Best Canister Filter

The SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter is our best canister filter and this canister filter is a complete set or a complete kit that will definitely fully restore the cleanliness of your fish tank or aquarium due to its intuitive design and complete set of tools. A couple of ceramic rings at 1 pound are present in this canister filter and the filtering flow rate of this awesome canister filter is up to 525 gallons per hour so it is very strong and precise and dependable on its flow rate as an effective canister filter. The canister filter is a whole kit that is for professional use due to its great design and features and the bio balls, totaling to up to 40 pieces, are also packed in with this awesome canister filter kit.

Our step-up pick is the EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter w/Media and this canister filter works as an external filter for your aquarium or fish tank on its design. This sealing ring that is included in this canister filter is also made from permo-elastic material which makes it very sturdy in comparison to other canister filters out there and a bunch of accessories are also included with this reliable canister filter such as a spray bar for added convenience. An inlet pipe has also been included with this classic style canister filter for your convenience and oxygen enrichment in this canister filter is superb due to its greatly simultaneous and instantaneous mechanism to keep your fishes breathing properly and to keep your marine life as health as possible. The size of the hose that is being used in this canister filter measures 1/2 inch or 12/16 mm.

The budget pick is the SunSun HW-302 264-GPH 3-Stage Canister Filter and the flow rate of this excellent quality canister filter is up to 1000 liters per hour or 264 gallons per hour so it is very fair in its flow rate as an effectively great yet cheap canister filter. This canister filter is mostly ideal for fish tanks and aquariums with a capacity of 75 gallons, so as to say that this canister filter is definitely for the smaller sized fish tanks and aquariums in general and the pump that is included for this canister filter does not need to be siphoned manually as it has been self-primed and keeps itself that way to lessen your worries for maintenance. The 3 stages of filtration employed by this canister filter helps to keep your aquatic life as healthy as possible and as clean as possible and the pump power that is given by and expended by this canister filter is up to 18 watts.

A Little Background

Canister filters are the more flexible types of aquarium filters or fish tank filters out there. The biggest advantage to have from having a canister filter is due to the very fact that you yourself can allow yourself to choose the kind and type of filter media to put into your canister filter for your aquarium or marine biological sanctuary such as activate carbon pads and the like.

How We Picked

In choosing the best canister filter, here are some things to remember:
Size of the canister filter – it should be highly dependable and just right for your aquarium or fish tank’s size so that it does not run into any space problems at all.
Efficiency of filtration – the more stages it goes through, the better cleaning process can be achieved using the canister filter.
Safety of the operation – if you have a self-priming pump that is included in the canister filter then that also keeps it less hassling in maintenance and also keeps it as safe as possible as a canister filter with great efficiency overall.

Our Pick

SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter
This canister filter, the SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter, is our best canister filter and it is a complete set or a complete kit that will definitely fully restore the cleanliness of your fish tank or aquarium due to its intuitive design and complete set of tools. The canister filter is a whole kit that is for professional use due to its great design and features and the canister filter is ideal for aquariums with a capacity of up to 150 gallons overall.
The filtering flow rate of this awesome canister filter is up to 525 gallons per hour so it is very strong and precise and dependable on its flow rate as an effective canister filter while the size of the canister filter is just right at only 11 by 11 inches with a standing height of 17 inches which is much like most canister filters out there that will adhere to any standard aquarium or fish tank possible. A couple of ceramic rings at 1 pound are present in this canister filter. In fact, a pound of carbon filter with a premium quality is also included with this awesome canister filter.
A bunch of bio balls, totaling to up to 40 pieces, are also packed in with this awesome canister filter kit. The UV light technology that most people are looking for when it comes to aquarist specialists is here in this canister filter due to the very fact that it has a UV light that only consumes 9 watts of power. Also, there are also extra filter pads (white) present in this canister filter in a pack of 3 and there is also a blue coarse pad in this canister filter in one pack for convenience in cleaning and maintenance for this canister filter. In fact, the UV sterilizer of this awesome canister filter as our top pick is very great for any aquarium, whether you are handling a salt water aquarium or a fresh water aquarium, so as to say that this canister filter is very versatile in its build.
The pump of this canister filter is self-priming so it does not need to be siphoned manually for added convenience and activated carbons included in this canister filter as well as the bio balls and ceramic rings all help to aid to the filtration process of the canister filter. A series of mechanical filtrations, chemical filtrations and biological filtrations are performed out right and right off the bat when you use your filter media on this canister filter and the media trays of this canister filter, amounting to four, all help in keeping your filter media easy to install overall.
The soft plastic of the canister filter makes it very easy to handle while the set up time of the canister filter is very remarkable in comparison to other canister filters out there. The biological filtration takes out toxic nitrite and ammonia so that beneficial bacteria will be abundant in the aquarium instead. As a canister filter, it is less noisy than other types of canister filters out there of the same category. Also, the maintenance of this canister filter is not troublesome due to its easy filter mechanism.

