If you own an aquarium, you are aware of how crucial filtration can be. The size and stocking of your fish tank, your maintenance practices, light levels, and even the amount of available space outside the tank can all affect which aquarium filter is best for your needs.
To find the best filter for your fish tank, let’s look at some of the highest rated filters.
7 Best Fish Tank Filter Quick List
- Fluval 07 Series Performance Canister Filter – Best Overall
- Fluval C Series Power Filter – Best Adjustable Filter
- AquaClear Fish Tank Filter – Best Budget Filter
- AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter – Best for Breeding
- OASE Indoor Aquatics Bioplus Thermo – Best Internal Filter
- Eshopps Inc. WD-75CS at Amazon – Best Wet-Dry Filter
- Lee’s Premium Undergravel Filter – Best Undergravel
Top 7 Fish Tank Filter
1. Fluval 07 Series Performance Canister Filter – Best Overall
The Fluval 07 series filter is an improvement on the famously reliable 06 series which was widely known as one of the most reliable canister filters ever built and the 07 series is the best-selling canister filter in the world.
Because they are more potent, noisier, and energy-efficient than earlier models and competing products, the Fluval 07 canister filters stand out among canister filters.
This product has several media chambers for biological filtration that have space for your preferred filtration media, a prefilter sponge for mechanical filtration, and a relatively simple-to-access chamber for chemical filtration.
I adore the locking valves this filter has to keep the hoses from unintentionally disconnecting. Every time I moved my old canister filters, they would come loose and spray water everywhere.
Depending on your needs, this filter is available in 4 sizes, fitting aquariums up to 120 gallons in size and starting at 10 gallons.
Pros
- Plenty of room for media
- Low noise
- High quality 3 stage filtration
- Locking valves
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Price
- Canister Filters are harder to clean than other filters
Takeaway
If you’re looking for high-end filtration and cost is not an issue, the Fluval 07 series is the filter for you. I have used many canister filters, but this one is without a doubt the best.
2. Fluval C Series Power Filter – Best Adjustable Filter
The Fluval C series power filter comes equipped with five-step, three-stage filtration and a patented refiltration system. With the convenience of a hang-on back and performance on par with a canister filter, this filter is offered.
This product has a cleaning-time indicator that illuminates when the filter begins to clog.
Fluval’s C series power filters have several filter cartridge compartments making them easy to clean without damaging the biological filter.
My favorite feature of these filters is the ability to precisely control the water flow rate in your aquarium thanks to the telescoping intake and the ability to change the flow rate without significantly affecting the filtration.
This filter also has distinct filtration stages that can be reached and cleaned separately without having to replace all of them at once. The media of your choice can be used to fill the trickle chamber, where the biological filtration is located.
Pros
- Easy to use and maintenance
- Patented refiltration system
- Cleaning indicator
- Room for custom filter media
Cons
- Mechanical filtration clogs easily and needs frequent cleanings
- Noisy
Takeaway
Strong, dependable, and simple to use describe this hang-on back or hob filter. The extensive filtration process is not compromised when the water flow rate is easily changed.
3. AquaClear Fish Tank Filter – Best Budget Filter
The AquaClear Fish Tank Filter is well known for both its durability and filtration capability, For many years, AquaClear has been the most popular hang-on-back filter on the market.
This fish tank filter, like the Fluval C series power filter, has patented refiltration technology and water flow rate control that enable flow rate adjustment without compromising filtration.
Due to the magnetic impeller used by the AquaClear power filter, it consumes less energy and has a longer lifespan than comparable products.
In order to preserve beneficial bacteria, this power filter uses CycleGuard filtration technology, which enables all of the stages of filtration to be completed in a single chamber while still allowing each stage to be changed independently.
This item was made with efficiency in mind; the waterfall-style filter media basket maximizes aeration by forcing all of the water through the media.
This filter, in my opinion, is also the best filter for using custom filter media because it was made to be used that way and retains all of its features no matter which media is used.
