10 Best Filter Media for Goldfish 2026: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Filter Media for Goldfish

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How we created this filter medium list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best filter media for goldfish.
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 media for goldfishes.

Key filter medium considerations

Compatibility

Durability

Ease of Maintenance

Filtration Efficiency

1
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
123
$3.99Chewy Price
($3.99/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
2
Boyd Chemi-Pure Green Ultimate Filter Media, 11-oz jar

Boyd Chemi-Pure Green Ultimate Filter Media, 11-oz jar

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
24
$19.98Chewy Price
($1.82/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.9/5
Excellent

Ease of Maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
3
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad
Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad

Aqueon QuietFlow 20/75 Ammonia Reducing Specialty Filter Pad

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
101
$9.95Chewy Price
($9.95/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Ease of Maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Goldfish
4
SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count
SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count
SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count
SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count
SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count
SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count

SunGrow Activated Carbon Aquarium Filter Media Bag for Betta Fish Tank Maintenance, 10 count

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
27
$7.95Chewy Price
($0.80/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.2/5
Great

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Ease of Maintenance

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Nylon, Mesh

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Betta, Goldfish, Cichlid, Tropical Freshwater...
5
Eheim Substrate Pro Biological Filter Media, 2-L
Eheim Substrate Pro Biological Filter Media, 2-L

Eheim Substrate Pro Biological Filter Media, 2-L

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10
$35.77Chewy Price
($17.89/l)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid, Goldfish...
6
API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi
API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi
API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi
API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi

API Filstar XP Aquarium Filtration Pads, 30 ppi

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
18
$13.18Chewy Price
($13.18/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Maintenance

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish, Goldfish, Marine Invertebrate...
7
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter
Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter

Marineland 2-In-1 Penguin Pro 125, 175 & 275 Aquarium Bio-Foam & PreFilter

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
6
$5.29Chewy Price
($5.29/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Goldfish
8
Eheim Pro 4+ Canister Filter Pads, 5 count

Eheim Pro 4+ Canister Filter Pads, 5 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
14
$15.99Chewy Price
($3.20/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Ease of Maintenance

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Bottom Feeder, Cichlid, Goldfish, Discus
9
API Water Softener Pillow, Size 5
API Water Softener Pillow, Size 5

API Water Softener Pillow, Size 5

Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars
50
$7.58Chewy Price
($7.58/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.2/5
Great

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Ease of Maintenance

4.3/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Goldfish, Bottom Feeder...
10
Marineland Rite-Size S, Fit C-Series, Magniflow 160, 180, 220 & 250 Mechanical Aquarium Filtration Polishing Filter Pads Media, 2 count
Marineland Rite-Size S, Fit C-Series, Magniflow 160, 180, 220 & 250 Mechanical Aquarium Filtration Polishing Filter Pads Media, 2 count
Marineland Rite-Size S, Fit C-Series, Magniflow 160, 180, 220 & 250 Mechanical Aquarium Filtration Polishing Filter Pads Media, 2 count

Marineland Rite-Size S, Fit C-Series, Magniflow 160, 180, 220 & 250 Mechanical Aquarium Filtration Polishing Filter Pads Media, 2 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
29
$3.99Chewy Price
($2.00/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.2/5
Great

Durability

4.2/5
Great

Ease of Maintenance

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...