Aquael PAT MINI Internal Aquarium Filter — Extra Sponge Set review

The US-localized Aquael table separates the powered PAT MINI FILTER (EXTRA SPONGE INCL.), item 113835, from a standard PAT MINI FILTER, item 120623. This review covers the 113835 package only. Aquael prints the same 2–30 US-gallon tank interval for both, but the extra-sponge bundle has its own power and listed-output row: 3 W and 105 US gal/h, paired with 400 L/h. The model table does not give an aquarium-side flow measurement or a minimum adjustable rate. Treat the range and output as manufacturer specifications, not as a guarantee for a particular stocking level.

What item 113835 adds—and what the page leaves open

The exact US table names this configuration “PAT MINI FILTER (EXTRA SPONGE INCL.)” and lists article number 113835. It shares the standard model’s 1.5 × 2.1 × 5.5 in body dimensions, 2–30 US-gallon / 10–120 L label, adjustable performance, directional outlet and included mechanical media. The extra sponge changes the supplied package, not the pump’s published tank-size interval. A previous Aquael catalogue described item 113835 as the version with an extra dense sponge; the current US-localized table confirms an extra sponge but does not specify its density. If the reason for choosing this set is a particular pore size or juvenile-livestock safeguard, verify the foam and exact contents in the seller’s box rather than relying on an older package illustration.

The paired tank labels need careful reading. Aquael prints a lower boundary of 2 US gallons alongside 10 L, and those two figures are not exact conversions. The finder retains the stated US-gallon interval because the US table labels that column explicitly; its endpoint is a maker’s aquarium-size claim, not a stocking recommendation. Likewise, the flow row pairs 105 US gal/h with 400 L/h, values that are close but not exact when converted. An older generic PAT Mini manual gives 397 L/h and 105 US gal/h, while a 2024 catalogue gives different power data for legacy PAT Mini references. Those older sources do not identify a bridge to every current US package. The checked US table is used for item 113835’s 3 W and 105 US gal/h; confirm the item label and seller package before purchase.

Placement and flow are the practical decision

PAT MINI is an internal filter: its sponge and pump sit in the aquarium, so no cabinet, external hose run or below-tank canister position is required. Aquael describes a suction-cup holder and a bracket that can hook over a tank edge. That gives two mounting approaches, but it still consumes space inside the display and needs enough clearance to lift the sponge and pump out for service. The listing’s compact 1.5 × 2.1 × 5.5 in dimensions help estimate the body footprint; leave additional room for the outlet, wiring and removal rather than treating the body measurements as installation clearance.

The front control adjusts pump performance, and the outlet can be directed. Those are useful choices when planning water movement in a small freshwater aquarium, but the manufacturer does not publish a minimum flow or a tested installed rate. The generic linked manual describes an optional venturi hose and air regulator for aeration; the exact US item page does not turn that into a quantified oxygenation result. Set outlet direction and flow only after checking the livestock’s needs and the instructions for the exact version. A high gallon-per-hour label alone cannot establish gentle flow, filtration turnover in your tank, or suitability for high waste.

Sponge upkeep is not a media-basket specification

The PAT MINI uses a shaped sponge rather than a documented loose-media basket. Aquael says the sponge provides mechanical filtration and a surface for beneficial bacteria, and replacement sponges are sold in standard, CARBOMAX and PHOSMAX versions. The manufacturer describes CARBOMAX as activated-carbon sponge for chemical contaminants and discoloration, and PHOSMAX as phosphate-absorbing sponge. Those media options are not interchangeable claims about biological capacity, and none has a published litre basket figure on the PAT MINI page. A request for a minimum measured media basket therefore cannot be verified for this model; the sponge is not assigned an invented volume.

The manual’s useful service point is to rinse the sponge in water removed during aquarium maintenance when the pump’s performance has fallen, preserving its bacterial community better than rinsing it under untreated tap water. It also instructs the user to unplug the filter before removing or cleaning it and to keep the unit fully submerged; best effect is described at about 3 cm below the water surface, with evaporation considered when choosing mounting height. Treat that as an instruction to check the exact included leaflet and waterline, not as a universal minimum-depth rating. The leaflet’s technical table is a generic PAT Mini reference and reports 3.3 W, which does not exactly match the current US table’s 3 W for item 113835.

How it differs from other internal choices

The 113835’s most distinctive documented feature is the extra sponge bundle, not a larger supported tank range than item 120623. The standard item is listed at 4.5 W and 119 US gal/h paired with 400 L/h; item 113835 is listed at 3 W and 105 US gal/h paired with the same 400 L/h. Because the paired flow units do not reconcile identically and the package descriptions differ, compare exact item numbers rather than treating the two rows as a finish choice. Aquael’s Turbo Mini Bio is a separate internal model with a 0.1 L loose-media container and an explicit 10–80 L tank label; PAT MINI instead has a stated 2–30 US-gallon interval and no quantified basket. These are different matching facts, not a ranking of filtration quality.

Item 113835 is worth considering when the internal arrangement, adjustable outlet and additional sponge in the stated package fit the plan. It is a weaker match when a measured media-basket volume, a documented high-waste rating, a known minimum flow, a confirmed electrical edition or zero in-tank footprint is essential. The maker’s tank range does not answer those questions.

Verify the exact package before ordering

Confirm that the offer is powered PAT MINI item 113835, not item 120623, a replacement sponge pack or a legacy item 107715. Check whether the extra sponge is actually included and what density it has; the current US table does not state the density. Inspect the unit’s rating label for voltage and frequency, which the localized page does not publish, and follow the exact manual for safe installation and service. Ensure the filter can remain submerged, that its outlet can be aimed appropriately, and that the aquarium has room for the body and maintenance removal. Aquael’s page-associated image depicts the PAT MINI form but shows a legacy 107715 retail carton; it is not evidence of the current 113835 box contents.

Source basis: Aquael’s US PAT Mini page and version table, the linked multilingual PAT-Mini manual, English operating section, Aquael’s 2024 product catalogue and its 2023–2024 catalogue. Checked 2026-11-01. This is source-based analysis, not a hands-on test or ownership report.