Pros
- Low cost
- Easy to set up and maintain
- Refiltration and CycleGuard technology
- Room for custom filter media
- Magnetic impeller
Cons
- Loud
Takeaway
When you require a quick and simple setup, Aqua Clear filters are ideal. When using both biological and chemical media, it will effectively complete all three stages of filtration, is very reliable, and offers excellent value for the money.
4. AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter – Best for Breeding
If you keep a shrimp tank or are trying to breed fish, the AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter is a perfect choice; the sponge surface creates a grazing area for small fish, shrimp, and fish fry.
The main benefit of using a sponge filter in a breeding tank is that it will never draw fish or shrimp fry into the filter, which is a common issue with other filters and usually results in death.
My preferred feature of the AQUANEAT Bio Sponge Filter is that it can be connected to the intake of a hang-on back or canister filter, enhancing the performance of both.
Like all sponge filters, this one cannot filter chemicals, and its mechanical filtration is not the best, but its biological filtration is incredible.
This filter works well in nano tanks, betta fish tanks, and other small aquariums. The mechanical filtration is more than adequate in a smaller aquarium, and it produces very little water movement.
Pros
- Provides ample grazing area for fry
- Can be used as an intake for other filters
- Safe for fish and shrimp fry
- Very good at biological filtration
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Does not have chemical filtration
- Takes up space in the tank
- Requires an air pump if not used with another filter
Takeaway
This sponge filter is one of the best freshwater aquarium filters for biological filtration and is ideal for shrimp and fish frying.
5. OASE Indoor Aquatics Bioplus Thermo – Best Internal Filter
If you don’t have room for a hob filter or canister filter and you still need all three stages of filtration the OASE Indoor Aquatics Bioplus Thermo could be the internal filter for you.
This internal filter is smaller than other comparable internal filters and can be used in aquariums up to 55 gallons in size. It has an adjustable flow rate of 170 GPH.
It does occupy a significant amount of space in tanks smaller than 10 gallons, despite being appropriate for smaller tanks.
One of my favorite features of this filter is that it has a built-in heater, which means you can remove one item from your tank. However, if you’d rather save a little money, you can purchase it without the heater.
This product can be used with custom filter media and, like the other top-rated filters, has multiple compartments for filtration media.
There are three sizes of this product, and each size adds one tray for filter media.
Pros
- Built-in heater
- Looks nice in a tank and doesn’t take up too much space
- Easy to clean
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
Cons
- Internal filters take up space in the tank
- Expensive
Takeaway
The Bioplus Thermo looks nice and fits well in an aquarium if your aquarium is between 10 gallons and 40 gallons and you do not have room for an external filter. In that case, this filter is invincible.
6. Eshopps Inc. WD-75CS Wet Dry Filter
A wet-dry filter uses biological media that is exposed to both the water in your tank and the air outside of it. It’s particularly well-suited to saltwater tanks because it produces a high level of advantageous bacterial growth while quickly processing waste. Despite being an expensive purchase, the Eshopps Wet-Dry Filter is a one-stop shop that has almost everything you require to build your wet-dry rig. A special wet-dry drip tray filter to process ammonia and nitrites is included in the set along with an overflow box, bio balls, filter pad, and return nozzle.
Customers claim that the Eshopps is a premium wet-dry filter with fine craftsmanship that comes with the majority of necessary parts in one handy package (you’ll still need a pump). However, setup can be difficult for beginners—not uncommon for wet-dry filtration systems.
7. Lee’s 40/55 Premium Undergravel Filter
Undergravel filters, as their name suggests, are positioned inside your tank rather than outside or on top of it. The Lee’s 40/55 Premium Undergravel Filter aids in the growth of advantageous bacteria in the gravel of your tank, which naturally breaks down waste products. For even clearer water, it can also be used in conjunction with a traditional power filter. It comes with carbon filtration cartridges, and its plates are made of a special plastic that resists splitting or cracking—an important feature given that it will be fully submerged in your tank.
