Sponge filters: nothing to pull shrimp in
The water passes through the sponge, so baby shrimp can’t be pulled in, and the shrimp graze the sponge.
| Model | Rated for | Moves the water | Room it needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| hygger Biochemical Sponge Filter, Small Sponge · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal | 5–20 gal | Not published | 2.9 × 2.9 × 4.4 in, inside the tank |
| hygger Double Biochemical Sponge Filter, Small Sponge · sized for 10 gal | 10–40 gal | Not published | Not published |
| Aquarium Co-Op Easy Flow Sponge Filter, Nano Sponge · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal | 5 gal and up | Not published | Not published |
| Aquarium Co-Op Easy Flow Sponge Filter, Small Sponge · sized for 10 gal | 10 gal and up | Not published | Not published |
With an intake sponge in the box
Each comes with an intake sponge, which keeps baby shrimp out of the filter.
| Model | Rated for | Moves the water | Room it needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluval AC20 Hang-on-back · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal | 5–20 gal | 20× an hour in 5 gal, 10× an hour in 10 gal (100 GPH at most) | 4.4 in deep, behind the tank |
| Fluval AC30 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | 10–30 gal | 15× an hour in 10 gal (150 GPH at most) | 4.4 in deep, behind the tank |
Add a sponge over the intake
Cover the intake with a fine sponge, sold separately, so baby shrimp aren’t pulled in.
| Model | Rated for | Moves the water | Room it needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter up to 5 gal Internal · sized for 5 gal | Up to 5 gal | 7× an hour in 5 gal (35 GPH at most) | 3 × 3 × 6 in, inside the tank |
| hygger AquaFall Aquarium Filter, S Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | 7–10 gal | 16× an hour in 10 gal (160 GPH at most) | 3 in deep, behind the tank |
| hygger Hang-on-back Canister Filter 5W Hang-on-back · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal Its intake comes with a sponge, but its surface skimmer is a second way in: cover it with sponge or mesh, as hygger advises, so baby shrimp aren’t pulled in. | Up to 10 gal | 15.8× an hour in 5 gal, 7.9× an hour in 10 gal (79 GPH at most) | Not published |
| Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter 5–15 gal Internal · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal | 5–15 gal | 15× an hour in 5 gal, 7.5× an hour in 10 gal (75 GPH at most) | 4.25 × 3.5 × 6.25 in, inside the tank |
| Fluval U1 Internal · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal | Up to 15 gal | 13× an hour in 5 gal, 6.5× an hour in 10 gal (65 GPH pump rating) | 4 × 3 × 6 in, inside the tank |
| EHEIM LiBERTY 75 (2040) Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 19.8 gal | 10× an hour in 10 gal (100 GPH at most) | 5.3 in deep, behind the tank |
| Aqueon PRO QuietFlow Power Filter 10 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 20 gal | Not published | 3.8 in deep, behind the tank |
| Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO 10 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 20 gal | Not published | 3.625 in deep, behind the tank |
| Aqueon SmartClean Power Filter 10–20 gal Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | 10–20 gal | Not published | Not published |
| hygger Backpack Aquarium Filter 6W Hang-on-back · sized for 5 gal and 10 gal | 5–20 gal | 26.4× an hour in 5 gal, 13.2× an hour in 10 gal (132 GPH at most) | 3.5 in deep, behind the tank |
| hygger Hang-on-back Canister Filter 6W Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal Its intake comes with a sponge, but its surface skimmer is a second way in: cover it with sponge or mesh, as hygger advises, so baby shrimp aren’t pulled in. | 10–20 gal | 10× an hour in 10 gal (100 GPH at most) | Not published |
| Marineland Penguin PRO 125 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 20 gal | 12.5× an hour in 10 gal (125 GPH at most) | Not published |
| Aqueon PRO QuietFlow Power Filter 20 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 30 gal | Not published | 4.25 in deep, behind the tank |
| Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO 20 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 30 gal | Not published | 4.25 in deep, behind the tank |
| Fluval 107 Canister · sized for 10 gal | 10–30 gal | 9.5× an hour in 10 gal (95 GPH through the filter) | 13.7 in tall, in the cabinet |
| Fluval C2 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 30 gal | 11.9× an hour in 10 gal (119 GPH through the filter) | 4.7 in deep, behind the tank |
| Fluval U2 Internal · sized for 10 gal | Up to 30 gal | 10.5× an hour in 10 gal (105 GPH pump rating) | 8 × 3.5 × 4 in, inside the tank |
| Marineland Magniflow 160 Canister · sized for 10 gal | Up to 30 gal | 16× an hour in 10 gal (160 GPH at most) | Not published |
| Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Hang-on-back · sized for 10 gal | Up to 30 gal | 17.5× an hour in 10 gal (175 GPH at most) | Not published |
Before you choose
Shrimp graze the film that grows on a sponge, so a sponge filter feeds them as well as cleaning the water. Whatever you choose, keep the flow gentle and the tank mature: shrimp do best in a tank that has run for a month or more. Types of aquarium shrimp · Plants for a shrimp tank.
A sponge filter runs from an air pump. Aquarium Co-Op Battery Backup Air Pump, Single Outlet and Aquarium Co-Op Battery Backup Air Pump, Dual Outlet run from USB and switch to their own battery when the power goes out, so the sponge keeps the tank’s bacteria alive through an outage. Aquarium Co-Op gives its current pumps about 20 hours on a full charge, or 40 hours or more in power-save mode, which runs the air 15 seconds on and 15 off. Setting up an air pump and sponge filter · Power outage plan.