Flaws but Not Dealbrakers

The SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter may be short on a couple of things but it is still definitely our best canister filter for your aquarium or fish tank. Some of these small shortcomings that are not deal breakers at all include the fact that it is not as quiet as our step-up pick below but for the price, it is very bearable and its other features also give great advantages to the canister filter overall.

Step-up Pick

EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter w/Media
For our step-up pick for the best canister filter, we chose the EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter w/Media as this canister filter works as an external filter for your aquarium or fish tank on its design. The canister filter also comes with the needed filtering media to run it properly. In fact, a bunch of accessories are also included with this reliable canister filter such as a spray bar for added convenience.
The pump head has a fixated sealing ring that is made from silicon to help this canister filter stay sturdy as much as possible while this sealing ring that is included in this canister filter is also made from permo-elastic material which makes it very sturdy in comparison to other canister filters out there. Easy cleaning and maintenance can be achieved and experienced due to the safe closing of the canister filter’s pump head overall.
The various filter media that are compatible with the canister filter include the Substrat Pro and the EHEIM Mech and both of which are included in the package of this canister filter. In fact, an inlet pipe has also been included with this classic style canister filter for your convenience. A couple of valves are also equipped onto this highly reliable canister filter for easy maintenance on your aquarium system and a hose and some accessories for installation come in handy with this canister filter for easier set up with this canister filter.
The oxygen enrichment in this canister filter is superb due to its greatly simultaneous and instantaneous mechanism to keep your fishes breathing properly and to keep your marine life as health as possible. A stand also comes with the canister filter that is very compact in its entire size, build and design so it will not get in the way of your fishes and other aquatic life in your aquarium and the single process of the biological and mechanical filtration and purification makes the canister filter super fast and efficient when it comes down to filtering out bad bacteria, mold spores, algae spores and the like so it is truly an effective canister filter to invest your money onto. The size of the hose that is being used in this canister filter measures 1/2 inch or 12/16 mm
A good filter to use for this canister filter is an Eheim charcoal pad for purifying and filtering out bad odors, toxins and the like in your aquarium system. Just like most canister type filters out there, this particular canister filter is super quiet in its performance so it is the best way to start an aquarium without the noise. The crisp and clear water that is maintained by this canister filter keeps itself as refreshing as possible for the fishes to thrive in.

Budget Pick

SunSun HW-302 264-GPH 3-Stage Canister Filter
For our chosen budget pick for the best canister filter, we chose the SunSun HW-302 264-GPH 3-Stage Canister Filter as this canister filter is mostly ideal for fish tanks and aquariums with a capacity of 75 gallons, so as to say that this canister filter is definitely for the smaller sized fish tanks and aquariums in general. The flow rate of this excellent quality canister filter is up to 1000 liters per hour or 264 gallons per hour so it is very fair in its flow rate as an effectively great yet cheap canister filter and the pump power that is given by and expended by this canister filter is up to 18 watts.
Unlike other canister filters out there, this one uses 3 media trays that can help you add more filtering media to the canister filter for your own preferences so you can easily set up your own customized and very personal type of filtering stages for your aquarium or fish tank. At a height of 15 1/2 inches, it is also generally smaller for most aquariums so it is definitely for smaller sized aquariums out there for people who just want a decent canister filter to filter out their aquarium or fish tank. The 3 stages of filtration employed by this canister filter can really help out to keep aquatic life in the aquarium as healthy as possible and as clean as possible.
What’s more, the canister filter has an external design and it runs smoothly as much as possible unlike regular aquarium filters out there. The pump that is included for this canister filter does not need to be siphoned manually as it has been self-primed and keeps itself that way to lessen your worries for maintenance and the canister filter comes in 3 stages of filtration for your tank: mechanical filtration, chemical filtration and biological filtration – all at very unique, effective, smart, efficient and clean methods that are very natural in their mechanism depending on the type of filtering media that you implement onto this canister filter.
A couple of ceramic rings are also present in this canister filter to help speed up the process of cleaning and filtration overall. The filter pads are also included with this awesome and functioning canister filter to help you with the overall filtering process while the hoses as well as the connection parts to set up this whole canister filter are all present and are all very easy to assemble. The media trays of this canister filter are all designed with utmost flexibility so that your filter media in this canister filter will stay put and do their job better. The inlet and out flow hose sizes of the canister filter run about 8 feet or more of the green tinted housing at 5/8 inch.
So, if you want an absolutely cheap yet highly effective canister filter then this is the one to buy for your aquatic friends. The environment that will be given using this canister filter is stress-free for the fishes due to its cleaning power. Overall, this canister filter is also great for removing bad bacteria and also helps to colonize good bacteria that are beneficial and aerobic.

