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i got one with my tank and it had this kind of tube sponge in it. it was dark brown. i figured it was dirty, but no matter how much i rinsed it, the water that came off it was clear. is it supposed to be this color? and is it safe to use in my tank with the same media it had when it was used by the last owner?

also, what else can i put in it for media? i found some sort of charcoal cubes that were about a quarter inch big. do i have to put them in a bag if i use them?

I'm not sure what kind of Fluval 4 you're talking about----the Plus (internal filter)? A canister? Another kind? I have an older Fluval 3 that hangs on the tank, and from what you wrote, all I can think of is a kind of sleeve that fits into it...

If you've got the 4+, the sponges are longish rectangles. If the water is rinsing clean (you're rinsing in some tank water that's been set aside for this purpose, right), and the sponge is still brown (it should have become a little lighter), then that's OK. What media do you have that was from the previous owner?

Charcoal cubes---these cubes are specifically for use in aquarium filters? If so, you can buy a media bag (Petsmart in Buckland Plaza sells them ) or put them in a piece of panty hose to contain them.

i have a 4+, but thats not the one that came with the tank. i got a fluval 4 with it. the internal kind i guess. it came with a bracket to hang on the side but my water isnt high enough for it to be under water. so i cut the bracket and fit suction cups to it. so, assuming that filter wont break if its submerged, im gonna use it like i do my 4+.

the media it came with was just a sponge. i have one in my 4+ so i wanna put some other kind of filtration in the other one.
and i was just at petsmart in the buckland plaza yesterday lol thats where i found them.

I would go to the petstore with the brown sponge & see what a new one looks like. That would be the best way to find out for sure!

hmm...why didnt i think of that? lol