Aquarium canister filters are an alternative option for fish tanks. They are placed outside the tank instead of inside it. It makes it easy to install and maintain them. Aquarium canister filters can be hidden from plain sight and don’t spoil the look of your fish tank. They are safer for aquatic life as the filter is outside the aquarium. There is a wide range of canister filters available in the market. If you are searching for the ten best aquarium canister filters, then here are a few handpicked best options for you.
1. EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media
EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter is a good choice among the ten best aquarium canister filters. It comes with loose filter media and filter sponges for keeping your aquarium clean. The pump head has a sealing ring made of perma-elastic silicone that allows you to open and close it easily. The package comes with all the required installation accessories including a spray bar, inlet pipe, valves, and hose. EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter is available in three different variants that have a flow rate of 40, 66, and 92 gallons, respectively.
2. Fluval External Filter 206
Fluval External Filter 206 is a great option for the buyers searching for the ten best aquarium canister filters. It is a multistage filter that comes with biological, chemical, and mechanical filtering media. There are multiple removable baskets for easily replacing the filtering media. It has a clog-proof intake strainer and a dual-layer foam screen to aid with the filtration process. Fluval 206 canister filter is ideal for aquariums with a capacity of up to 45 gallons. It features a sound-dampening impeller that minimizes noise produced when it is in operation. Its Aqua-Stop valves make it easy to connect and disconnect hoses. Fluval 06 series canister filters are available for 25, 75, and 100-gallon aquariums as well.
3. Hydor Professional External Canister Filter 350
Hydor Professional 350 is one of the ten best aquarium canister filters that will suit large fish tanks. It has been designed for aquariums with a capacity ranging from 60 to 100 gallons. The device uses biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration to keep the water clean. It has a filtering rate of 280 gallons per hour which is adequate to keep the fishes in large aquariums healthy. Hydor Professional 350 canister filter is easy to prime and has telescopic intake tubes for easy connection/disconnection. It is available in other variants as well that will be ideal for aquariums ranging from 20 to 150 gallons.
4. Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter
Aqueon QuietFlow is an excellent offering for the customers seeking the ten best aquarium canister filters. It has multiple media baskets for easy replacement of the filtration media. It comes prepopulated with carbon, coarse foam, bio balls, and bio-ceramic rings, and you can use the canister filter immediately. They remove mechanical, chemical, and biological impurities from the water and keep your aquarium clean. The filter comes with easy disconnect valves and is simple to install and maintain. There are three models of the Aqueon QuietFlow canister filter that will be ideal for aquariums up to 55 gallons, 55 to 100 gallons, and 100 to 150 gallons respectively.
5. Fluval Canister Filter, FX6 Filter (400 Gal)
When it comes to the ten best aquarium canister filters, Fluval FX6 is a high-quality product. It is a multistage filter that has been designed for aquariums having up to 400 gallons capacity. Its highlight is the Smart Pump technology that uses an advanced micro-chip for optimizing the performance of the pump and improving its efficiency. The FX6 canister filter comes with a stackable media basket that makes it easy to replace filtration media. It is equipped with mechanical, chemical, and biological filter media with a total media capacity of 5.9 liters. It can filter 563 gallons of water per hour. The FX6 filter has a self-starting pump that automatically evacuates trapped air every 12 hours. It is available in various other sizes as well.
6. SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit with 9-watt UV Sterilizer
SunSun Hw304B is a good option for the buyers browsing through the ten best aquarium canister filters. It can filter 525 gallons of water per hour and will be suitable for up to 150-gallon aquariums. There are multiple media trays provided for adding mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration media. SunSun Hw304B features a self-priming pump that makes it easy to use. There is a 9-watt UV sterilizer inside the filter that gets rid of algae spores and bacteria. The package comes with four white filter pads, one blue coarse pad, premium filter carbon (1lb), ceramic rings (1lb), and one set of bio balls.
7. Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter for Aquariums 220
Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter 220 is a popular item among the ten best aquarium canister filters. It has a three-stage filtration process that will clean both freshwater and saltwater fish tanks. There are different filtration media used for removing mechanical, chemical, and biological impurities. It has a polishing filter pad for getting rid of fine debris and black diamond carbon for removing odors from the water and resolving discoloration. Its filter foam pads block any physical impurities from entering the aquarium. Marineland Magniflow 220 canister filter is suitable for up to 55-gallon aquariums. It also comes in 30 and 100-gallon variants.
8. Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter
Penn Plax Cascade is a highly sought-after option when it comes to the ten best aquarium canister filters. It has multiple baskets that hold different types of filtration media. A push-button primer makes it quick and easy to start the filter. It has two 360° rotating taps that feature cut-off valves for controlling the flow rate of water. Penn Plax Cascade canister aquarium filter is available in different sizes for 30 to 200-gallon aquariums. You can choose one depending on the size of your fish tank. It comes with all the required accessories for installation.
9. OASE Indoor Aquatics Biomaster Thermo
OASE Indoor Aquatics Biomaster Thermo is a versatile product among the ten best aquarium canister filters. It not only cleans your water but also keeps it at a suitable temperature with its integrated heater. You don’t have to buy an aquarium heater separately. OASE Indoor Aquatics Biomaster Thermo employs a four-stage process to filter the water. It removes biological, chemical, and mechanical impurities using different filter media. Its special Hel-X media promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria as well. Biomaster Thermo comes in three different models that will suit aquariums with varying capacities.
10. API Filstar XP Canister Filter
When it comes to the ten best aquarium canister filters, API Filstar XP is a popular product. It makes use of a three-stage filtration process to keep your aquarium clean and your fishes healthy. In the first stage, the filtration pads remove any debris or particles. It is followed by biological filtration for removing bacteria. Finally, the filter gets rid of any odors and substances that may cause decolorization of water. It uses API BIO-CHEM STARS and ZORB instead of regular ceramic rings and carbon for improved efficiency. API Filstar XP canister filter is available in multiple sizes ranging from the S model that will fit aquariums up to 45 gallons to the XL variant that is designed for up to 265-gallon aquariums.