Ventilation slots-- Ventilation slots in the lid of the filter and aeration grooves in the outflow ensure that water returned to the tank is fully oxygenated and maximize gas exchange during filtration. Bottom-to-top flow-- The pump pushes water up into the basket of the filter, entering through the bottom of the basket and being pushed out the top. A bottom-to-top flow ensures that water comes into contact will all filter media, and cannot go around or over filter media as with hang on back filters with a back-to-front flow. Maintenance alert-- Over time, filtration media can become clogged with detritus reducing or obstructing the flow of water through it. When this happens in Tidal™ filters, water is redirected around the filter and back into the aquarium through an outlet on the side. The redirected water pushes up the blue maintenance alert on the top of the filter, signaling that the filter needs to be cleaned. Surface skimmer-- The surface skimmer will capture the water from just below the surface, where excreted fish oils accumulate, as well as deeper in the tank removing floating debris. Flow regulation-- The flow on the pump is adjustable using the dial on the front. No filter cartridges-- The filter basket has a huge capacity to hold filtration media of your choice in the configuration of your choice. All Tidal™ Filters come with Seachem's Matrix™ bio-media to get you started. No mess maintenance-- The basket is fully removable and snaps into the lid of the filter for easy and drip-free transit to a sink or hose for cleaning. Self-priming pump-- Self-priming pump means there is no need to fill the filter basket with water, start a siphon, monitor the filter, or any of the other headaches of starting a new filter. Self-cleaning impeller-- The self-cleaning, corrosion-resistant impeller is suited for both saltwater and freshwater environments. This cuts down on maintenance and makes the filter suitable for a wide range of environments. Adjustable leveling device. A leveler on the base of the filter lets the filter adjust to a variety of aquarium styles. 3 year warranty-- All Tidal™ Filters are guaranteed against defects of materials and workmanship for a period of 3 years from the date of purchase and register your filter, except for the pump's impeller. This can be extended to 5 years by registering your filter. The warranty covers the replacement of the defective parts. FOR HELP-- These parts have never worked together before, so noise from your filter is normal for up to a week after first use. If you have ANY concerns, please reach out to our product support specialist to confirm the noise or any troubleshooting you may need. Please reach out to Seachem Tech Support at 888.732.0003 or by email support@seachem.com