ISTA- Aquarium Ceramic Internal Filter

This ISTA ceramic internal filter uses air-pump circulation with a sponge and ceramic ring base to clear water and build nitrification.

ISTA- Aquarium Ceramic Internal Filter

Features:
1.Use air pump to create circulation, absorb dirt and build nitrification.
2.Covered with filter sponge, the bottom is ceramic ring to clear water and builds nitrification system.
3. Suitable for breeding Angle fish, cichlid, guppy and small fishes.
4. Can also be used as a second backup filter.
5. Made by natural clay, no fading problem, doesn’t affect water condition and can improve water quality.

Size: 7x7x12cm (included outlet)

The ISTA- Aquarium Ceramic Internal Filter sits inside the tank for compact filtration — see our guide to choosing the right aquarium filtration system for how internal filters compare to external options.

Specifications

What ISTA publish for the IF-398 Ceramic Internal Filter:

Size 7 × 7 × 12 cm, including the outlet
Material natural clay, fired — no fading, and no effect on water chemistry
Media filter sponge outside, ceramic ring in the base
Drive air pump — there is no motor in it

It is sold as decoration as well as filtration. ISTA list it alongside their ceramic tree hole, tree cave and bark ornaments, and that is the point of the fired-clay body — it disappears into a planted or breeding tank in a way a plastic sponge filter does not.

What ISTA do not publish for this model:

• Recommended aquarium volume
• Required air pump output
• Air line diameter
• Weight

Those rows are simply not on ISTA's specification sheet or in their catalogue, and we would rather leave them blank than print a number we cannot source. If one of them decides your purchase, ask us and we will measure the stock item before you order.

Setup & Use

It needs an air pump, and that is the only thing that drives it. There is no motor and no impeller. Air rising inside the body lifts water with it, pulling dirt in through the sponge and pushing filtered water out of the top — the same principle as a sponge filter, in a clay housing. ISTA publish no required pump output, so a small single-outlet pump is the sensible starting point.

Stand it on the substrate and let it settle. Fired clay is heavy enough to stay put once it has taken on water; there are no suction cups to fail. Give it a rinse before it goes in, as any fired clay carries dust.

Where it earns its place. ISTA name it for breeding angelfish, cichlids, guppies and small fish, and as a second, backup filter. Both uses come from the same property: an air-driven filter has no impeller, so it cannot pull fry or shrimplets into a pump, and it keeps running when a mains filter does not.

Cleaning. Lift it out, squeeze the sponge in a bucket of tank water, put it back. Never under the tap — the bacterial film in the sponge and the ceramic ring is the filter, and chlorinated water kills it. Do not clean the sponge and change a large volume of water on the same day.

As a backup filter it wants to be running already. A sponge that has been sitting dry in a cupboard is a piece of foam, not a filter. Keeping this one quietly running in the main tank is what makes it useful the day you need a hospital or fry tank cycled by evening.

Freshness & Storage

Every batch we dispatch carries a minimum of 6 months' remaining shelf life. Store this product in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap or inner foil closed tightly after each use.

Filter media and substrates carry no manufacturing or expiry date — their working life begins on first contact with water, not on the shelf.

Warranty & Support

This product is covered by warranty as per the manufacturer policy, against material and manufacturing defects from the date of purchase.

Warranty support is handled by us directly. Message our WhatsApp support with your order number and we will diagnose the fault first — most cases are solved by replacing a single part, so you rarely need to send the whole unit. If the item does need to come back, it ships to our Delhi or Pune warehouse, whichever one served your order, and courier cost in both directions is borne by the customer. Your GST invoice is valid proof of purchase for the claim.

Returns & Replacement

Returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original packaging. Manufacturer-sealed items cannot be returned once the seal is broken, and sale-priced items are not refundable.

If your item arrives defective or damaged, message us on WhatsApp with your order number — or email us, if you would rather — and we will replace it. Approved replacements are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. Transit damage is covered by insurance on every shipment. If tracking shows delivered but nothing reached you, tell us within 72 hours, which is the reporting window Indian couriers allow. Damage caused during installation or use is not covered; replacement spares for such cases are chargeable.

Full terms are on our Cancellation & Returns page.