pre-cut pads from Hydor. To buy a set of both for each filter change it was roughly $20. This duel-density padding replaces the need for both, so each cut pad takes half the space, leaving more room for other types of media. I can cut 30 new pads off of one roll of this dual density padding which costs around $17. Add it up: $20 x 30 Fluval/Hydor filter changes is $600!! $17 / 30 Aquatic Experts dual density filter changes (or more if you reuse the pad several times like I do) comes out to $0.57 per change, and this stuff is of MUCH better quality!! Its a no brainer, buy this filter pad, and save bunches of money, while improving the health of your tank!

I have a 40 gallon aquarium with a Fluval C4 Filter. I was looking into replacement media pads so that I didnt have to purchase the expensive Fluval replacements. This media roll works perfect and closely resembles the stock material. I pair this material with Aquatic Experts 50 micron polishing pad and my tank water is always crystal clear! I will say that this material doesnt hold up as long as the stock material. With the stock material, I would rinse the dirty sponge in a bucket of tank water, squeeze it out a few times, run my fingers over it to clean, etc, and then re-use it for a couple more weeks. I was able to do this probably 4 or 5 times before the stock material began to fall apart and I felt that it needed to be replaced. With this material from Aquatic Experts, I can only do this cleaning/reuse method about 3 or 4 times before I feel that it needs to be replaced. However, the cost difference greatly favors this stuff! I highly recommend this media and plan to continue pairing it with the 50 micron polishing pad!

It takes a lot of time cutting it to shape and size of filter and in the end it doesnt make a difference, Ive been in this hobby for 10 years and I bought this once and I will never buy it again

I buy a roll a few times a year, cut it up in rectangles and use it along with other foam media in my hang on filters. It can also be used around an intake filter for odd ends. They go in white and come out brown. Because of the low price I usually throw out the rectangle and replace it instead of rinsing and reusing. It helps keep the other foam media from building up as well. Before I found this, I spent a lot more money buying other things that the pet store tells you to buy which don’t last as long.