However, if your aquarium is located in your bedroom, then you should consider going for the noiseless options as the unit is going to be running 24/7. If your aquarium is located somewhere that you don’t spend a lot of time in, then this factor may not be as important to you. Filters themselves are powerful little motors designed to handle heavy loads, so you can probably imagine how loud they can get. Lastly, flowing water can be quite noisy. Some products also include chemical filtration. Ideally, a single filter product should be able to provide at least biological and mechanical filtration. When determining the media you want in your filter, keep in mind the type of filtration that it covers, which we’ll also discuss further below. There are vast filter media choices out there, from filter floss to bio balls and even more exotic options such as lava rock and specialized fluidized media. The water passes through the media, coming out clean and biologically safe on the other end. This refers to the material that does the filtration within the filter system. Evidently, installing a filter with the wrong capacity can harm your aquarium. Too little, and it won’t be able to filter out all the harmful stuff in your tank. If your filter is too strong for your aquarium, it will disturb the substrate and even rip your plants apart, causing stress to your animals. After all, your filter must be able to service your system appropriately. The higher your bioload is, the higher your chosen capacity should be.

This will be discussed further in its specific section below. This factor is measured in flow rate, which is the amount of water that the filter can circulate through itself in an hour. Remember, the larger the filtration and the more volume it can circulate, the higher the power consumption. Your filtration system is typically the only aspect of your aquarium that will be operational 24/7, so wattage is a significant consideration when choosing which product to buy. If this is your first time hearing about this topic, don’t worry because we’ll discuss all the finer details further below.

For instance, you’ve got power filters, hang-on-back (HOB) filters, undergravel filters, and fluidized bed filters.Įach one has its own features, benefits, and even styles that will suit different types of tanks. Kindįilters come in many different kinds, from the basic sponge filter to the more variable internal canister-type filter. Complete Buyer’s Guide to Aquarium Filtersįactors to Consider When Shopping for Aquarium Filtersīefore you go and buy aquarium filters for your tank, let’s first talk about the most critical factors you need to consider in an aquarium filter.Best Canister Filter: Fluval FX6 Canister Filter Best Undergravel Filter: Penn Plax Premium Under Gravel Filter System Best Basic Filter: Penn-Plax Small World Aquarium Filter Best Sponge Filter: Lefunpets Biochemical Sponge Filter Best for Large Tanks: MarineLand Magniflow Canister Filter Most Quiet: Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter Best for Small Tanks: Fluval U4 Underwater Filter

Best Budget Pick: Tetra Whisper EX Silent Multi-Stage Power Filter Best Premium Pick: AquaClear HOB Fish Tank Filter Best Overall Filter: MarineLand Penguin 350 BIO-Wheel Power Filter Factors to Consider When Shopping for Aquarium Filters.

Filter for 20 gallon fish tank