Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased the Fluval C4 about 3 months ago. Thus far it has kept my water absolutely crystal clear. Overall: I'm very impressed and very pleased with this HOB filter. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a nice all-in-one filter with easy maintenance. Here's a list of some nice features: -Better use of the space available in the filter box compared to other HOBs - Many other HOBs have dead space where there isn't any type of filtration happening. This filter has been effectively designed to allow maximum filtration in the space provided. -Very nice all-in-one filter - Mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration all efficiently incorporated into the filter box. The trickle chamber with ceramic media makes this one of the best biological HOBs out there. -Still customizable - Many people don't use carbon in their filters. The carbon slot is large and can be replaced with just about anything (e.g. more mechanical filter pads or extra biological media). -Quality design & Easy maintenance - All of the components fit snugly together, and it is very easy to remove and replace different compartments of the filter for cleaning. -Cleaning indicator - The filter has a built in cleaning indicator that pops up when the filter pads have become clogged causing the water level in front of the filter pads to raise. -Flow regulator - The flow regulator actually works! I've had many HOBs where the flow regulator is very crude and imprecise. The flow regulator on the C4 is VERY precise and easy to adjust. -Extremely quiet -Intake tube height is very easy to adjust - Simply push up or pull down to get the intake exactly where you want it. No more adding or removing intake tube segments. -The intake tube is black, and the filter is dark grey, which is much more aesthetically pleasing Leave about 4" between the back of your aquarium and the wall to fit this filter on the back. Hope this helped! ***UPDATE: 1/2/13*** I've had this filter running for 2 years now 24/7 and my above comments still hold true. I would buy this filter again if I was in the market for one. It appears that there are several 1 star reviews on this filter now, the majority of which are due to the filter being broken upon arrival. Apparently the poor packaging makes these filters prone to breaking during delivery. It seems that most people get a product they are happy with, and an unfortunate few get a broken/defective product. Amazon has a great return policy and this should hopefully be resolved for any of those who receive a defective product. ***UPDATE: 3/7/14*** Still running strong and quiet after 3 years of continuous use. No complaints.