Best filters for aquarium

Cloudy water in a tank with fish is an unaesthetic and, moreover, very dangerous phenomenon for their health. Sooner or later, such a problem arises for every owner of an artificial mini-reservoir. External and internal filters for the aquarium help to deal with it best. According to customer reviews, the most effective, safe and convenient of them were included in this rating.

Which company filter is better for an aquarium?

European, American and Asian companies are fighting for the right to be called the leader in the international market of cleaning equipment. Some pay special attention to the quality of products, while others focus on the versatility of technology, productivity and other characteristics. We tried to include in the TOP those companies that take care of all these points.

The following companies became favorites:

• Tetra - a popular supplier of goods for aquariums, terrariums, ponds. The company has both external and internal filtration systems. Kits from this brand give the water crystal clarity, eliminate unpleasant odors and create a healthy environment for fish, crayfish and other inhabitants of the aquarium. They are chosen for their high performance, good power, low noise, effective cleaning.
• Aquael - the company offers indoor and outdoor (mounted) filtration kits. The brand catalog includes equipment for small and large aquariums up to 300 liters. They are easy to install and operate, save space and quickly purify water from fish waste. The ability to adjust the water flow eliminates the risk of fry development.
• Eheim - a line of external aquarium filters for water purification. The company has earned the respect of aquarists for centuries of experience and innovative technology. The company was founded in Germany in 1949 by Gunther Eheim. Its kits are equipped with multiple replacement cartridges, high throughput and low power consumption. The range of the brand includes super-powerful devices - above 1200 watts.
• Hagen Is a Canadian manufacturer of equipment for the care of aquariums. The brand's technology provides multi-stage cleaning at high capacities. Thanks to this, turbidity and unpleasant odors are eliminated, the water becomes crystal clear. This is one of the few factories producing equipment for the disposal of waste in reservoirs with a volume of up to 1500 liters. Among its other advantages, it should be noted good performance - up to 2130 liters per hour.
• Barbus Is a Russian trade mark that appeared in 2013. During this time, the company has expanded its assortment, today it includes pumps, soils, filters for aquaristics. The brand's products comply with European quality standards and are sold in the Russian Federation and some countries of the Customs Union. Barbus offers external and internal equipment. Aquarium filters are considered the best because of their quick start, quiet operation, thorough cleaning at a comprehensive level.
• Sera Is a German company that began operating in 1970 in Heinsberg, its founder is Josef Ravnak. The company manufactures filtration systems for reservoirs, terrariums, marine and freshwater aquariums. The market sells indoor and outdoor equipment. All devices are supplied with highly effective fillers, which inhibit the growth of parasites, increase the volume of oxygen and remove water turbidity.
• Juwel aquarium Is a trade mark that has existed for over 50 years. It manufactures fish tanks, lighting, decorations, accessories, filtration systems. They are designed to remove organic debris from the water in order to create a safe environment for the aquarium inhabitants.

The best aquarium fish

Rating of the best filters for the aquarium

Manufacturers offer filtration systems for removing waste from fish and other aquarium inhabitants in various price ranges: budget, mid-cost, premium. All of these options are presented in this rating.

The selection criteria for the nominees were:

• Filter type - external or internal;
• Functions - biological, mechanical and / or chemical filtration;
• Purpose - purification of sea and / or fresh water;
• Minimum and maximum allowable volumes;
• Performance;
• Filtration power;
• Noise level;
• Equipment;
• Canister volume;
• Energy consumption;
• The presence of additional functions such as aeration;
• Electrical cable length.

Also, during the preparation of the rating, we took into account the speed and efficiency of cleaning (whether turbidity disappears, whether unpleasant odors are eliminated), the ease of use and ease of maintenance of devices, the ratio of their price and quality.

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Best external filters for aquarium

Such models are convenient due to the saving of space inside the tank, since they are mounted outside. Accordingly, the dimensions and volume of the container are not particularly important here. Most often, they mean canister devices. They collect and return water using hoses. There are budget, mid-priced and premium best external aquarium filters on the market, all of which made it into this rating category.

