4628 S. Ward Way, Morrison, Colorado 80465
Phone: 303.978.0940 Fax: 303.973.2044
E-Mail: lifereef@denver.net


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Absolutely the finest and most reliable prefilter box in use today!

No air-lifter pump required!!!

Since 1988 this prefilter has allowed the hobbyist to safely deliver water from the aquarium to the sump without fear of failure and readily resumes safe operation after a power outage, guaranteed!

In the 20 years that the Lifereef Prefilter Box has been sold not one has failed to re-start when the power comes back on or has failed while in operation! This is not the case with others using built-in siphon walls which are prone to failure while in operation and prone to failure upon power coming back on.

"Tubeless" designs are one of the poorest designs to come on the market and should not be used.

Standard and Slimline Prefilters
Prefilter Box, Single
Single Prefilter Box
$119.00  Order
(Click photo for larger view)
Flow rate up to 600 gph (1200 gph for Double Prefilter Box)
Available in Standard and Slim-Line

(Standard & Slimline flow rates identical)
Outer box measures 6 1/2" wide x 11" tall
Inner box measures 8" wide x 8" tall x 3"
Standard Box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 4"
Slimline Box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 3"
1" male threaded output with connector supplied
Optional vac-type hose connector can be supplied
(Standard & Slimline flow rates are identical)
Optional Aqua-Silencer avaialable
Standard and Slimline Features:
  • AUTO-RESTART when power resumes, always 100%.
  • No aqua-lifter pump or other device needed!
  • All edges rounded so you or your fish won't harm themselves on sharp edges.
  • Large 1 1/8" diameter siphon tube, Double Prefilters have two siphon tubes.
  • 1 1/2" of up/down adjustment of inner box.
  • Inner box cannot be knocked out of vertical alignment.
  • Long lasting and easily cleaned foam filter element.
  • Will not overflow, even if foam element becomes dirty.
  • 1" male thread output and included 1" hose-barb fitting, Double Prefilters have two 1" outputs
  • Fits aquarium rims up to 1 1/2" wide and can also be made to fit acrylic aquarium rims or "Euro" style rims.
  • Colors available: clear, black, and blue (inner box only)
  • Optional AquaSilencer can be used on prefilters that don't run quiet. (not available on Nano-prefilters.
  • Available for Red Sea Max aquariums too! See below......
Prefilter Box, Double
Double Prefilter Box
$199.00  Order
(Click photo for larger view)
Flow rate up to 1200 gph
Available in Standard and Slim-Line

(Standard & Slimline flow rates identical)

Outer box measures 14" wide x 11" tall
Inner box measures 15 1/2"w x 8 1/2"h x 3"
Standard box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 4"
Slimline box tank-to-wall clearance needed is 3"

Two 1" outputs
Optional AquaSilencers available
Nano-Prefilter
Prefilter Box, Double
(Shown next to standard prefilter for size comparison.)
$119.00  Order
Nano-Prefilter
Perfect for small reef or fish aquariums that don't require high flow rates.
Flow rate up to 400 gph (and anything in-between 0 and 400 gph) In other words it will flow whatever gph you give it.
Outer box: 4 1/2" x 3" x 9" high
Inner box: 4 x 2 1/2 x 6

Output connection 3/4"

   Nano Features:
  • AUTO-RESTART when power resumes, always 100%.
  • No aqua-lifter pump or other device needed!
  • All edges radiused and chamfered so you or your fish won't harm themselves on sharp edges.
  • 7/8" diameter siphon tube.
  • 1 1/2" of up/down adjustment of inner box.
  • Inner box cannot be knocked out of vertical alignment.
  • Long lasting and easily cleaned foam filter element.
  • Will not overflow, even if foam element becomes dirty.
  • 3/4" male thread output, hosebarb and clamps included
  • Fits aquarium rims up to 1 1/2" wide and can also be made to fit acrylic aquarium rims or "Euro" style rims.
  • Colors available: clear, black, and blue (inner box only)
  • Sorry, no AquaSilencer available for this model.
Nano-Prefilter for Red Sea Max and JBJ Aquariums

$119.00  Order
Red Sea Max modified rear canopy cover: $25.00
This Nano-Prefilter was designed specifically for the Red Sea Max aquarium! The top rear cover needs a slight modification (cutout) for clearance.
If you don't want to bother modifying your cover we offer one already done, just replace yours with ours.

