If you need a good filter for your 35 gallon aquarium, then you have come to the right place. Let’s help you find the best filter for 35 gallon fish tanks that your money can buy. We’ve got five great products for you to consider right here and now.
Our Top Picks
Best Filters for 35 Gallon Fish Tank: Reviews
Seachem Tidal Power Aquarium Filter
Here we have a high powered hang on back power filter. This unit is convenient as it hangs on the back of your tank and stays out of the way. This preserves all of the valuable real estate in your tank for your fish and plants. It even comes with a special section to hold onto a water heater if needed.
This unit is designed for tanks up to 35 gallons in size. It also features an adjustable flow rate to get the exact water flow that you need. It can process up to 130 gallons per hour. This means that it can filter a 35 gallon tank nearly four times per hour.
What is beneficial about this filter is that it comes complete with a surface skimmer. This helps to remove fish oils and waste that are excreted by fish and swim on top of the water.
This filter comes complete with customizable media baskets so you can add any media as you see fit. Keep in mind however that does not come with media included. The included maintenance alert feature is however extremely convenient.
Pros
- Easy to set up and maintain
- Maintenance alert feature
- Adjustable flow rate
- Space friendly
- Can hold a heater
- Features a surface skimmer
Cons
- Media not included
- Somewhat limited durability
Aquarium Technology, Inc. Filter Max Pre-Filter
Something that needs to be made clear here is that this is a pre filter for an existing aquarium filter. This unit needs to be fitted onto the impeller or the power head of your existing filter. In other words, it is something that gets fitted onto the water intake of your existing filter.
This is a special sponge prefilter. It is designed to help keep large debris such as sand and other particles out of your skimmer, filter, or UV sterilizer. It never needs to be replaced either. You can simply rinse it and keep using it over and over again.
It’s also cool because it’s designed to be extremely quiet. It even has the ability to hold on to beneficial bacteria for a bit of biological water filtration. Finally, this unit can be used for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.
Pros
- Added mechanical and biological filtration
- Very easy to maintain
- Easy to install
- For freshwater and saltwater tanks
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not an actual aquarium filter
Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter
Here we have a filter that is technically designed for 30 gallon aquariums. However, it can be used for a 35 gallon aquarium. This is thanks to the very high flow rate that it features.
It features a flow rate of up to 160 gallons per hour. This means that it could filter a 35 gallon tank well over four times per hour. Moreover, the flow rate is adjustable.
Keep in mind that this is an internal canister filter. Therefore, although it saves space outside of the tank, it does take up some space inside of the tank.
What is however very beneficial about this filter is that it is extremely easy to maintain. The lid comes off very easily but also locks into place very securely.
Keep in mind that this filter can be used for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. It also features three stages of water filtration. The media baskets are customizable, so you can add any media that you see fit.
Pros
- Durable design
- Easy maintenance
- Secure lid
- 3 stages of filtration
- Very high flow rate
- Adjustable flow rate
Cons
- Takes up space inside the tank
- Media not included
Tetra Whisper EX Silent Multi-Stage Power Filter
This is a very convenient hang on back power filter for you to consider. The special design of this filter helps to save space within the tank.
Being a hang on back filter also makes it very easy to maintain. What stands out about this filter is that it does not require any priming to use it.
When the water is expelled from this filter, it helps to aerate and oxygenate the water as well. This particular model is designed for tanks up to 45 gallons in size.
It features an adjustable maximum flow rate of 240 gallons per hour. This should be more than enough of a flow rate for a 35 gallon tank.
As the name of this unit implies, it is also designed to be extremely quiet. It won’t disturb you or your fish.
What is also convenient is that it uses very simple filter cartridges. These are very easy to replace when needed. This filter is designed to perform all three major types of water filtration. This includes mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.
Pros
- High water flow
- Water flow is adjustable
- Helps save space
- Very easy to maintain
- All three forms of water filtration
- Simple to change cartridges
- Very quiet
Cons
- Somewhat limited durability
- Not overly energy efficient
Penn-Plax Cascade Hang-on Aquarium Filter
Here we have an aquarium filter that is perfect for 35 gallon tanks. It has the ability to filter up to 150 gallons per hour. Yes, the flow rate is adjustable. This means that it can filter a 35 gallon tank well over four times per hour.
Do keep in mind that this particular unit can be used for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. We do like that it is a hang on back filter as it does not take up much space within the tank at all. This design also makes it very easy to clean and to maintain whenever needed.
This is a four stage filter. It engages in all three major types of water filtration. This includes mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. what also stands out is that this unit helps to oxygenate the water. You may also appreciate how this filter is very easy to replace media cartridges.
Pros
- Easy to set up and maintain
- Four stages of filtration
- All three major types of water filtration
- Saves space
- Great flow rate + adjustable
- Helps oxygenate the water
Cons
- A bit noisy
- Not very energy efficient
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, we think that the best option on the list today is the Seachem Tidal Power Aquarium Filter. It’s affordable and it gets the job done. That said, all five of the filters reviewed today are more than fine for 35 gallon fish tanks.
Jenn Frazier
Aquarist & Writer 22+ Years