Tetra EX 600 Plus

The external system Tetra EX 600 Plus is suitable for aquariums from 60 to 120 liters. Water is purified by 5 fillers. This model provides processing at three levels: mechanical, biological and chemical. The filtration capacity is 630 liters per hour, and the maximum height of the water column is 1.1 m. The equipment is relevant for both freshwater and seawater.

The Tetra EX 600 Plus has a filter power of 8 W and a pre-cleaning function. The kit includes 3 canisters, valves, protective grilles, hoses and other necessary accessories. The tightness of the headband reduces the risk of leaks and flooding. This model stands out in the ranking for its durability and ease of maintenance.

Advantages

• Quiet work;
• Inexpensive;
• High cleaning power;
• The flow can be fine-tuned to suit your needs;
• Reduced energy consumption (by 30%);
• Removes all kinds of dirt.

disadvantages

• Tough pre-bleed button;
• Consumables cannot be found immediately.

Thanks to several types of fillers included, the aquarium filter removes harmful organic matter, small, medium and large dirt particles from the water.

Aquael Versamax Mini

This is a budget option, inferior to the previous nominee in filtration rate - 230 liters per hour. However, this capacity is generally sufficient to eliminate visible contamination in small tanks with a volume of 10 to 40 liters, for example, round. And the aquarium owners have practically no complaints about the quality of water purification. As a bonus, there is an increase in the level of oxygen inside the tank, that is, the aeration function, which ensures stable life for the inhabitants of the "reservoir".

The Aquael Versamax Mini aquarium water filter has a split intake tube that allows you to adjust its length according to the depth of the tank. If necessary, a filter sponge can be placed on the suction part. An important advantage of this model is installation on the tank wall at different angles, set using a special regulator. Thus, the filter does not take up much space in the house and does not require a separate site.

Advantages

• The ability to adjust performance;
• High quality plastic case;
• Cheapness;
• Effective aeration;
• Well removes water turbidity.

disadvantages

• The length of the electrical cable is 1.50 m.

Those who are trying to figure out which external filter for an aquarium will be better if it is populated with shrimps should pay attention to the Aquael Versamax Mini.

Eheim Classic 350

This is another universal externally mounted filter designed to purify both sea and freshwater in large aquariums. The minimum recommended volume is 120 liters, and the maximum possible is 350 liters. The focus on such dimensions explains the productivity of the device at 620 liters per hour. Of course, this could not but affect the weight, equal to as much as 5 kg.

Considering the large discharge of liquid during filtration, the manufacturer clearly provided for a flute function for a reason. It optimizes water loss, reduces flow and oxygenates it. Eheim Classic 350 is used for biological and mechanical cleaning. The kit includes a set of fillers, hoses, tubes and other necessary accessories.

Advantages

• Maximum height of water rise - 1.8 m;
• Energy efficiency - 15 W;
• Power - 15 W;
• Ease of service;
• Large volumes of treated water.

disadvantages

• Does not provide for chemical cleaning.

According to the reviews, it can be seen that in the rating of filters for aquariums, the Eheim Classic 350 stands out for providing almost 100% of the water transparency level.

Hagen Fluval 106

The Hagen Fluval 106 aquarium filter is designed for small tanks with a volume of 10 to 100 liters. The product is not heavy (weighs 600 g), while the volume of the canister is 3.2 liters. The height of the column is 145 cm. The device is oriented towards both sea and fresh water. Its productivity is 480 liters per hour. Together with the 10W power, this guarantees fast processing. It has an AquaStop leak-proof function.

Advantages

• Variety of the set;
• The set includes 4 porous sponges;
• Quick launch option;
• Cheapness;
• Silent work;
• Small dimensions - 190 x 360 x 165 mm.

disadvantages

• Higher power consumption than competitors.

According to reviews, the Hagen Fluval 106 water filter for the aquarium performs biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration equally well.