4 1/2" wide x 3"' deep x 11" high
3/4" output hosebarb
   Red Sea, JBJ Features:
  • AUTO-RESTART when power resumes, always 100%.
  • No aqua-lifter pump or other device needed!
  • All edges radiused and chamfered, no sharp corners
  • 7/8" diameter siphon tube.
  • 1 1/2" of up/down adjustment of inner box.
  • Inner box cannot be knocked out of vertical alignment.
  • Long lasting and easily cleaned foam filter element.
  • Will not overflow, even if foam element becomes dirty.
  • 3/4" male thread output, hosebarb and clamps included
  • Available only in clear
  • Sorry, no AquaSilencer available for this model.
Custom Euro-Rimmed Prefilters
Euro-rim Prefilter Boxes Custom made to fit your Euro rim tank.
Euro-style aquariums typically have a 3" to 5" wide rim. Prefilter boxes can be made to fit your tank rim.

Custom Prefilter Boxes and Built-In Corner Overflows
CUSTOM PREFILTER BOXES and CORNER OVERFLOWS We can fabricate custom size hang-on prefilters or corner boxes, 3-sided, trapezoid etc to your exact requirements. Email or fax your dimensions and requirements for a prompt same-day quote.

Details unique to all of the Lifereef Prefilter Boxes:

Outer box utilizes a one-piece "backbone" bent from 1/4" thick acrylic (3/16" on nano-prefilters).
Other manufacturers use several pieces glued together that may come apart over time
or thinner acrylic which is weak and can break at the bend.
The inner slotted box is locked in a vertical position and cannot be knocked out of alignment by fish, waves, or water currents.
Inner box can be adjusted up or down a full 1 1/2" and is held together with a strong nylon wingnut and bolt.
Others use a single or multiple holes with only a few settings and making adjustment difficult and the box can be knocked out of alignment.
1" male threaded fitting is permanently bonded to the bottom and is forever leakproof (3/4" on nano-prefilters).
No gaskets or o-rings that can leak. Others use gaskets or o-rings which are susceptible to salt-creep and leaks.
Can also be ordered with an adapter to accept "vacuum" or corrugated type hose.
CNC machined slots of uniform size and spacing for even water flow.
Tab on back of inner box locks in a track in outer box to maintain a permanent vertical position.
Nylon thumbscrew allow the entire prefilter assembly to be aligned parallel to the aquarium back.
Colors available are blue, clear, and black.
(Color has no affect on algae growth.)
Aqua-Silencer
Prefilter box noise cannot be determined until it is up and running.
For boxes that may gurgle you can order the optional AquaSilencer.

This optional item is not available for the Nano-Prefilter at this time.
For aquariums with wide rims such as the Euro style aquariums we can fabricate any width. The one shown will fit over a 4 1/2" wide rim.

Contrary to what you have heard or been told you do not have to match a prefilter box with the pumps gph output. The prefilter will handle from a zero flow to its maximum flow rate, and anything inbetween. In fact it is better to have a pump larger than you require and then using a ball valve (does not harm a pump to cut back flow) you can adjust to your liking.

Siphon tube prefilter boxes are preferable and SAFER to use than siphon tube-less boxes for several reasons. They are easier to clean, easier to maintain, easy to start, and do not require faulty check valves or unreliable secondary powerheads or "aquapump" to remove bubbles and air from the tube.

The water velocity through a siphon tube is faster than the water velocity through a tubeless design and therefore any bubbles generated get sucked right through a siphon tube. Bubbles do build up in the tubeless designs, that is why they have powerheads to hopefully keep them operating.

Once started the siphon will always RESTART and resume flowing water after a power failure or when you turn the pump back on. There is no need to restart the siphon tube.


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