What is aquarium filter media?

Aquarium filter media refers to the specific materials located inside the tank filter that purify the water. Filter media can come in three forms- namely biological, chemical, and mechanical.

What are the three types of fish tank filter media?

The three types of fish tank filter media are biological, chemical, and mechanical. Mechanical uses things like sponges and filter floss to remove debris from water. Chemical uses activated carbon and other similar materials to remove chemical contaminants. Biological uses advantageous bacteria media, which can help remove waste.

How long does aquarium filter media last?

Aquarium filter media has different lifespans depending on factors like the type of media, your type of tank, the tank contents, and frequency of water changes. In general, biological filter media may rarely need replacement unless it's damaged; but it must be rinsed and cleaned regularly. Chemical media containing activated carbon is typically replaced within a window of 1–3 weeks. Regularly test your water to ensure that the filters are working properly. Mechanical media, on the other hand, can last for several years, but regular replacement might be best. Consult with your fish-savvy veterinarian or hobbyist to get the best advice for your particular setup.

How often should I rinse fish tank filter media?

Fish tank filter media should be rinsed approximately every 2–4 weeks, but this can vary depending on your tank setup or maintenance. If you notice debris buildup, a change in noise, or a reduction in water flow, it's likely time to rinse. When rinsing, it's important to do so with fish tank water and not tap water, because tap water contains chlorine.

Aquarium & Fish Tank Filter Media - Page 2 (Free Shipping)

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Fluval U3 Foam Pad Filter Media slide 2 of 4

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Fluval U3 Foam Pad Filter Media

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

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Aqueon QuietFlow 30/50 Phosphate Reducing Specialty Filter Pad, 4 count slide 2 of 8

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Aqueon QuietFlow 30/50 Phosphate Reducing Specialty Filter Pad, 4 count

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

15

$9.99 Chewy Price

($2.50/ea) Price per Unit

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Fluval BIOMAX for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter slide 2 of 4

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Fluval BIOMAX for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

7

$7.68 Chewy Price

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Boyd Chemi-Pure Filter Media, 10-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

38

$45.72 Chewy Price

($0.77/oz) Price per Unit

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MARINEPURE Cermedia Aquarium Biofilter Media Spheres, 2-qt

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

5

$28.89 Chewy Price

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Fluval Pre-Filter Media, 1.7-lb

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars

32

$6.69 Chewy Price

($3.94/lb) Price per Unit

$18.99 List Price

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Eheim 2215 Canister Carbon Filter Pads, 3 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$16.49 Chewy Price

($5.50/ea) Price per Unit

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Marineland Rite-Size T, Fit C-Series, Magniflow 360 & 400 Mechanical Aquarium Filtration Polish...

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

45

$6.49 Chewy Price

($3.25/ea) Price per Unit

$8.59 List Price

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Fluval BIO-FX Biological Aquarium Fish Filter Media, 5-l

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

3

$22.99 Chewy Price

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Marineland Rite-Size S, T, X, Fit All C-Series & Magniflow Biological Aquarium Filtration Bio-F...

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

58

$4.99 Chewy Price

($0.06/ea) Price per Unit

$12.29 List Price

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Penn-Plax Nitrate Reducer Aquarium Fish Filter Media Pad

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

15

$9.99 Chewy Price

($9.99/ea) Price per Unit

$14.99 List Price

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Fluval Bio-Foam Filter Media, 2 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

29

$8.99 Chewy Price

($4.50/ea) Price per Unit

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Aqueon QuietFlow 10 Phosphate Reducing Specialty Filter Pad, 4 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

20

$7.99 Chewy Price

($2.00/ea) Price per Unit

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Fluval Carbon for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter, 2.5-oz

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

15

$5.99 Chewy Price

($2.40/oz) Price per Unit

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Boyd Chemi-pure Elite All-In-One Chemical Filtration Media, 11.74-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

64

$86.25 Chewy Price

($1.23/oz) Price per Unit

$108.26 List Price

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AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 30

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

123

$4.85 Chewy Price

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Cobalt Aquatics Total Nitrate, Phosphate & Metal Removing Resin, 12.5-oz bottle

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars

7

$25.13 Chewy Price

($2.02/oz) Price per Unit

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Eheim Ehfimech Mechanical Filter Media, 1-L

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

3

$16.49 Chewy Price

($16.49/l) Price per Unit

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
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Fluval Bio-Foam for AC70 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars

7

$13.66 Chewy Price

($4.56/ea) Price per Unit

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Fluval C3 Poly/Foam Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

