PENN PLAX (CPF3) Cascade Hang-on Aquarium Filter with Quad Filtration System Cleans Up to 35 Gallon Tank

EDIT - Almost one year later to the day and I have just had to purchase a new filter to replace this. As mentioned in my original review, this filter tends to stop on it's own more often than I'm used to after years of AquaClear use, and after discovering it stopped two days ago I haven't been able to keep it going. Turned back on for a day, then shut off again. Just tried cleaning/fixing now, and it turned on when plugged in but stopped again before it was even primed and running. As my first experience with this filter, I won't be buying again.I have purchased two of these Cascade HOB filters now in two different sizes. I am very much a die-hard AquaClear fan and have been for about 20 years, but the AC's have a very short overflow lip (where the water flows out of the filter into the tank). I have a fish tank in my living room and the AC overflow only reached the surface of the tank water if the tank was full absolutely all the way to the top - after a day or two of evaporation, the overflow on the filter was higher than the surface causing a waterfall that created more noise than I was willing to deal with in my living room. I went on the hunt for a filter that was equally as quiet but had a longer overflow lip, and after doing a lot of review reading, I took a chance on a Cascade. The filter is VERY quiet, so that alone makes me happy. The overflow lip is longer than an AquaClear, so it can go longer without being noisy and annoying before I have to top up the tank. So it met both my criteria. I dislike the media that the Cascade comes with itself, and the way it's set up, but thankfully it has a nice sized media box much like an AquaClear, so I just customized it and set it up like I would on an AC and it works perfectly. It does a great job of keeping the tank nice and clear. My only complaint is that in the few months I've been using the filters, I find that they clog and stop running pretty easily. There have been about 4 occasions in the last 6 months that I've discovered the filter not running - when I take it apart and clean out the motor and impeller, it starts back up again. Bit annoying after years of using ACs that basically run forever without clog issues. Overall, a great filter for the price, met the requirements I was looking for, and am happy with it.

I have many brands of aquarium filters (I have 13 tanks). This one worked well to start (all 3 that I purchased) but after a couple of months the filter flow became quite slow regardless of the speed it is set to - lucky to get a trickle. Separate it out, clean them fully, restart and it was ok for a few days prior to seeing the deficiency in how it works.

UPDATE: absolutely no support. Find another productWorked wonders for a week was super quiet and then the pump got loud and water draw was cut by 3/4. Week two it died! No support at all! I would spend a little more to get a better value product

You get what you pay for motor got hot and burned out in 20 months. I am putting an old pump filter on that is more than 25 years old and never had a problem my old filter filters better and has lasted longer

Easily the worst filter I've ever owned and I've owned quite a few. Constantly looses its prime and stops working. Thankfully I have a 20 year old Eheim filter running on the same tank or my fish may have already died. Also, it doesn't sit properly on a standard, rimmed tank. And the return is quite loud compared to any of my other filters.