10 Best Filter Media for Saltwater Aquarium 2025: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Filter Media for Saltwater Aquarium

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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 saltwater 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 filter media for saltwater aquaria.

Key filter medium considerations

Compatibility

Durability

Ease of Use

Filtration Efficiency

1
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar
Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar

Marineland Black Diamond Activated Carbon Filter Media, 22-oz jar

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
195
$9.88Chewy Price
($0.45/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
2
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
118
$4.99Chewy Price
($4.99/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
3
Fluval Spec Carbon Bags Filter Media, 3-pack
Fluval Spec Carbon Bags Filter Media, 3-pack
Fluval Spec Carbon Bags Filter Media, 3-pack

Fluval Spec Carbon Bags Filter Media, 3-pack

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
43
$3.99Chewy Price
($1.33/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
4
AquaClear Foam Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count
AquaClear Foam Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count

AquaClear Foam Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
69
$4.99Chewy Price
($1.67/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
5
SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz
SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz
SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz
SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz
SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz
SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz

SunGrow Activated Carbon Charcoal Pellets Aquarium Filtration, Cat Litter Box & Water Fountain Deodorizer Filter Media, 10-oz

Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
27
$4.99Chewy Price
($0.50/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Marine Invertebrate...
6
Boyd Chemi-pure Elite All-In-One Chemical Filtration Media, 11.74-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

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

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
54
$79.91Chewy Price
($1.14/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
7
Marineland Rite-Size S, T & X, Fit All C-Series, Magniflow Biological Aquarium Filtration Ceramic Filter Rings, 140 count
Marineland Rite-Size S, T & X, Fit All C-Series, Magniflow Biological Aquarium Filtration Ceramic Filter Rings, 140 count
Marineland Rite-Size S, T & X, Fit All C-Series, Magniflow Biological Aquarium Filtration Ceramic Filter Rings, 140 count

Marineland Rite-Size S, T & X, Fit All C-Series, Magniflow Biological Aquarium Filtration Ceramic Filter Rings, 140 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
45
$5.79Chewy Price
($0.05/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Ceramic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
8
AquaClear Foam Filter Insert, Size 70, 3 count
AquaClear Foam Filter Insert, Size 70, 3 count

AquaClear Foam Filter Insert, Size 70, 3 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
75
$9.99Chewy Price
($3.33/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
9
Fluval Spec Biomax Filter Media
Fluval Spec Biomax Filter Media

Fluval Spec Biomax Filter Media

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
39
$4.99Chewy Price
($4.99/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Ease of Use

4.5/5
Great

Filtration Efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
10
Boyd Chemi-pure Blue Ultimate Filter Media, 11-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

Boyd Chemi-pure Blue Ultimate Filter Media, 11-oz jar, Bulk 6-pack

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
41
$87.99Chewy Price
($1.34/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Ease of Use

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration Efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter medium right for my pet?

Material

Nylon, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater