10 Best Filters for Freshwater Aquariums 2025: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Filters for Freshwater Aquariums

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How we created this filter list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best filters for freshwater 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 filters for freshwater aquariums.

Key filter considerations

Filtration efficiency

Filtration type

Maintenance requirements

Noise level

1
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count
Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count

Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Rite-Size C Filter Cartridge, 6 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
617
$19.99Chewy Price
($3.34/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.7/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.6/5
Excellent

Noise level

4.2/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
2
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count
Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count

Tetra Bio-Bag Large Disposable Filter Cartridges, 12 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
713
$14.55Chewy Price
($1.22/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.4/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
3
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
115
$7.49Chewy Price
($7.49/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.1/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
4
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
167
$10.19Chewy Price
($0.47/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.8/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.6/5
Excellent

Noise level

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
5
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Marina Slim Carbon Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
97
$6.18Chewy Price
($2.06/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Filtration type

4.5/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.3/5
Great

Noise level

4.3/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
6
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count

Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 15 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
201
$42.95Chewy Price
($2.87/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Filtration type

4.4/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.4/5
Great

Noise level

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
7
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count
Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Tetra Whisper Bio-Bags Medium Filter Cartridge, 3 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
309
$6.47Chewy Price
($2.16/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Filtration type

4.3/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
8
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count
Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count

Tetra Large Aquarium Carbon Filter, 4 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
116
$10.04Chewy Price
($2.51/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.6/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.6/5
Excellent

Noise level

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
9
AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count

AquaClear Activated Carbon Filter Insert, Size 50, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
71
$9.99Chewy Price
($3.33/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.5/5
Great

Maintenance requirements

4.5/5
Great

Noise level

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
10
Underwater Treasures Seapora Nitrate + Nitrite Pad

Underwater Treasures Seapora Nitrate + Nitrite Pad

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
23
$8.20Chewy Price
($8.20/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration type

4.7/5
Excellent

Maintenance requirements

4.7/5
Excellent

Noise level

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish