Best Canister Filters For Aquariums: 10 High-Performance Options

Maintaining aquarium water clean and clear is the ultimate goal of every aquarist. And quality filtration is extremely important when it comes to keeping a healthy fish tank.

Getting a good water filter is like a breath of fresh air for your aquatic pets, so you’ll want the most suitable filter for the job.

So spending money on an effective canister filter is essential. That’s why this article is produced, introducing the best canister filter for a safe and stable habitat for your aquatic buddies.

What is a Canister Filter?

A canister filter operates by pulling water from your aquarium into a canister or chamber with the help of a lift tube. When in the canister, the water will be pushed through some filter media, where it’s purified before going back to the aquarium.

The water flow’s direction can range based on the brand and structure of the canister filter unit. You can have bottom-to-top, top-to-bottom, back-to-front, inside-out, or outside-in. The media in the filter performs mechanical, biological, or chemical filtration, depending on how you set up the model.

Since the system is sealed, canister filters employ a water pump to transfer the water. As usual, canister filtration systems contain integral water pumps that are designed into the base or cover; however, some units require an independent external one.

One outstanding benefit of a canister filter is that it stays outside of the tank, often in the cabinet or underneath the tank stand, so there’s no bulky filter box taking up room inside your aquarium.

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The Buying Guide for Canister Filters

Aquarium Size

Obviously, the most crucial thing to consider when selecting a canister filter is the size of your aquarium.

As with any filtration system, the model you pick must circulate the water around your aquarium at least 4 times an hour to be fully efficient. Hence, check the GPH (gallons per hour) rating on the unit packaging before you purchase your filter. If you’re keeping a huge tank of more than 100 gallons, you might ponder over getting a multiple filter arrangement.

Moreover, you need to define how much space you have in your tank cabinet. Some canister filters are quite bulky and can require much space, so you need to be sure your model choice will fit comfortably into the spot you’re having.

Motor Quality

Your canister filter is going to be working 24/7, so you’ll want a motor that’s durable and cost-effective. You should look for a motor that has a UL approval rating.

The most common motors for canister filters include epoxy-sealed motors and magnet-driven motors.

When it comes to epoxy-sealed motors, they’re hung in the head with the impeller upside down, which helps prevent dust, moisture, or debris from destroying the impeller.

These motors run by using a magnetic coil surrounding the impeller, making it spin and pushing the water through the filter. As they’re sealed, the motors tend to work quietly and require little maintenance.

Meanwhile, the second style utilizes a magnetic coil to power the impeller. These are self-primming, so you won’t have to siphon the water manually.

The downside is they’re not sealed like the Epoxy-sealed motors. That means less protection from debris and moisture, which might affect its durability. However, if you’re the one who’s at staying on top of maintenance, this shouldn’t be a big problem.

Valves

Canister filters often consist of 2 valves: one to control the intake and one to manage the output. You’ll want to get valves that can be completely closed. That means the water will stay in the hoses, and you can detach your filter for cleaning or maintenance without the need to re-prime your filter.

Another critical feature to look out for is the function to disconnect the intake and output hoses. As you can do this, you can add a gravel vacuum or adapter. And you can employ your filter to help with water changes, reducing the need to fill up buckets of water.

Filtration Process & Media Trays

The ideal filters will contain media trays for each filtering stage: mechanical, chemical, and biological.

When your canister filter utilizes all three filtering stages, you can achieve the best results.

10 High-Performance Canister Filters for Aquariums.

1. OASE Indoor Biomaster Thermo 

The OASE Indoor Biomaster Thermo filter comes equipped with amazing features, making the filtration process easy and effective. Notably, it is packed with some integrated heaters, so you can use it for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.

This canister filter features a compact design with a 4-stage filtration system (pre-filtration, mechanical, biological, and chemical).

Besides, the model consists of a sealed filtration pathway to support the pre-filter media. There’s also a Hel-X Biomedia that brings a large suspended settlement surface for microorganisms in the water. Additionally, the unit produces activated carbon to remove toxins and decrease the nutrient that might harm your fish.

It’s possible for you to adjust the water flow. You can do it on both inlet and outlet adapters.

Benefits

• Easy to set up and clean
• Sealed filtration pathway for pre-filtration and cleaner water
• 4-filtration system
• Integrated heaters
• Self-priming function
• Shut-off automation with an in-built check valve for avoiding leakage
• Adjustable water flow

Drawbacks

• A bit complicated to operate for the first time

2. EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter 

EHEIM has gained a great reputation for its German-engineer canister filter. When it comes to German engineering, the first thing that springs to mind is effectiveness. That’s exactly what you have with the Eheim Classic External unit.

Available for 40, 66, and 90-gallon aquariums, the model is designed with Eheim mech and Substat Pro media. One of the most worth-noting features is that it contains no bypass, which means all the debris will go out through the media, resulting in crystal clear water.

However, it might become saturated and slow down the flow over time. If you don’t bother staying on top of maintenance, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Fixed Permo-elastic silicone seal rings on the pump head enable for simple and safe closing after cleaning. In addition, its silent motor and compact design allow you to place the unit wherever you want.

If you choose to use the Eheim filter, you’re in for a lifetime of reliability, quietness and hassle-free service.

Benefits

• High durability
• No media trays for better water flow past filtration media
• Hold many filter media
• Quiet operation

Drawbacks

• No self-primming feature
• No activated carbon included
• Not clear instruction

3. Fluval External 07 Canister Filter Series 

Famous for their dependability and filled with incredible features, the 07 Series offers a number of sizes to choose from:

• 107 – 145 GPH
• 207 – 206 GPH
• 307 – 303 GPH
• 407 – 383 GPH

Fluval has made the motor so energy-saving. Several canisters can consume a lot of power, but the 07 series filters are similar to running one light bulb, which is huge considering how much water these filters can purify.

The stacking trays for filter media contain a nifty handle that allows you to pull up from the bottom. Thereby, you don’t need to fish around in dirty water to reach the lower trays. This is particularly useful as the bottom-most layer is for extra mechanical filter media that should be cleaned regularly to eliminate detritus.

Moreover, there is a side compartment with large pieces of foam for mechanical filtration. These can be simply eliminated to clear gunk without messing with the trays of filter media. This will enable easier and faster maintenance because you don’t need to break down the whole filter to clean the mechanical media.

This canister filter provides all the filter media you need to start and operate out of the box: mechanical, biological, and chemical.

Benefits

• Quiet motors
• Innovative clamps for hoses
• The separate compartment easily maintains the mechanical media
• Include a nifty handle
• Include 3 filtration processes

Drawbacks

• No spray bar included

4. Fluval External 06 Canister Filter Series 

There is a lot of sizes for you to choose from:

• Fluval 106 – 95 GPH
• Fluval 206 – 121 GPH
• Fluval 306 – 206 GPH
• Fluval 406 – 245 GPH

The Fluval 06 series are built with some wonderful technology. Its robust motor is durable and will maintain a powerful flow between maintenance. Besides, accurate-engineered bearings and protective cover help mitigate noise from the impeller.

One significant feature of these canister filters is that they employ the whole volume to separate each filtration stage, which results in better effectiveness and minimal hassle-free maintenance.

The filters do a good job of absorbing debris and preventing clogged media. Plus, the unit supports instant priming, so you don’t need to experience the hassle of siphoning your aquarium water.

The AquaStop valve is simple to install and enables you to completely engage and disengage the flow rate or modify between.

These are a powerful and reliable option for both freshwater and marine tanks. It’s very quiet and excellent at getting rid of impurities.

Benefits

• Advanced motor tech
• Multi-stage filtration
• Quiet operation
• Quick-change media
• Immediate priming
• Adjustable input/output heights

Drawbacks

• Shaky output nozzle
• Not clear instruction

5. Fluval FX6 Canister Filter 

This Fluval monster workhorse has a flow rate of 563 gallons per hour and provides the technology, power, and durability you would expect from a high-quality filter.

An advanced from the FX4, the FX6 has enhanced motor technology which offers better performance while requiring 10% less electricity.

The Smart Pump included in the pack is self-priming, so it’s very simple to set up. You just need to add water and plug it in. The pump will keep track of your water flow, automatically adjusting to keep a stable flow rate and purge the canister of trapped air every 12 hours.

What’s more, the FX6 utilizes a whopping 6 stages of filtration. Each basket has been accurate-engineered to prevent any water bypass, leading to a more effective filtration process.

Interestingly, the monthly indicator dial helps you remember the accurate date of your last water change and maintenance.

Benefits

• High performance with 10% less electricity consumption
• 6-stage filtration
• Self-priming Smart Pump
• Multi-directional output hose
• Quiet operation
• High durability

Drawbacks

• High price
• A bit bulky

6. API Filstar XP 

The API Filstar XP canister filter contains a system that ensures a powerful filtration. It is built with self-primming and quick-disconnect features, making it easier to disconnect the filter for cleaning or maintenance.

The model also features an anti-airlock system, preventing unexpected filtration stops. And there is an anti-noise feature that helps the filter work quietly.

This canister filter mixes a strong flow with a huge capacity for the filter media. In other words, it can get rid of colors, compounds, and odors three times more efficiently, compared to using carbon alone. Its Bio-Chem ZORB provides a resin-carbon combination that does the magic.

In addition, the unit comes equipped with centralized control for simple operation and a self-locking water shut-off system that prevents any accidental flow during maintenance.

Benefits

• Easy installation and setup
• Include Bio-Chem ZORB
• Quiet operation
• Quick disconnect for simple cleaning and maintenance
• Anti-airlock system

Drawbacks

• Not very durable

7. Polar Aurora External Aquarium Filter 

This canister filter from Polar Aurora comes available in four different sizes, ranging from 75 to 200 gallons. The three larger sizes of this unit do provide a UV light, making them a cost-effective option for a basic filter.

The model contains three media trays that are customizable to your liking. The kit offers media for mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. There is also an adjustable spray bar to boost oxygenation in the tank water.

The pack consists of everything necessary to get started, covering all hoses and connectors. Additionally, it comes with a single-valve disconnect for easy, hassle-free maintenance.

Benefits

• 3-stage filtration
• Customizable filter media trays
• Adjustable spray bar to improve oxygenation and control flow
• Be connected to the undergravel filter
• Self-priming feature

Drawbacks

• Cannot be used for turtles
• Its O-ring requires replacement.

8. SunSun Pro Canister Filter Kit 

Not a big name in the canister filter world, but it’s peaking in popularity for a good reason.

This strong canister filter has an array of size options:

• HW-302B Pro Filtration Kit – 264 GPH
• HW-303B Pro Filtration Kit – 370 GPH
• HW-304B Pro Filtration Kit – 525 GPH

The unit consists of 3 packs of extra white filter pads and 1 pack of coarse blue pads, 1lb of ceramic rings, 1lb of high-grade filter carbon, and 40 pieces of bio balls. And what makes this canister filter stick out is that it features a built-in 9 watt UV sterilizer. The sterilizer helps to eliminate bacteria and algae spores, promoting transparent water.

The large blue self-priming pump works excellently, removing the need for manual siphoning. And the 4 flexible media trays allow you to gain great mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration.

Moreover, there is a helpful switch that lets you disassemble both intake and output hoses simultaneously. The switch will cut the water off, leaving it in both hoses. It is great as it aids in your siphon system when you restart it. However, this switch is not designed to control the flow rate. Keep it open or sealed.

Benefits

• Available in many sizes
• UV sterilizer for killing algae spores and bacteria
• Much media storage
• Self-priming pump
• 3-stage filtering process
• Simple to clean and maintain

Drawbacks

• Some of the plastic parts are a bit flimsy.
• UV sterilizer LED bulb might lose power over time.

9. Hydor Professional External Canister Filter 

Like other options, the Hydor canister filter provides a wide range of sizes.

It’s easy to set up and use. You simply need to push the self-priming button three times, and yeah, you’re ready to go. The durable motor has a sound-proofing feature, so the model operates in silence. Plus, its rectangular shape enables an extremely effective filtering process.

Capturing a tremendous volume of media, every tray is completely flush against the sides. This forces the water through the filtration media without any bypass.

You’ll get space for 2 to 5 media trays for the multi-stage filtration process, depending on which option you choose. Additionally, there are ball-valve connections to decrease backpressure.

These canister filters are good at adjusting the water flow, so you can achieve the perfect amount of output for your aquarium. Besides, you can also shut off the flow when removing the filter for maintenance.

Furthermore, the model is packed with an expandable spray bar. The four sections allow you to change the length and placement to have the best results for your aquarium. The spray bar allows you to spread the water flow and have movement in more areas of your fish tank.

Benefits 

• Effective, powerful, and quiet
• Easy to set up and use
• Hold a huge volume of media thanks to its rectangular shape
• Expandable spray bar

Drawbacks

• Quite difficult to find replacement parts
• Water might spill out when you take the filter apart for maintenance. 

10. MarineLand Magniflow Canister Filter

MarineLand Brand is one of the leading brands of innovative aquatic equipment all over the world. Achieving fishkeeping success for more than 40 years, the brand is a popular choice for commercial display systems and scientific research.  

This canister filter is available in several sizes:

• 160 GPH for up to 30-gallon tanks
• 220 GPH for up to 55-gallon tanks
• 360 GPH for up to 100-gallon tanks 

The MarineLand Magniflow canister filter performs multi-stage filtration in your freshwater or saltwater tanks. This sturdily designed filter provides a top-sealing gasket for a strong seal with a simple-to-remove lid for access to media baskets. 

In addition, there are stack and flow filter trays forcing water through, not around, media layers for complete mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. Plus, the unit contains a quick-prime button that fills the filter chamber with water for a self-primming startup. Also, a quick-release valve block is included to shut down water flow instantly and separate from the motor housing for fast, spill-free filter maintenance. 

Moreover, the unit provides a polishing filter pad that works as a water polisher, getting rid of fine debris in the water. It also includes bio-filter balls and ceramic rings that bring a multi-faceted surface area for the growth of bio spires. 

Benefits 

• Include a top-sealing gasket for a strong seal
• Easy-to-remove lid
• Adjustable water flow rate
• Include filter foam pads
• Include black diamond carbon 

Drawbacks

• Confusing instructions to new users
• The hoses might become loose too fast when you remove them. 

Quick Compare of Best Canister Filters

#	Product Name	Image	Price	Action
1	OASE Indoor Biomaster Thermo		$$	Buy On Amazon!
2	EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter		$	Buy On Amazon!
3	Fluval External 07 Canister Filter Series		$	Buy On Amazon!
4	Fluval External 06 Canister Filter Series		$$	Buy On Amazon!
5	Fluval FX6 Canister Filter		$$	Buy On Amazon!
6	API Filstar XP		$	Buy On Amazon!
7	Polar Aurora External Aquarium Filter		$	Buy On Amazon!
8	SunSun Pro Canister Filter Kit		$	Buy On Amazon!
9	Hydor Professional External Canister Filter		$$	Buy On Amazon!
10	MarineLand Magniflow Canister Filter		$	Buy On Amazon!

The higher the GPH, the more filtration stages, and the greater filtration you’ll achieve – resulting in a safer and healthier aquarium. 

It’s not a good idea to purchase cheap when it comes to canister filters; you would want to get efficacy. This is the livelihood of your fish tank. You won’t want to take any risks.

If you need an all-in-one canister solution, you should head for the OASE Indoor Biomaster Thermo unit that provides a built-in heating chamber and many fancy features. 

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a high-quality item for large tanks, then Fluval FX6 is the go-to choice. 

No matter what option you choose, remember to check your tank information and condition before making any buying decision.