If you are looking for a good filter for your betta fish tank, you have come to the right place. Today, we want to take a look at the top five contenders for the best filter for a betta small tank.
Best Filters for Betta Fish Small Tank: Reviews
1. AquaClear Fish Tank Filter
Here we have a small hang on back aquarium filter that is perfect for a small betta fish tank.
Review
Here we have a hang on back filter that doesn’t take up any space inside of the tank at all. Simply clip it onto the back of the tank, plug it in, and you are good to go.
This is a three stage aquarium filter that features all three major types of aquarium filtration. It also comes complete with all filtration media, including mechanical, biological, and chemical media.
On that note, thanks to the design of the filter, it is very easy to maintain, and the media is easy to change whenever needed.
The fact that the water cascades down into the tank is also beneficial as it helps to oxygenate and aerate the water for the fish.
Keep in mind that this unit is designed for aquariums anywhere between 5 and 20 gallons. Moreover, it has a flow rate of 100 gallons per hour. This means that it can effectively clean the water in a 20 gallon tank five times over every single hour.
Pros
- Saves space
- 3 stage filtration
- Easy maintenance
- Great flow rate – adjustable
- All three major type of water filtration
- Media included
Cons
- Not the most durable unit in the world
2. Lee’s 40/55 Premium Undergravel Filter
If you’re looking for a nice little filter to put in the bottom of a betta fish tank, this might just be it.
Review
Here we have a special type of aquarium filter known as an under gravel filter. This type of filter, as the name implies, is placed underneath substrate in your aquarium.
It has a very flat design, which means that it does help save space. It’s not going to take up much real estate in your tank at all.
This unit features a variety of large plates in the bottom that help to filter out ammonia and other such substances.
Generally speaking, it is specifically designed as a biological filtration unit. It’s designed to allow beneficial bacteria to grow, therefore removing ammonia and other such substances from the water.
Now, do keep in mind that it does also assist with water flow and oxygenation of the water. However, this is not a mechanical filter or a chemical filter, so it really can’t stand alone.
Pros
- Very easy to install
- Easy to maintain
- Great biological filtration
- Helps increase water flow
- Helps with water aeration
Cons
- No mechanical or chemical water filtration
3. XY-2831 Air Pump Sponge Filter
If you need a very small filter that will provide mechanical and biological filtration to your tank, this could be the right one for you.
Review
Technically speaking, this is a special type of sponge filter designed for breeding tanks that have small fish fry in them. The reason for this is because it has special sponges at the front which prevent small fish fry from being sucked into the filter.
Now, sponges are technically designed to perform mechanical filtration, or in other words to filter out solid debris.
At the same time, they also make for a great breeding ground for beneficial bacteria. This means that it will also remove ammonia and other such substances from the water.
Do keep in mind however that this filter will only work for aquariums up to 10 gallons in size. It’s definitely not designed for full scale fish keeping. it’s also a really easy filter to use because you just have to attach it to the side of your aquarium using the included suction cups.
Pros
- Small and space saving
- Safe for small fish
- Easy to maintain
- Biological and mechanical filtration
Cons
- Only for up to 10 gallon tanks
- No chemical filtration
4. AZOO Mignon Filter 60
Here we have a very small aquarium filter design for very small tanks. It barely takes up any space at all and can fit in the palm of your hand.
Review
Something that really stands out about this filter is how easy it is to install and to maintain. Due to its very small size and its special design, the filtration media is very easy to access. Like we said above, this unit can fit in the palm of your hands.
Moreover, it is also a hang on back filter. This means that it barely takes up any space inside of an aquarium at all.
Now, do keep in mind that this little filter is designed for tanks that are a maximum of 3.5 gallons in size. You certainly can’t use it for anything larger. Yes, it does come with some filtration media included, which includes some mechanical and some biological filtration media.
However, do also keep in mind that the interior doesn’t have that much space, so you probably won’t be able to add any chemical filtration media to it.
You can customize the media that you put inside of it, but it just doesn’t have much room for it. That said, one big benefit is that it has an adjustable flow rate feature.
Pros
- Very small and compact
- Easy to maintain
- Good mechanical and biological filtration
- Very affordable
- Quiet and efficient
Cons
- Limited space for media
- Designed only for very small tanks
5. Aqueon Quietflow Internal Power
You have a very small internal aquarium filter designed for small tanks.
Review
This particular filter is fully submersible and it does go inside of the tank. However, it is relatively small, so it shouldn’t take up too much space.
Keep in mind that it can be installed both vertically or horizontally. Due to it being a submersible filter, it’s actually also very quiet.
This unit comes complete with a single filter cartridge that is very easy to change. This does feature all three major stages of water filtration including mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.
This unit is designed for tanks up to 10 gallons in size. It also features an adjustable flow rate that can handle up to 57 gallons per hour. It therefore has more than enough of a flow rate to keep your aquarium clean.
Pros
- Space efficient
- All three major types of filtration
- Quiet and efficient
- Good flow rate
- Easy to install
Cons
- Somewhat limited durability
Conclusion
The best all around filter for a small betta fish tank on the list today is the AquaClear Fish Tank Filter. It performs all necessary types of filtration, is easy to maintain, and has a high flow rate too.
Jenn Frazier
Aquarist & Writer 22+ Years