The Lee’s 40/55 Premium Undergravel Filter blends in with the gravel for a natural, unobtrusive look and complements the design of most tanks thanks to its all-black construction. It also does a great job of keeping tanks clean, with especially excellent water quality when used in conjunction with a second power filter.
Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Freshwater Aquarium Filter
I always have to consider the requirements of the particular tank when looking for the best aquarium filter for my tank.
I’ve put together a list of the important things you should consider when picking your filter:
Aquarium Size
Just the number of gallons gives you a great starting point at what size of filter you need,
Most aquariums require that the entire volume of the aquarium be completely filtered anywhere between 4 and 10 times per hour when looking at gallons per hour (GPH).
The water flow rate, which is what your filter depends on for mechanical filtration, is also affected by the filtration speed, which has an impact on both biological and mechanical filtration.
Substrates and Plants
Your need for filtration may change if you keep aquatic plants in your aquarium.
Anaerobic filter media is less necessary for heavily stocked tanks and aquarists who don’t perform weekly water changes because a heavily planted tank, especially one with dirt and sand as substrates, is capable of processing nitrates.
If you are using a dirt tank or have deep sand, you should have something moving under the substrates to sift the sand and stop the buildup of toxic gas. That task is well-suited to both rooted plants and Malaysian trumpet snails.
An undergravel filter, also known as a gravel filter, is a type of aquarium filter that I did not examine. This kind of filter draws water through the substrates, causing the good bacteria to live in the gravel. Undergravel filters aren’t always the best, but with the right substrates, they can be an affordable and efficient choice.
Livestock
How much bioload will there be and what will you keep in the tank?
The filter creates the flow that some fish prefer; for instance, bettas prefer a very slow filter because they don’t like a lot of flow, whereas hillstream loaches prefer a filter that moves the water at a river’s speed because that makes them happier.
You will need a sponge filter or sponge prefilter on whatever filter you use if fish or shrimp will be breeding inside the tank. The sponge not only keeps the fry from being sucked into the filter but also provides them with a surface to graze off of.
The other factor to take into account is bioload; if you only plan to keep one fish in the tank, you only need a small filter, whereas if you plan to have a crowded tank, you will need additional filtration.
Ease of Cleaning
All of the filters on this list are made to be simple to clean without sacrificing functionality.
Since the longer you go without cleaning something, the dirtier it becomes, there is usually a trade-off between how simple it is to clean and how frequently it needs to be cleaned. For this reason, almost all filters require regular maintenance.
The majority of high-quality products are made with the understanding that regular cleaning is required to keep the water flowing.
The biological filter will be removed if you clean or replace all of your filter media at once, which could lead to dead fish. It is always important to be able to clean some of the filter media without cleaning it all.
Price
Price is almost always a consideration; as long as it will meet your aquarium’s requirements, you should buy what you can afford. The best doesn’t always mean the most expensive, so I’ve included some reasonably priced options in this list.
What Are the Three Stages of Filtration and Do I Need Them All?
Mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration are the three types used in aquariums. An aquarium filter that has been properly set up will perform the filtration in that order.
Mechanical Filtration
This is the physical filtration of small particles from the water. The mechanical filter media, which the water passes through before entering the biological filtration, is typically a sponge or pad. Although it is not necessary, mechanical filtration does aid in a few processes.
It aids in maintaining the cleanliness of your biological substrate, so when the filter needs cleaning, you can usually just clean the mechanical filtration portion and the rest is already clean.
It keeps the floor of your aquarium clean; if there is not enough water flow, waste can accumulate on the aquarium’s floor, which is unsightly and needs to be manually vacuumed out.
The goal of mechanical filtration is to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the tank while also minimizing the amount of work required on your part to clean the filter and the tank.
Biological Filtration
The primary objective of biological filtration is to remove waste from aquarium water so that fish can live there safely.