Best internal aquarium filters

The so-called submersible filters that go directly into the water and do not require connecting hoses. They are small in size and easy to maintain. These devices use a pump to pump and pass water through the filter material. In this way, mechanical cleaning is most often carried out, however, additional use of cartridges for chemical and biological filtration is possible. The ranking includes the top 3 internal aquarium filters based on user reviews.

Barbus WP-300F

The Barbus WP-300F indoor unit is designed to filter water in small aquariums up to 20 liters. This predetermined its power (2 W) and productivity - 150 liters per hour. The main function of the equipment is to remove visible debris, and as additional aeration and flute are provided. Thanks to them, the reservoir is filled with oxygen and the conditions for the life of fish, turtles, etc. are improved.

Advantages

• Acceptable cost;
• Fast filtration;
• Silent work;
• Aeration allows you to save on the purchase of additional devices;
• Easy to assemble.

disadvantages

• Replacement jaws are not always the right size.

According to the reviews, it is clear that due to the loose fit of the sponges, it is possible for dirt to escape back into the cleaned aquarium.

Sera F 1200

This is the fastest in the rating water filter for an aquarium with a capacity of 300 to 1200 liters per hour. The power of the device is 15 W, it is designed to remove blockages in sea and fresh water. A high degree of cleaning is achieved due to a finely porous sponge that does not allow even small particles of debris to pass through. However, only mechanical and biological treatment is available here.

The Sera F 1200 has a delivery height of 1.45 m, a hose diameter of 12 mm and a maximum depth of use of 1000 mm. It can be used for cleaning large aquariums, the maximum limit is 300 liters.The supplied aerator additionally saturates the tank with oxygen.

Advantages

• Volumetric area of ​​the sponge;
• Removes all types of organic residues;
• Has a removable aerator;
• High quality suction cup;
• The set contains everything you need to filter.

disadvantages

• The cable length is not very long - 1.5 m.

As you can see from the reviews, Sera F 1200 cleans water from contaminants quite efficiently, but for this it is necessary to monitor the condition of the internal fillers and, if necessary, update them in time.

Juwel Bioflow 6.0

The Juwel Bioflow 6.0 filter system has proven itself to be fast and versatile. It provides thorough biological, chemical and mechanical cleaning. The processing rate of water in the aquarium is up to 1000 liters per hour. The maximum allowable tank volume is 350 liters. The filter power is 8 W and the canister has a capacity of 6 liters.

Juwel Bioflow 6.0 promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and the normal life of the aquarium inhabitants. The included sponge is a filtering agent and contains microorganisms that break down fish metabolic products. He proved himself to be simple and undemanding to operate. The device allows you to choose the most suitable flow rate.

Advantages

• Weight - 2.26 kg;
• Small dimensions - 132 x 532 x 200 mm;
• Eliminates unpleasant odors;
• Improves water color;
• It also efficiently collects small particles of dirt.

disadvantages

• High cost.

The Juwel Bioflow 6.0 filter is best used in aquariums from 200 to 350 liters.

Which filter for an aquarium is better to buy

There are two types of filters - internal and external, the first option is preferable if you want to save money. However, it is not suitable for large aquariums, the maximum volume here is 500 liters. To remove phosphates, ammonia, chlorine and eliminate unpleasant odors, chemical filtration is most often carried out, biological purification eliminates various impurities, and mechanical purification eliminates debris in water.

The best choice is the one that meets the needs of the buyers:

• The Tetra EX 600 Plus is the choice for waste disposal in tanks ranging from 60 to 120 liters.
• The Aquael Versamax Mini model copes with containers with a capacity of 10-40 liters.
• If we are talking about the need to process 120-350 liters, buy Eheim Classic 350 or Juwel Bioflow 6.0.
• With a volume of 10-100 liters, the Hagen Fluval 106 works well.
• If the capacity does not exceed 20 liters, then Barbus WP-300F will be enough.
• Owners of a 300 liter tank should pay attention to the Sera F 1200.

Both external and internal aquarium filters remove organic and inorganic impurities, fish waste, and various debris from the water. Therefore, the choice depends primarily on the budget.