Convenient Canister Filter with a Flush Design

Hydor Professional External Canister Filter
This canister filter, the Hydor Professional External Canister Filter, is ideal for tanks with a capacity of 90 gallons up to 150 gallons so it is ideal for bigger tanks overall. When it comes down to the flow rate, you can highly depend upon this canister filter as it has a flow rate of 345 gallons per hour on its pump output while 290 gallons per hour on its filter circulation.
There is also absolutely no water by-pass mechanism on this unique canister filter due to the very fact that the media baskets force the water through due to the very fact that the flush design is employed onto this one of a kind canister filter. Also, the shut off feature and the easy flow mechanism of the canister filter helps to create very easy adjustments using the ball valve connections employed onto this canister filter. The volume of the canister filter is at 12.9 quarts overall and the power consumption of this highly efficient canister filter is at 35 watts so it is typically good for a filter that is cost effective at home. The max head of the canister filter is 4.92 feet overall and all you need to buy separately for this canister filter is the carbon filter to make it very effective in filtering out your aquarium.
The angle flow return of the canister filter is highly adjustable due to the very fact that it has a telescopic intake tube which also makes the use of a handy spray bar of the canister filter that is also expandable for ease of use. All media that are highly needed by the canister filter comes along except for the carbon filter that you have to buy separately. The priming button of this canister filter is very large so it is very easy to access and use overall and the strainer of this canister filter can also be adjusted for various tanks as much as possible so it is truly versatile in its build entirely.

Reliable Canister Filter Pack with Filter Media Included

Penn Plax Cascade Canister Filter Pro-Package
This canister filter, the Penn Plax Cascade Canister Filter Pro-Package, comes with a load of filter media so you do not have to go off and buy them separately. Included in this canister filter is 2 packs of carbon filters and there are also biological rings that are included in this awesome canister filter package to help you out and further advance your filtering process. A bio sponge is also included to aid this canister filter in its entire process of filtering out your aquarium.
The flow rate of this canister filter is up to 185 gallons per hour. As for the best match tank size for this canister filter, it is strongly recommended for tanks with a capacity of up to 65 gallons. There is also 6 packs of floss which are included in this canister filter that is made from poly filter in its pad design which greatly helps to trap particulate matter in your aquarium. The bio sponge included in this canister filter helps to spread out beneficial aerobic bacteria to help naturally clean up the aquarium using the awesome canister filter and the no-fuss installation of the Filt-A-Pack Pro-Carb nylon mesh bags with included carbon content helps to keep your canister filter conveniently working without many problems in installation overall.
The bio rings included in this canister filter and the ceramic rings are also all disposable just like the carbon pack and are very convenient and easy to install overall while the 2 rotational valves of this canister filter rotates up to 360 degrees and are very independent to make placement as hassle-free as possible. The primer of this canister filter makes it very easy to start up and to install overall and the pump of this canister filter comes with input tubing, output tubing, start-up filters and very large trays for the filters.
The clamps of this canister filter are super easy to lift to make it convenient for you to change media or to perform clean ups and maintenance. To easily suspend waste material from your canister filter, it uses its directional returns to keep your water sparkling clean as much as possible. The filtering process of this canister filter takes only around 30 minutes and within a day’s time, it can easily give you results and fast improvement overall.

