Suppose you’re looking for a good fish tank filter that will keep your aquarium water clean and clear. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place. Now, there are thousands of aquarium filters, and this can make shopping quite difficult. However, we will review five of the very best fish tank filters, so let’s take a look and help you find a model that suits your needs.
Fish Tank Filter Reviews
PULACO Ultra Quiet Aquarium Hang on Filter
This is a convenient hang-on-back filter that takes up relatively little space outside the aquarium. It was designed to be extremely quiet and can be used for both fresh- and saltwater.
This unit is designed for tanks up to 10 gallons and can process up to 66 gallons per hour. This is a relatively high flow rate, so it should keep your tank clean and clear. There’s also an adjustable flow knob.
This filtration unit provides you with easy access near the top for easy maintenance. It’s also worth noting that this aquarium comes with the needed mechanical filtration sponge.
As far as we can tell, this filter is designed only for mechanical filtration and will not provide biological or chemical filtration. However, this filter is excellent at aerating and oxygenating the water.
hygger Aquarium Double Sponge Filter
What you get here is a very small and compact internal aquarium filter that doesn’t take up much space. You might like how all you have to do to mount it is to use the included suction cups to stick it to the inside of your aquarium.
It’s also worth noting that this unit is extremely quiet, so you will barely be able to hear it functioning. However, although it is a quiet filter, it will handle a good amount of water, having been designed for aquariums up to 55 gallons in size. So it should be able to handle at least three times that amount of water per hour with ease.
In addition, this is a mechanical and biological filter, and it comes with both mechanical sponges and biological filtration balls included. So with that being said, it doesn’t provide chemical filtration, but it works very well to aerate and oxygenate the water.
NO.17 Submersible Aquarium Internal Filter
This submersible internal aquarium filter is a large and powerful unit, ideal for tanks up to 50 gallons. It can handle up to 200 gallons of water per hour.
With that being said, there are two larger models, with the biggest one being able to handle up to 400 gallons per hour. In addition, all these filters feature adjustable flow rates.
Now, it’s not the most compact filter, and it is a submersible filter, so it takes up a good deal of real estate inside the aquarium. So it might be large, but it is also extremely powerful and efficient.
Large media baskets provide the three major aquarium filtration types, including mechanical, biological, and chemical.
This appears to be one of the more durable submersible aquarium filters; plus, it’s relatively easy to maintain.
Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO Aquarium Power Filter
This Aqueon filter is a compact hang-on back filter, so it doesn’t take up space inside the aquarium.
Keep in mind that this model is designed for tanks up to 20 gallons, and it features a very high flow rate, so it should be able to handle up to five times that amount of water per hour.
The high flow rates provide fantastic water aeration and oxygenation so your fish can breathe. It’s impressive that this model can be used for both salt and freshwater aquariums.
As you might be able to tell by the name, this filter is designed to be extremely quiet, so there’s no noise to disturb you or your fish. In addition, the fact that this is a self-priming filter is a bonus because you have less work to get it set up.
The other thing worth mentioning is that this is a three-stage filtration unit that includes all three major types of aquarium filtration; all the required filter media are included.
UPETTOOLS Aquarium Biochemical Sponge Filter
This is a mechanical and biological filter – but not a chemical filter. Although the word ‘chemical’ is in the name of this filter, it does not provide you with any kind of chemical filtration.
With that being said, if you are looking for high-quality mechanical and biological filtration, this is a great option. Not only does it provide outstanding filtration, but it also allows for effortless maintenance. In addition, you only need two suction cups to set it up.
You can use this for both salt- and freshwater tanks. Remember, this is a filter that can be used for tanks up to 40 gallons. Moreover, the flow rate is relatively high and should be enough to keep any fish tank clean and the water clear.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an efficient, compact, powerful, and affordable fish tank filter, our top recommendation is the PULACO Ultra Quiet Aquarium Hang on Filter. It might not look like anything special, but it’s more than capable of keeping your aquarium clean.