DON'T USE THIS FOR FRY!!!
I bought the last one at our local Aldi a few weeks ago - let it cycle with mature filter media and gravel from my other tanks, added a pregnant swordtail who happily gave birth a few days later - and I've spent the last few days trying to keep fry out of the filter. It's not just that they get sucked in to the vents and mutilated in the propeller thingy (digging out about 10 little squashed bodies was not fun) but they can also easily swim into the filter compartment via the side vents and then can't get out.
I've covered the damn thing with net material (held on with an elastic band) - didn't work. Finally I stuck the whole thing in the end of a stocking and fastened the open end above the water - I think that will do it. Gee, that's attractive...
if anyone can suggest a better way of keeping the fry out, I'd appreciate it!
I never had this problem with a Tetratec HOB filter that has the same size vents in my smaller tank. I think the suction must be a lot stronger. This is fine for bigger fish but not fry. Now I've got to find another filter for the tank and wait til it's cycled while I've got this stupid sock covered thing hanging on the side...