10 Best Filter Cartridges for Saltwater Aquariums 2024: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Filter Cartridges for Saltwater 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 saltwater 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 saltwater aquariums.

Key filter cartridge considerations

Compatibility

Durability

Ease of Use

Filtration Efficiency

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
403
$14.55Chewy Price

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
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
367
$19.99Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code: CHEER

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.3/5
Great

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.5/5
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
29
$6.07Chewy Price

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
4
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
192
$6.47Chewy Price

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.3/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.3/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
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
100
$42.95Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code: CHEER

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
6
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
144
$14.99Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code: CHEER

Our ratings

Compatibility

3.8/5
Good

Durability

4.0/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.3/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

3.9/5
Good

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Polyurethane, Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
7
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
51
$24.95Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code: CHEER

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.3/5
Great

Durability

4.2/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.2/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

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
8
Marineland Eclipse Rite-Size Z Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marineland Eclipse Rite-Size Z Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marineland Eclipse Rite-Size Z Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marineland Eclipse Rite-Size Z Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marineland Eclipse Rite-Size Z Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Marineland Eclipse Rite-Size Z Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
32
$4.88Chewy Price

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
9
Aqueon Large Internal Filter Replacement Cartridge, 2 count
Aqueon Large Internal Filter Replacement Cartridge, 2 count

Aqueon Large Internal Filter Replacement Cartridge, 2 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
13
$10.95Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code: CHEER

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.4/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
10
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Aqueon Medium Replacement Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
63
$8.95Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code: CHEER

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.0/5
Great

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.4/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.2/5
Great

Is this filter cartridge right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...