aquawolf, pestsmart online has the filter for $40, and will honor the price in store if you print the web page
about the aqua clears. im not sure if the design has changes since i used them in the past, but they do possess a design flow.
look at where the water comes into the filter chamber, and it doesnt logically follow the way the media is stacked.
the media is placed one on top of the other. which would mean that the water should come in from the bottom to go through each layer for proper and efficient filtration.
notice how every other filter has its media standing, forcing the water to go through it not around it as in the aqua clears.
nemo g