I just acquired an Aqueon 30 filter in a deal. It's not too bad,it just has some features I wouldn't have purchased it outright because of.
I don't like the power head in the tank on these Aqueons, though it does mean no priming, and the intake tube is poorly and weakly constructed/attached and doesn't seem to be extendable past it's short length. I still prefer the Marineland Penguins. More versatility in the Marineland models for the same prices.
For those that own an Aqueon filter and don't want to pay the crazy high prices that Aqueon wants for their replacement cartridges, I tested the fit yesterday and the Marineland C size cartridge and the Foster Smith BIO3 generic replacements for the Marineland C will fit just fine in place of the Aqueon Large filters. Much less expensive to go that route.
Some people say the Aqueon will fit two cartridges inside, but at the moment I don't see how. I do see where you could drop some bio media in right behind the intake tube if you wanted.
I just wanted to toss out that refill swapability of cartridges to others looking to save money.
My previous experience with Aqueons has been positive (for heaven's sake, see my avatar!) but I do agree with some of your points about them, mainly the weak intake pipe and connection to the pump...
I had a QuietFlow 55 on my previous 60 gallon before it cracked and leaked, along with an AquaClear 110, and the filter seemed to give a really nice re-entry flow and pulled a great deal of debris from the water with its dual cartridges. I still have the filter, and will put it on whatever new tank I acquire next; I am also running a QuietFlow 20 on my 10 gallon temporary goldfish tank, and that little filter, for 125 gallons per hour, is keeping that tank pretty pristine...and I have not yet changed the original cartridge it came with.
I learned this the hard way, but the suggestions here by everyone are correct with regard to not throwing these carts away so often, and instead to just rinse/dunk them in removed tank water during water change intervals if they seem like they're slowing down the flow of the filter or if the thing is really falling apart; I never thought they should be, but the pads are pretty normal when they remain nasty and dark brown, stuffed with debris...this is where most of the beneficial bacteria is being housed. That's why it's a good idea to just dunk them every so often in removed tank water to get rid of all the surface, clingy nasty stuff that doesn't have anything to do with the good bacteria...
That said, with regard to the kinds of filters that come with tank "kits," I agree that it is somewhat unnecessary to immediately throw out
SORRY -- DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FINISH THAT LAST STATEMENT THE LAST TIME I LOGGED IN!!
Continued:
With regard to the types of filters that come with many small "kit" packages -- such as the so-called "internal power filters" on Marina's "Goldfish Starter Kits" and the one that came with my Petsmart/"Grreat Choice" 10 Gallon Starter Kit -- I do believe most of these are worthless and should be replaced; they put out next to no flow, don't seem to catch any debris and have like no power from what I could tell. One of the first things we did after setting up our 10 gallon was to go out and buy an Aqueon QuietFlow 20 external power HOB to replace the included "internal power filter" that came with the tank kit...it just seems like it works better.
Though, I must admit: When we had the one Black Moor in her little two gallon Marina "Cool 7" Goldfish setup and used that kit's little included internal filter, it did seem to suck up her waste pretty effectively as I noticed when I threw out the little cartirdge when we moved her out of that little tank...