Penn-Plax Cascade 150 Power Filter – Hang-On Filter with Quad Filtration – Great for Freshwater and Saltwater Setups

Nice and quiet, although outlet not as adjustable as advertised. The intake should be fully submerged, or the motor becomes damaged and sounds awful

filter worked less than a week then the motor stopped working

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 purchased this filter when I bought a new 10 on tank for my fish in the end of November 2020. I noticed a high count in my 10 gallon. After doing a 50% water change, rinsing out the filters from that filter, I want to make sure it was running. I'm good reason my nitrate count was so high! I'm not sure how long it's been since that filter stopped working. I think I cleaned the filter pieces two weeks ago in my weekly water change and it seem to be working then. Since it's been longer than the return time from Amazon, I've been up having to trash it. It's not the impeller of the actual pump unit, as there is no power generating into the pump. I went to look for a replacement pump for this unit and I cannot locate any. That is a real nuisance. I have a small filter for a 2 gallon rescue tank that I'm forced to use until I order a new filter from Amazon. It does a really good job as I've had to use it in one of my 5 gallon tanks when the small back filter pump got clogged with plant debris and stopped. I used to clear the tank out once I got the pump working again. So, I'm sure I can actually recommend this filter at all. It ran OK in my 10 gallon. I have a lot of plants with a normal number of fish for a 10 gallon. I do, thankfully, have a sponge filter and when I went to clean the sponge off in the discarded water from the tank, I saw the water turn almost black. So, I'm very thankful then at least my sponge filter I was helping. I was very surprised at the nitrate level when I had just done at 50% water change in that tank last weekend. OK, I suggest you beware folks when looking for a new filter for your tank. I'm off to get another filter. I definitely will NOT use this brand if I can avoid it. Also, those internal air powered sponge filters are amazing. I have two running in my 10 gallon now while I figure out what to do about a filter and using that small rescue pump. Just an FYI, I bought 2 UPETTOOLS Aquarium Biochemical Sponge Filter from Amazon. One went into a 5 gallon, And the second one went into that poor 10 gallon tank. Set a 10 gallon tank is now running to sponge filters as well as the rescue filter. If you want to get your tank clean, I do highly recommend any internal sponge filter. I'm surprised how well they work. Not great for debris, like a hanging filter does, but I absolutely love them.

The story of my review may be like a few others . I ordered the first Penn Plax Cascade Aquarium and it arrived on time and by appearance not damaged. Putting it together was easy. I put it in my 20gal fish tank. I plugged it in and the motor and impeller started up and it started to work just fine. I then checked on it about an hour later and the motor was humming and the impeller had stopped. I took it out and checked the directions and all was correct. I put in back into the tank and it ran for about a minute and then the impeller stopped working. I tried to hand turn the impeller by hand but it would not work. While the unit worked initially it seemed to be doing a good job and the motor was very quiet. So I put in a return request. I received a response within a few hours. I returned the unit and within 3 days my replacement came. I put it together and plugged it in and tested it in my sink. It worked just fine. I then put it into the tank. Again it worked fine. I checked on it in an hour and it was working perfectly. I have now had it 2 weeks and I love it. No problems, motor quit and it does a good job to keep the water clean. I like the option of being able to adjust the water flow. I would highly recommend this product. My only advice is that after you put it together test it first before putting it into your fish tank. I was impressed with Amazon's return policy. I have been buying from Amazon for more then 6 years and purchased almost 80 items, this was only the 2nd time I had to return an item. I gave it 5 stars because not matter what the item is or where you purchased it you will get lemon from time to time. In the end the new returned item worked great.