"Pros: Price
Cons: Motor is housed above the water intake tube. The motor is submerged in the aquarium. This takes up aquarium space and if you are using an UFG it will be a tight fit. I also do not like the fact that this is a big filter.
Filter media is one cartridge that has the carbon in it. Not enough carbon if you have your aquarium fully stocked or have messy fish.
I would spend the extra $10-12 dollars and get the Aqua Clear. It has 2-3 times the amount of carbon, 1 inch sponge, and a large pouch of ammonia remover.
I do not like the fact that when you replace your cartridge with the Aqueon you will throw away the good bacteria you waited so long when you cycled your tank (remember, there is only 1 cartridge for this filter). With the Aqua Clear you have 3. So you can change the carbon 1 month, the sponge the 2nd month, and the ammonia the 3rd month.
I now have the Aqueon, Aqua Clear, and an UGF running in my heavily stocked 10 gallon aquarium. It may be overkill, but the water is so much clearer.
I'm looking to upgrade to a bigger tank. Can't keep myself from getting new fish every time I go to Petco."