10 Best Filters for Saltwater Aquariums 2026: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Filters for Saltwater Aquariums

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 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 filters for saltwater aquariums.

Key filter considerations

Durability and maintenance

Filtration efficiency

Filtration media

Water flow rate

Our Top Picks

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
257
$9.99 Chewy Price
($0.46/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.7/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
2
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
165
$10.77 Chewy Price
($2.70/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.7/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
3
AquaClear 50 Active Carbon Insert, 3 count
AquaClear 50 Active Carbon Insert, 3 count
AquaClear 50 Active Carbon Insert, 3 count
AquaClear 50 Active Carbon Insert, 3 count

AquaClear 50 Active Carbon Insert, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
103
$7.98 Chewy Price
($2.66/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration efficiency

4.8/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.7/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
4
Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal
Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal
Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal
Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal
Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal
Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal

Fluval AC20 Aquarium Power Filter, 5 to 20-gal

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
50
$35.99 Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.9/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.8/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.9/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater
5
Underwater Treasures Seapora Filter Floss, 20-sq ft
Underwater Treasures Seapora Filter Floss, 20-sq ft

Underwater Treasures Seapora Filter Floss, 20-sq ft

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
54
$15.99 Chewy Price
($15.99/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.3/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.2/5
Great

Filtration media

4.1/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.1/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
6
SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in
SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in
SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in
SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in
SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in
SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in

SunGrow Betta Aquarium & Koi Pond Polishing Filter Floss Media Pad for Fish Tank Cartridge, 12 x 72-in

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
35
$9.91 Chewy Price
($9.91/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.2/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.4/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Cotton

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Koi & Pond Fish, Tropical Freshwater, Cichlid, Marine Invertebrate...
7
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 4.6 out of 5 stars
69
$86.25 Chewy Price
($1.23/oz)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.7/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
8
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal
Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal

Aqueon Quietflow E Internal Power Filter, 10-gal

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
65
$14.92 Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.1/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.4/5
Great

Filtration media

4.4/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.4/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Betta, Goldfish
9
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal
Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal

Tetra Whisper Internal Aquarium Power Filter with BioScrubber, 20-40 gal

Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars
584
$34.97 Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.0/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.3/5
Great

Filtration media

4.3/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.2/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
10
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
124
$4.99 Chewy Price
($4.99/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.7/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...