Fluval Aquaclear Hang on Filter AC30 - 568lph

• Adjustable flow control – wind the output back from the intake lever for slower-flow setups without stepping down a model size.
• Refillable media basket – foam, activated carbon and BioMax ceramic rings in one basket, not a sealed throwaway cartridge.
• Three-stage filtration – mechanical (foam), chemical (carbon) and biological (BioMax) media in one pass.
• Room to grow the media – the basket has enough spare volume to add extra BioMax as bioload increases, without buying a bigger housing.
• Fresh and marine safe – rated for freshwater and saltwater use, up to 35°C.

We weren't able to verify exact housing dimensions for the AC30 against a manufacturer source with enough confidence to publish – for reference, the AC20 and AC50 either side of it measure roughly 13-18 cm long.

The AC30 is rated to 38-114 L, which covers most standard community tanks up to around 90 cm. Check your rim or glass thickness is under 2.4 cm where the filter hangs. If your tank runs closer to 114 L with a heavy bioload, the AC50 below gives more headroom.

All five AquaClear sizes share the same flow-control design and media layout – they scale up in flow rate and media volume as the numbers get bigger.

• Suitable for: freshwater community and planted tanks, marine nano-to-mid setups, and any 38-114 L aquarium.
• Not suitable for: aquariums over 114 L, or tank rims/glass thicker than 2.4 cm at the mounting point.

• 1 x AquaClear AC30 filter housing and motor
• 1 x intake strainer with adjustable flow control
• 1 x media basket with foam insert, activated carbon insert and BioMax insert fitted

Rinse or replace the foam insert monthly. Replace the activated carbon roughly every three months. Rinse the BioMax every two months in tank water (never tap water) and replace roughly every three months, never all at once. Replacement media: foam insert (Fluval A1392), activated carbon insert (Fluval A1382), and BioMax for AC20/AC30 (Fluval item 19660).

Operates on Australian 230-240 V/50 Hz mains. Run it through a residual current device (safety switch) and loop the power cord below the socket to stop water tracking down the cord.

Fluval's standard warranty on AquaClear power filters is 3 years from purchase, extendable to 5 years total with online registration within 30 days – in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Standard parcel delivery Australia-wide.

Is the aquarium volume on this page different from what I've seen elsewhere?

It may be. Fluval's published spec sheet rates the AC30 at 38-114 L and 568 L/h; some older listings have shown 80-185 L, which is actually the AC50's rating. We've used Fluval's own figures on this page.

Is the AquaClear 30 self-priming?

No. Fill the filter case with water before switching on, set the flow lever to its lowest setting for the first start, then allow 30-45 seconds for the siphon to establish.

Can I run the AC30 on a saltwater tank?

Yes. Fluval rates the AquaClear range for both freshwater and marine use up to 35°C.

How often do I need to replace the media?

Rinse the foam monthly and replace it as it breaks down; replace carbon roughly every three months; rinse BioMax every two months and replace roughly every three months, staggered so you never remove all of it at once.

Can I add more BioMax as my tank matures?

Yes – the media basket has spare capacity, and adding BioMax in place of some carbon once the tank is cycled is a common way to boost biological filtration without a bigger filter.