17

$10.99 Chewy Price

($3.67/ea) Price per Unit

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Marineland Rite-Size S, Fits C-Series, Magniflow 160, 180, 220 & 250 Biological & Mechanical Aq...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

22

$2.89 Chewy Price

($1.45/ea) Price per Unit

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Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
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API Filstar XP Super Micro Filtration Aquarium Canister Filter Filtration Pads, 2 count

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars

14

$13.39 Chewy Price

($6.70/ea) Price per Unit

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Fluval Bio-Foam for AC30 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

7

$4.99 Chewy Price

($1.67/ea) Price per Unit

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Fluval U4 Foam Pad Filter Media

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

29

$5.99 Chewy Price

($5.99/ea) Price per Unit

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Fluval Clear-Carb for AC70/AC110 Aquarium Power Filter

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$13.39 Chewy Price

$15.99 List Price

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Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
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Boyd Chemi-pure Blue Ultimate Filter Media, 5-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

50

$59.48 Chewy Price

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Aqueon Filter Media Foam Pad Fish Filter Media, Small

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

2

$7.99 Chewy Price

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Fluval C2 Poly/Foam Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars

20

$6.77 Chewy Price

($2.26/ea) Price per Unit

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Marineland Ammonia Reducing Resin, 8-oz

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

5

$13.32 Chewy Price

($1.67/oz) Price per Unit

$14.09 List Price

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Fluval Ammonia Remover for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

10

$11.04 Chewy Price

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Fluval U2 Poly/Carbon Underwater Filter Media, 2 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

21

$4.40 Chewy Price

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Marineland Penguin Refillable Filter Media Cartridge, Penguin 200 & 350

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

45

$4.99 Chewy Price

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API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars

18

$13.18 Chewy Price

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Fluval C2 & C3 C-Nodes Filter Media, 3.5-oz

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

14

$14.99 Chewy Price

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Fluval Ammonia Remover for AC20/AC30 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

12

$9.99 Chewy Price

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Fluval C4 Activated Carbon Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

30

$11.99 Chewy Price

($4.00/ea) Price per Unit

$12.99 List Price

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Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
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Aquarium & Fish Tank Filter Media

Fluval U3 Foam Pad Filter Media

Aqueon QuietFlow 30/50 Phosphate Reducing Specialty Filter Pad, 4 count

Fluval BIOMAX for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter

Boyd Chemi-Pure Filter Media, 10-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

MARINEPURE Cermedia Aquarium Biofilter Media Spheres, 2-qt

Fluval Pre-Filter Media, 1.7-lb

Eheim 2215 Canister Carbon Filter Pads, 3 count

Marineland Rite-Size T, Fit C-Series, Magniflow 360 & 400 Mechanical Aquarium Filtration Polish...

Fluval BIO-FX Biological Aquarium Fish Filter Media, 5-l

Marineland Rite-Size S, T, X, Fit All C-Series & Magniflow Biological Aquarium Filtration Bio-F...

Penn-Plax Nitrate Reducer Aquarium Fish Filter Media Pad

Fluval Bio-Foam Filter Media, 2 count

Aqueon QuietFlow 10 Phosphate Reducing Specialty Filter Pad, 4 count

Fluval Carbon for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter, 2.5-oz

Boyd Chemi-pure Elite All-In-One Chemical Filtration Media, 11.74-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 30

Cobalt Aquatics Total Nitrate, Phosphate & Metal Removing Resin, 12.5-oz bottle

Eheim Ehfimech Mechanical Filter Media, 1-L

Fluval Bio-Foam for AC70 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Fluval C3 Poly/Foam Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Marineland Rite-Size S, Fits C-Series, Magniflow 160, 180, 220 & 250 Biological & Mechanical Aq...

API Filstar XP Super Micro Filtration Aquarium Canister Filter Filtration Pads, 2 count

Fluval Bio-Foam for AC30 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Fluval U4 Foam Pad Filter Media

Fluval Clear-Carb for AC70/AC110 Aquarium Power Filter

Boyd Chemi-pure Blue Ultimate Filter Media, 5-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

Aqueon Filter Media Foam Pad Fish Filter Media, Small

Fluval C2 Poly/Foam Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Marineland Ammonia Reducing Resin, 8-oz

Fluval Ammonia Remover for AC50 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Fluval U2 Poly/Carbon Underwater Filter Media, 2 count

Marineland Penguin Refillable Filter Media Cartridge, Penguin 200 & 350

API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi

Fluval C2 & C3 C-Nodes Filter Media, 3.5-oz

Fluval Ammonia Remover for AC20/AC30 Aquarium Power Filter, 3 count

Fluval C4 Activated Carbon Filter Media, 3 count

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