The nitrogen cycle is a type of biological filtration that depends on having enough surface area for helpful bacteria to live on. These bacteria convert ammonia into nitrite and nitrite into nitrate.
Nitrate can be consumed by both plants and anaerobic bacteria, but it is typically removed through water changes. Beneficial anaerobic bacteria can grow on some filter media. These typically require a slightly lower flow rate than other filter media.
I have included a brief video that explains the nitrogen cycle and how to cycle your tank because this is the step of filtration that is both the most crucial and the most challenging.
Chemical Filtration
Even though zeolite and carbon aren’t chemicals, they are still absorbents that eventually fill up and need to be removed whenever you use an absorbent or chemical to help clean your water through chemical filtration.
Always keep in mind that any carbon or other chemical filtration you use will remove any tannins you try to add to the water and that you will need to remove it if you are using medicine.
Normally, this is unnecessary and is only temporary. Chemical filtration is most frequently used to address issues with the nitrogen cycle, correct nutrient imbalances, absorb medication from water after illness treatment, and remove nitrates from water.
Which Canister Filter is Best for You?
Particularly when they are as expensive as many canister filters are, choosing which filter to purchase can be very difficult. Finding all the information you need may be challenging due to the variable consistency of user reviews.
I tried to give a realistic picture of how to set these up and use them in a home environment. As a result, before they put their money on the line, readers are well-informed.
The best performance was, as usual, by Fluval. By this point, I’ve used a ton of Fluval products, and I must say that their products are definitely worth the extra cost.
Sometimes it’s more important to consider the cost of use for a product than just the cost of acquisition.
It ends up being much more expensive to constantly replace cheap equipment than it would have been to just buy the high-quality items in the first place if things are unreliable and break down.
But I can also relate to having a limited budget, in which case the Fluval 07 Series Performance Canister Filter would probably be my first pick. It strikes a great balance between cost and useful features.
For smaller tanks, the Eheim is a fantastic option if you’re looking for simplicity. It’s traditional, uncomplicated, and simply completes the task at hand.
It may not have all the bells and whistles, but it is very good at removing fish waste.
Furthermore, I adore AquaClear Fish Tank Filters for tropical nano tanks. Really useful equipment is the built-in heater.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should I Use My Filter?
If you must turn your filter off for cleaning or any other reason, it should be running continuously. Because beneficial bacteria start rapidly dying off after about an hour, the filter should never be turned off for more than an hour.
What Filtration Media Should I Use?
Everyone seems to have a different response to this question, but the most important thing is that your filtration media is porous and has a large amount of surface area. As long as you use enough media for your bioload, volcanic rocks, sponges, and the majority of store-bought filtration media will work just fine.
How and When Do I Clean My Filter?
Cleaning your filter is necessary if the rate at which water passes through it starts to slow down.
Typically, unclogging mechanical filtration only requires a simple cleaning. I advise turning off your filter before removing the mechanical filtration to keep your biological media clean.
To avoid losing any helpful bacteria, it is advised to clean your filtration system with aquarium or dechlorinated water. However, cleaning biological media is where this is most crucial.
The good bacteria in your body will be killed by the chlorine and chloramine in tap water.
Your bio-media may be clogged if, occasionally, despite cleaning the mechanical filtration, the filter is still operating slower than usual. You can easily remove your bio media and rinse it in the tank water to clean it.
You can replace up to half of the media with new media if it is so filthy that rinsing won’t help. Never replace more than half of your biological media at once to avoid having to cycle your tank again.
The limitations of chemical filtration are somewhat different. When working with chemical media, I always advise carefully adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions and reading the package.
The Bottom Line
From my research and experience, the best fish tank filter is the Fluval 07 Series Performance Canister Filter. There is simply no comparison for the filtration and adaptability of this filter.
The mechanical filtration keeps the tank and the bio-media clean, there is plenty of room for additional biological and chemical filtration media, and it is the simplest to maintain canister filter I have ever used. It is also unlikely to break or stop working for many years to come.