Best Aquarium Filter: Your 2023 Trusted Guide [TRIED & TESTED]

Quality aquarium filtration is necessary for keeping healthy fish. But when it comes to choosing good aquarium filters, the sheer amount of options available can leave fish owners overwhelmed.

You have to consider numerous factors including the tank’s size, the inhabitants, your budget, and personal preferences…and this can be quite difficult, especially for novices.

So to help you out, I compiled a comprehensive list of the best aquarium filters I’ve come across and personally tested over many years of keeping fish. This list contains different types of aquarium filters in various sizes for small, medium, and large tanks, so we’ve got something for everyone.

How To Choose The Best Aquarium Filter

Before we dive deeper into the best aquarium filters for 2023, here’s a brief guide to choosing the best aquarium filters to guide you:

Filtration Needs

Your aquarium’s inhabitants may require various filtration types such as chemical filtration, biological filtration, or mechanical filtration. Because of this, you’ll need a tank filter that can perform different types of filtration.

Capacity

An aquarium’s filter’s capacity determines the volume of water it can filter at once. So a higher capacity means more filtration per hour. The ideal filter capacity for you depends mainly on your tank size and the fish’s needs. Let me explain further.

Generally, we can classify aquarium tank filters into internal or external filters. Internal filters usually have less capacity than external filters like canisters. A small aquarium can do well with a suitable internal filter, but a larger tank may benefit more from larger external aquarium filters like canisters or power filters for faster and more efficient filtration.

As for the fish’s needs, we mainly consider the following:

• Population: A higher population of fish or a larger total fish mass translates to an increased requirement for filtration capacity.
• Display: Because a display tank is constantly seen, you won’t want clunky internal filters that can steal the show from your beautiful fish, making the aquarium less appealing. Instead, you may prefer HOB filters or canisters that are out of the fish’s view.
• Specialist pets: Other aquatic pets like turtles can create a lot of mess in short periods and can benefit more from filters with faster filtration.

Flow Rate

The flow rate is a crucial factor in determining which aquarium filter to choose. Tank filters with proper flow rates will efficiently prevent debris accumulation and maintain proper water circulation while avoiding overly disruptive currents.

We measure a tank filter’s flow rate in GPH (gallons per hour), which is the amount of water that runs through the filter within one hour. For the best results, I recommend you get a filter with a GPH of at least 4-6 times the tank’s volume.

For example, a small 10-gallon tank should have a filter with at least 40-60 GPH. A larger tank will obviously need a larger filter with a higher flow rate, but you may opt for two smaller filters instead.

Maintenance Levels

Aquarium filter maintenance is important, but it can be time-consuming and stressful for both you and your fish. So, I recommend that you stick with aquarium filters that are both easy to maintain and don’t require overly frequent maintenance.

But keep in mind that the filter maintenance frequency does not depend on the filter alone, but also on the tank’s bioload.

Ease Of Setup

When filter shopping, I can’t overstress how important it is to pick an easy-to-install tank filter. Think about it: won’t you prefer a tank filter that’s easy to set up and easy to disassemble and reassemble when you need to clean or repair it? 

Preferences

Some people prefer aquarium filters with an in-built heater to save costs and space. But for optimal performance, I find it better to have a separate filter alongside one of these best aquarium heaters.

Other preferences may include whether you want an internal or external tank based on display preferences.

Best Aquarium Filter for Small Tanks (1-10 Gallons)

10/27/2024 01:24 pm GMT

Small tanks usually have a low biological load, and thus, less filtration needs, so they’ll do quite well with small filters that take minimal space. Depending on the exact size and fish’s filtration needs, you can go for anything from a small internal filter, an under gravel filter, a sponge filter,  or a HOB (hang-on-back) filter.

Below are my 3 picks of aquarium filters that would be great for your small 1-10 gallon tanks.

AquaClear 20 Power Fish Tank Filter (Top Pick)

As I said, small tanks don’t need a powerful filter. But the reason I choose the AquaClear 20 Power Fish Tank Filter as my top pick for small tanks is that I love its huge bio media capacity and its 3 stages of filtration, which is something the smaller sponge and under gravel filters lack.

Also, I like that it hangs on the back and doesn’t take up any space inside the small fish tank. Lastly, it’s budget-friendly and energy-efficient, plus the setup and maintenance is a breeze. The AquaClear is everything you want in a small fish tank.

Pros

• Best for small tanks of 5-10 gallons
• Great capacity and flow rate for optimal filtration
• Provides all 3 stages of filtration

Cons

• Not as compact as I’d like for small tanks below 10 gallons
• Not self-priming

Marina S10 Power Filter

The Marina S10 Power Filter is a slim HOB filter that fits nicely on even the smallest of tanks. There are a couple of things I love about the Marina S10. For one, the filter is transparent so it’s easy to see when the filter media needs a change. 

But, I must add that its transparency can support algae growth. So, my trick is to keep it in a cool and dry place. 

I also like that it’s self-priming and can easily be used with reusable filter media. And despite being affordable, the Marina S10 is very durable.

My close friend and fish hobbyist has been using this model for many years without problems.

The downsides for me are its vibration and noisiness plus its increased maintenance costs compared to the AquaClear.

Pros

• Highly durable
• It’s self-priming

Cons

• It vibrates and can be a bit noisy
• Maintenance can be a hassle

Tetra Whisper Internal Tank Filter

The Tetra Whisper Internal Filter is a small but mighty filter built for nano aquariums up to 4 gallons. Its compact design only takes up minimal space in small tanks. Not to mention, the Tetra Whisper has an exceptional flow rate of 26 GHP which is ideal for tanks below 5 gallons.

Tetra also produces mesh filter cartridges for you to slot into your filter. Each cartridge comes with activated charcoal to catch debris and trap the bad aquarium odors. 

However, the Tetra Whisper Internal Filter has an incredibly strong intake. So, I’d recommend using a strip of pantyhose to avoid hurting your aquatic life.

Pros

• Ideal for nano tanks
• Small and compact

Cons

• Not suitable for tanks above 5 gallons
• May need a mesh to protect small fish from accidents.

Best Aquarium Filter for Medium Tanks (20-40 Gallons)