10 Best Filter Cartridges for Freshwater Aquariums 2025: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Filter Cartridges for Freshwater Aquariums

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How we created this filter cartridge list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best filter cartridges for freshwater aquarium.
We scanned thousands of customer reviews and ratings and scored each product based on its performance against each of the key considerations. We then considered how popular a product is with Chewy customers and combined that with its key consideration scores to create the list of the best filter cartridges for freshwater aquariums.

Key filter cartridge considerations

Compatibility

Ease of Use

Filtration Efficiency

Longevity

1
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count

Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
624
$14.55Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Longevity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
2
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count

Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
543
$19.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.3/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Longevity

4.3/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
3
AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count

AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
62
$8.92Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.4/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Longevity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
4
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
84
$5.81Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Longevity

4.2/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
5
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count

Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
172
$42.95Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.3/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Longevity

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
6
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
275
$6.49Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.4/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.3/5
Great

Longevity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
7
Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor Rite-Size E Filter Cartridge, 4 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor Rite-Size E Filter Cartridge, 4 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor Rite-Size E Filter Cartridge, 4 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor Rite-Size E Filter Cartridge, 4 count

Marineland Bio-Wheel Emperor Rite-Size E Filter Cartridge, 4 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
200
$13.19Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.0/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.3/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

3.9/5
Good

Longevity

4.1/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Polyurethane, Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
8
Underwater Treasures Seapora Nitrate + Nitrite Pad

Underwater Treasures Seapora Nitrate + Nitrite Pad

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
19
$8.20Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Longevity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
9
biOrb Aquarium Classic Cleaning Service Kit
biOrb Aquarium Classic Cleaning Service Kit
biOrb Aquarium Classic Cleaning Service Kit
biOrb Aquarium Classic Cleaning Service Kit
biOrb Aquarium Classic Cleaning Service Kit

biOrb Aquarium Classic Cleaning Service Kit

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
22
$15.97Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.8/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.8/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Longevity

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
10
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count

Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
93
$24.95Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.4/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.4/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Longevity

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater