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

The 10 Best Filters for Saltwater Aquariums

Jump to the list

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
713
$14.55Chewy Price
($1.22/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

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
617
$19.99Chewy Price
($3.34/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.6/5
Excellent

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
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

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
Great

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, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
4
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 4.8 out of 5 stars
110
$24.95Chewy Price
($2.78/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.4/5
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
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
167
$10.19Chewy Price
($0.47/oz)
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

4.8/5
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 4.5 out of 5 stars
309
$6.47Chewy Price
($2.16/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.5/5
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?

Material

Mesh, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
7
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

Durability and maintenance

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration efficiency

4.6/5
Excellent

Filtration media

4.6/5
Excellent

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
8
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

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
9
Underwater Treasures Seapora Breeder Sponge Aquarium Filter, 30

Underwater Treasures Seapora Breeder Sponge Aquarium Filter, 30

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
73
$7.00Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Durability and maintenance

4.0/5
Great

Filtration efficiency

3.9/5
Good

Filtration media

3.9/5
Good

Water flow rate

3.9/5
Good

Is this filter right for my pet?

Material

Microfiber, Synthetic Fabric

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish
10
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
52
$57.99Chewy Price
($0.83/oz)
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

4.5/5
Great

Water flow rate

4.5/5
Great

Is this filter right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater