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

The 10 Best Filters for Saltwater 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 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

1
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
842
$14.57Chewy Price
($1.22/ea)
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

4.6/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
2
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
703
$19.97Chewy Price
($3.33/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.5/5
Great

Filtration media

4.4/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.4/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Foam

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
3
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count

Aqueon QuietFlow Medium Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
130
$24.95Chewy Price
($2.78/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
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

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
4
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
119
$4.99Chewy 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

4.6/5
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...
5
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
210
$9.99Chewy 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

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.8/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
6
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 4.6 out of 5 stars
363
$6.47Chewy Price
($2.16/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

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?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
7
Fluval Spec Biomax Filter Media
Fluval Spec Biomax Filter Media

Fluval Spec Biomax Filter Media

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
53
$5.99Chewy Price
($5.99/ea)
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

4.4/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
8
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count
Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count

Aqueon QuietFlow Large Replacement Filter Cartridges, 9 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
240
$29.95Chewy Price
($3.33/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.4/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
9
Underwater Treasures Seapora Nitrate + Nitrite Pad

Underwater Treasures Seapora Nitrate + Nitrite Pad

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
28
$6.68Chewy Price
($6.68/ea)
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

4.6/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
10
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
84
$7.98Chewy Price
($2.66/ea)

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.7/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.7/5
Excellent

Water flow rate

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish