Power Filter Media Baskets

Power Filter Media Basket: AquaClear, Tidal, and Penguin Basket Mods Explained

Published July 23, 2026 · 7 min read

A power filter media basket is an open basket. It drops into a hang on back filter in place of a throwaway cartridge. You fill it once with your own foam, carbon, and bio media. Then you rinse it and use it again. You stop buying a new cartridge every few weeks.

We make baskets for three power filter lines. They are AquaClear, Seachem Tidal, and Marineland Penguin. This guide shows what fits each one. It shows how an open basket is different from a brand cartridge. And it shows how to check the fit before you order.

What is a refillable media basket, and why use one?

A stock hang on back filter usually runs a throwaway cartridge. You toss the whole thing out, media and all. Then you buy a new one. A basket flips that around. You buy the basket once. Then you fill it again and again with loose media.

The basket has open sides, so water moves through the media. The floor has drain holes. The rim flares out, so you can lift the basket out by hand. You pick your own media, and your own order. Use foam, carbon, bio media, or anything else you already run.

AquaClear media basket: what we make for the 50, 70, and 110

AquaClear is one of the most common hang on back filters. It is the line we cover the most. We make an open basket for the AquaClear 50, 70, and 110.

Each basket is sized to its own filter model. An AquaClear 50 basket is not the same size as an AquaClear 110 basket. Pick the basket that matches your filter's own model number.

Seachem Tidal media basket: what we make for the 35, 55, and 75

Seachem's Tidal line works much like AquaClear. It has a filter body with a media space that fits an open basket. We make a basket for the Tidal 35, 55, and 75.

Same rule as AquaClear. Match the basket to your Tidal's model number. Each size is cut for its own filter.

Marineland Penguin media basket

We also make an open basket for the Marineland Penguin. It works like the AquaClear and Tidal baskets. It is an open frame you fill yourself, not a sealed throwaway cartridge.

Open basket vs a brand cartridge: what is actually different

The biggest difference is what goes inside. A brand cartridge is sealed shut. It comes pre filled. You throw out the whole thing once it is spent. An open basket is just a frame. You decide what media goes in it, and in what order.

What you are comparing	Brand disposable cartridge	TankRig open basket
What is inside	Sealed, pre-filled media	Whatever media you choose to add
When it is empty or spent	Throw the whole thing away	Rinse or swap the media, keep the basket
Media order	Fixed by the maker	Your choice, layer it how you want
Ongoing cost	A new cartridge, again and again	Loose media only, the basket is reusable

This compares an open basket to a typical throwaway filter cartridge in general. It is not a claim about any one brand's exact cartridge contents or price.

What media goes in first?

We already answer the media order question in our Fluval media basket setup guide. The same order works here too: mechanical media first, then chemical, then biological. That order works for a Fluval basket, an AquaClear basket, a Tidal basket, or a Penguin basket. We do not repeat it on this page.

Checking the fit before you order

We size every basket to the filter model it is named for. Filter bodies can vary a little between production runs. We do not have a caliper check on file for every model yet. Check the fit against your own filter before you rely on it.

Would you rather build to your own chamber size? Our configurator has a media basket builder. Tell it your chamber size. It prints a basket to match.

Frequently asked questions

What is a refillable media basket for a power filter?+

It is an open frame. It drops into a hang on back filter in place of a throwaway cartridge. You fill it with your own media and reuse it, instead of tossing out a whole cartridge each time.

Does TankRig make a basket for my AquaClear filter?+

We make baskets for the AquaClear 50, 70, and 110. Match the basket to your filter's model number. Each size is cut for that model.

Will an AquaClear basket fit a Seachem Tidal filter?+

No. Each basket is sized to its own filter line and model. Order the basket built for your specific filter model.

What media order should I use in an open basket?+

See our Fluval media basket setup guide for the full order. Use mechanical media first, then chemical, then biological. That order works for any open basket, not just Fluval's.

Can I build a basket for a filter that is not on your list?+

Try our configurator's media basket builder. Give it your chamber size. It builds a basket to match, so you do not have to pick from a named model list.

A note on safety

We print every part in PETG. It is the material aquarium keepers have used submerged for years. We cannot promise how any part performs in your tank. You know your tank and your animals best, so the call is always yours. Rinse each part in clean water before you add it to your tank.