Cascade Canister Filter: Ideal for Large Aquariums and Fish Tanks

Kim G: Fish pump works amazing

Canada on Nov 13, 2023

Amazon Customer: I did have issues with is being noisy on initial install, support was great, described the issue and paid the shipping and they sent a new impeller, and locking cap.
Problem resolved it was the impeller that was faulty.
Had no issues priming, I make sure I close the valves as described in instructions and no problem when disconnecting.
I also fill the canister first with treated water before turning on as is oversized for my small 36 g tank and drops the water level a lot without a pre fill.
I have this on a 36g with overstocked goldfish( had to put accidental baby Goldie’s that hatched somewhere) I used the cascade and a tidal 75 for an insanely overstocked tank.
My recommendation, get a prefilter like the ehiem that attaches to the intake - best thing to save clogging the canister.
That said, easy to setup, I would recommend at this price point as a good reliable canister filter.

Canada on Oct 28, 2023

Zach B.: This filter works so much better than I expected. I’ve had my saltwater tank for over 15 years and had to replace my previous filter. I was hesitant to spend the money but decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did. This filter is quieter, easier to use, and is more effective than any filter I’ve ever used. I’ve taken it apart and put it back together a few times just to make sure it wasn’t going to develop any problems. I have not had any problems and I can’t even hear it run…. And my water is crystal clear. I keep thinking… why didn’t I buy this 10 or 15 years ago! My fish would have been so much happier and my life easier.
To anyone thinking about buying this… just do it. You won’t regret it.

United States on Oct 13, 2023

Amazonian: I recently purchased the Cascade 1500 Canister Filter as a replacement for my previous 1200 model, which unfortunately developed a leak. Here's my experience with this canister filter:

Efficient and Quiet Filtration:
One of the standout features of the Cascade 1500 is its ability to deliver crystal-clear water with minimal effort. The filter operates quietly and efficiently, maintaining a peaceful environment for aquatic life in the tank. With a water cycling rate of 350 gallons per hour, it's well-suited for larger aquariums, up to 200 gallons in size.

Versatile for Different Tank Types:
I appreciate the versatility of this filter, as it can be used in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. It's also a great option for turtle habitats, making it a versatile choice for various aquatic setups.

Convenient State-of-the-Art Features:
The push-button primer feature simplifies and expedites the priming process, while the two independent valve taps that rotate 360° allow for easy maneuvering, even in tight aquarium cabinets. These features make maintenance hassle-free and user-friendly.

Customizable Filtration:
The inclusion of five stackable,...

United States on Sep 23, 2023

calaltaca: OK, I'm not an idiot, most of the time. I took my 55 gallon tank down over 10 years ago but in this time of covid I thought I should have something to stare at besides TV. I was running an Eheim filter before but was missing some parts and as with everything in life was just cheaper to buy a whole new system. I research everything thoroughly before deciding. This one came in with great reviews. Indeed nice, easy compact system with great in and out put. Priming was very easy as well once I discovered you had to do that before you plugged it in. DUH. Large sized hoses. Probably could have got away with the 500 as my new tank is only 40. But in cases like this more IS better. I would rate it a solid 5 stars but.... I CANNOT turn off the water flow when doing maintenance. As i said, I understand water flow, gravity, valves etc. Because I went with the Fluval Stratum I have had to constantly replace my floss. Three times. First time read the three steps to do maintenance with leaving the hoses in tank. Not that hard. Turn off input, stop water flow in, disconnect tubing. Did that and ended up hosing down my walls, floors while I grabbed something for the water. Have a solid top tank,...

Canada on Nov 09, 2021

Alaina Dugas: I've been using various canister filters on large aquariums for 20+ years, but this was my first Penn-Plax canister. Honestly, I went with this one over the other brands that I know because I didn't want to spend that much - the tank already has an FX6 on it, and this is just a secondary filter for my 135gal. Setup was just as quick and easy as any I've put together, and once running it is really nice and quiet. I like that it has an actual carry handle for when you need to move it for maintenance - most others are really awkward to move especially when they're full and weigh a ton. What I really DON'T like is what they are calling a "quick disconnect" valve on the hoses. It's literally just a screw on/screw off attachment, which is in no way quick or easy when this thing is tucked away under your large fish tank like you'd expect it to be. I have worked with various different quick disconnect systems on other brands over the the years and they have always actually been pretty quick and easy - this is not, it's actually really a pain in the ass. For the price compared to others of it's size, I'll stick with it, but they definitely need to rethink that system in future. The other...

Canada on Aug 11, 2021

Shap: I have a 75 gallon tank with several cichlids and a very large pleco.
For the longest time I had 2 marineland penguin 350 filters in my tank. Roughly 2x the filtration of the tank size.
After a short while my tank was looking very milky and murky. It stayed that way regardless of how much or how little I cleaned it.
I've read that this means that there is a bacterial bloom in the tank, most likely from overfeeding, overstocked, or under-filtering. Also agitating the gravel too much and releasing bacteria into the water column.
Most of these didn't really apply so I was a bit perplexed as to how to solve the issue.
The ammonia levels were zero and the ph was normal, just weirdly cloudy water.
It looked like someone had dumped a glass of milk in the tank.
I tried clarifying additives to no avail.
I found that I was changing the filters every week or more which was getting pretty expensive, and still was doing nothing for the water quality.
The filters also went from being relatively quiet to quite loud over a short amount of time.
At any rate, something needed to change, so I decided to roll the dice and try this cannister filter. I like the penn plax...

Canada on Aug 22, 2020

I am Heinz Getwellvet: I have a 13" pleco.....bunch of guppies texas map turtles and some other stuff in a 75 gallon tank that had to have its fluval filter taken away. I went away and when I came home it smelled terrible and I couldnt even see through the water. The pleco had to be at the window just for me to see him. I could not use the fluval 305 I use to have and I could not find another one on craigslist for 25 bucks. I researched for a day and decided to go with the cascade 1000 based on its accessories and the good reviews.

Great Choice so far

Pros
1. price, 99 bucks for a filter that can handle a 100 gallon tanks is great.
2. The way it is made in some ways is much better than the fluval. For one it has a clamp on each side as opposed to just two. I use to have a fluval that only had two clamps. it was much harder to clamp down and one broke...it was over then. The cascade is much easier to clamp down and if one breaks you still have three more to compensate. another way it is built better over the fluval 305 is the connectors to the motor move around so you are able to move the tubing in many more directions in a much more comfortable easier way. With the fluval the tubing...

United States on Mar 31, 2013