Convenient Canister Filter with Included UV Sterilizer

Polar Aurora 5-stage External Canister Filter
This canister filter, the Polar Aurora 5-stage External Canister Filter, is equipped with a specialized UV sterilizer at 9 watts of power for killing germs and other bad microorganisms out there that keep your aquarium or marine sanctuary in peril. The flow rate of this canister filter is up to 525 gallons per hour or 2000 liters per hour and the pumping power of this canister filter is up to 55 watts. There is also a set of free filtering media included conveniently in this canister filter so it is outright ready to use overall and the UV sterilizer that is included in this canister filter can also help to clear the water from algae spores and other bad bacteria out there.
The canister filter has an external design and has an incredible whopping 5-stage process for filtering out the water of your aquarium tank or fish sanctuary. The power rating of this canister filter is from 110 volts up to 120 volts at 50 Hz up to 60 Hz and there is also a UV kill switch integrated with this canister filter. Standing at 19 inches, it is for medium sized tanks but the canister filter can also be used for larger tanks out there depending upon your settings. The flexible tubing of this canister-style filter measures 5 feet and amounts to 2 in the package. Also there are 4 draining trays and 1 draining tray cover for this canister filter. Two spray bars and 2 connected bars are also included with the canister filter plus a spray bar cover. An output curvy bar and an input curvy bar comes along with this canister filter. A barrel head, some output and input discreteness and the joint of dirtiness entrance are all included in this canister filter. There are also 3 input bars plus an input cover plus 3 dozens of ceramic rings and an activated carbon media bag and there is also a dozen of bio-balls in this canister filter. You might also want to pressure test the canister filter first before using.

Reliable Canister Filter with a 4-Stage Filtering Process

Super HW-303B 4-stage External Canister Filter
As a canister filter, the Super HW-303B 4-stage External Canister Filter goes through a total of 4 stages of filtration to effectively clean up your aquarium overall. The canister filter can take fish tanks and aquariums with a capacity of up to 100 gallons and the pumping power of this canister filter is at 35 watts and its flow rate equates to 1400 liters per hour or 370 gallons per hour. The UV sterilizer that is included with this canister filter consumes only 9 watts so it is energy efficient and yet it kills bad bacteria and algae spores to keep your water sparkling clean as much as possible.
Standing in at 16 inches, the canister filter is ideal for small to medium sized tanks out there. All you need to buy for this canister filter is the set of filter media such as activated carbon filters, bio-balls, ceramic rings and the like. There are a total of 3 media trays that are highly flexible and you also do not need to perform manual siphoning as the canister filter is equipped with a self-priming pump so it is super convenient to have for your fish tank or aquarium overall.

Awesome Canister Filter for Saltwater and Freshwater

Fluval 206 Canister Filter
The Fluval 206 Canister Filter has a flow rate of 206 GPH and it is ideal for aquariums for up to 45 gallons of capacity and it is flexible for both saltwater and freshwater systems. The filter comes with a BioMax filter, a carbon filter and a polishing pad plus 4 foam pads and it is capable of holding up to 50 percent more water than regular canisters out there. There are also lift lock clamps to keep the canister filter easy to maintain overall and the valves also provide ease in disconnecting the hoses.

Unique Canister Filter for Nano Tanks

Zoo Med Nano-10 External Canister Filter
This external canister filter, the Zoo Med Nano-10 External Canister Filter, has a flow rate of up to 80 gallons per hour and typically used for tanks from 2 gallons to 10 gallons so it is only recommended for nano tanks or small tanks. It is ideal for freshwater or saltwater systems and it has priming feature that is convenient and it has a spray bar system as well as a bio-ceramic media. Activated carbon and a mechanical filter sponge also help out this canister filter function properly.

Convenient Canister Filter with a Self Priming Pump

Aquatop CF Series UV Canister Filter
This self-priming canister filter, the Aquatop CF Series UV Canister Filter, has a helpful pump which also keeps it as quiet as possible. The flow rate of this canister filter is at 370 gallons per hour and it can also used for up to 125 gallons of tank sizes. The filtration system uses a 3+1 stage mechanism and the UV sterilization helps to keep the water as clear as possible at only 9 watts of power.

The Competition

Other canister filters out there that did not match our criteria were not too effective when it comes down to their filtering process. Some were also too noisy and are a hassle to set up. It is important for a canister filter to be outright handy and convenient in its mechanism.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a canister filter and how effective are they?
A: According to First Tank Guide , they are very effective because you can insert various kinds of filter media onto the trays for an effective cleaning mechanism for your tank.

Q: How do you take care of a canister filter?
A: According to Entech Instruments , you should not use oil-based pumps for cleaning them and always check for leaks. The inlet lines should be cleaned as well.

Wrapping It Up

Overall, the SunSun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter is our best canister filter for most aquarists out there or for those who are still starting out in their aquatic maintenance procedures.