Pre-filter for intake

I have a question and my question is if you place a pre filer on your intake as I have two aquariums and both are 10 gallons and in both aquariums I am using the aqueon quiet flow power filters for the 10 gallon. I ordered these small intake pre filters off of amazon and they do only have one hole which is what I have heard is the best pre-filter to get for both aquariums and I washed them off and put them in my aquariums. I want to know if the filter is suppose to cover the intake entirely or just the bottom. I have included two pictures of the sponges in both aquariums. In one aquarium I just have a male betta who is always getting his tail stuck in the intake and that is why I originally bought the intake sponge and the other aquarium I just have 8 guppies in but they never seem to be bothered by the intake ever but I put one on it as well. Please help as I just learned about the pre-filter experience. Thanks.

 

It should cover the entire thing. Water will take the path of least resistance, so the filter is not working as effectively as it could be, if at all.

 

It should cover the entire thing. Water will take the path of least resistance, so the filter is not working as effectively as it could be, if at all.

Thanks for the reply I actually just figured it out. It stretches so I was able to pull it all the way up. I feel so silly. Thanks for the reply anyways.

 

Not silly at all. I bought some online as I lost a KuhlI loach in am impeller. I pull mine up like a gym teacher pulls up their socks when wearing shorts!

with HOBs they’re great. As soon as the filter needs a good squeezing - you’ll notice the outflow on the hob decline - first a bit but quite quickly down to a trickle.
Now every filter in the house (bar large canisters) has a pre filter. That’s like 14! Hahaha. The LFS don’t seem to sel them (or sell one in a packet for ridiculous amounts of money) so I grab packets of 6 online.

 

Now every filter in the house (bar large canisters) has a pre filter.

Why no pre-filters on the canisters?

 

Why no pre-filters on the canisters?

Apologies I should have specified. On my fx6 for example the style of intake apparatus doesn’t lend itself to ore filter sponges. That said the fish in the tank with canisters are ones I’m not worried about getting sucked into or stuck on to an intake tube.

If the intake can suck up the Oscar then it deserves him

 

I have just recently discovered those filters and they're great in my aquarium. It catches so much debris that would otherwise go into the job filter. Less filter maintenance.

 

AcuarioAmazonico , the FX4 and FX6 can readily use pre-filters on the intakes.

I have one on our FX4 now. It has an "ATI Filter Max III" for a pre-filter, and it works very well.

Remove the strainer from the intake tube. The adapter fittings that come with the Filter-Max will slip onto the end of the intake tube.

Since it uses a coarse foam sponge, flow is not restricted.