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

The 10 Best Filters for Freshwater Aquariums

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How we created this filter list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best filters 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 filters for freshwater aquariums.

Key filter considerations

Filtration efficiency

Filtration type

Maintenance requirements

Noise level

1
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
547
$19.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.2/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
2
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
628
$14.55Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
3
AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 30
AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 30

AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 30

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
109
$4.63Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.1/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
4
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
176
$42.95Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Filtration type

4.4/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.4/5
Great

Noise level

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
5
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
85
$5.83Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Filtration type

4.5/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.3/5
Great

Noise level

4.2/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

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 4.6 out of 5 stars
276
$6.49Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.2/5
Great

Filtration type

4.3/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.6/5
Excellent

Noise level

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
7
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar

Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 40-oz jar

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
146
$22.66Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.8/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
8
Eheim Classic 250 External Aquarium Canister Filter
Eheim Classic 250 External Aquarium Canister Filter
Eheim Classic 250 External Aquarium Canister Filter
Eheim Classic 250 External Aquarium Canister Filter

Eheim Classic 250 External Aquarium Canister Filter

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
31
$101.96Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.8/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.8/5
Excellent

Noise level

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid...
9
Underwater Treasures Seapora Breeder Sponge Aquarium Filter, 30

Underwater Treasures Seapora Breeder Sponge Aquarium Filter, 30

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
61
$7.00Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.0/5
Great

Filtration type

4.1/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.2/5
Great

Noise level

4.1/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Microfiber, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
10
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
63
$8.92Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish