A large aquarium will allow you to keep a lot of fish, other creatures, aquatic plants as well as allow plenty of decorative space as well as much other equipment for the aquarium. However, the more organisms and accessories in the tank, the more waste, and dirt there will be, so it is important to clean the tank.
But to clean the tank properly and save time, you need a support device instead of a tedious and hard manual work. That device is a filter. The best aquarium filter for large tanks will help you clean the tank quickly and effectively.
If not cleaned, the waste in the aquarium and the impurities will change the living environment of the residents in the tank. Then the water will be out of balance, become polluted and threaten the lives of all living things in the aquarium. Surely you would not want this situation to occur properly?
The best filter for large fish tanks will do its job in the best and most effective way. However, not everyone can choose for themselves the best one. Currently, the products available on the market are diverse and plentiful. If you do not have much experience with this hobby, this is definitely a difficult challenge for you.
We have compiled a list of the best aquarium filters for large tanks review (in an objective way) so that you can choose the most suitable product. If not, you can know more about this filter so that you can find the best one yourself.
Top 5 Best aquarium filter for large tanks Review 2021
#1 Fluval External Filter – [Best Rated]
Perhaps you will not feel strange to Fluval because this is a famous manufacturer providing quality aquatic products. The products of this manufacturer are of good quality and trusted by many customers. And the Fluval External Filter is one of the top-rated products when searching the aquarium water filter.
This external filter has a very powerful motor but absolutely no noise or vibration. This powerful engine is well suited to the amount of water in a large size aquarium. In particular, the flow rate has been increased by 10% to ensure all the water in the aquarium is cleaned in a short time.
This filter has three basic filtration stages: mechanical, chemical and biological filtration, which help remove debris and waste as well as provide beneficial bacteria to the living environment of the residents in the tank. It also does not cause any spillage or overflow when operating.
Unlike some other external filters, this product will surprise you because it is really easy to use and assemble. Although accompanied by a thick manual, it’s not as complicated as you think. You will be able to save time for assembling as well as maintaining it regularly.
This filter of Fluval is also very quiet and works very smoothly. You will probably be impressed with this silence compared to its large size.
However, it also has a few minus points that many customers have found. The most common is its relatively tall size, which may not fit some shallow space. And maybe it will give you a headache because the suction head is quite strong, which can affect some small fishes.
But compared to its price and overall performance, this is still a product worth considering.
#2 Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter – [Best Size]
If you are looking for canister filters for saltwater aquariums then do not miss this product from Penn Plax. This is one of the best canister filters you can find immediately on the market and it also receives many positive reviews from customers.
With this filter, you can use it with tanks up to 200 gallons in size and available in sizes to choose from for many different tank sizes. And it is great to use for large-sized aquariums.
This filter from Penn Plax has all 4 rectangular filtration media to ensure all the water in the tank is passed through here. Like other filters, it has the ability to filter out dirt, debris, waste, and odors in the tank, but the filtration stage takes place more carefully.
You can also replace filter media easily and can use sponge or sponge instead. It is also designed to optimize for regular maintenance and does not require a lot of cleaning effort. The open clip makes it easy and convenient for you to clean inside the filter.
Although the engine runs without noise, this filter is rated as having a small filter area, so the filtration time may be a bit longer. But in general, this filter is very carefully filtered, so this is not a reason to prevent you from investing in it.
#3 Hydor Professional External Canister Filter – [Best Design]
Hydor Professional External Canister Filter is a filter that can optimize the free space under the aquarium and you can install it neatly. Besides this filter also has the ability to bring the best filtration effect for your large aquarium.
It can be said that the design of this external canister filter is quite unique and professional. It brings the best experience to users with its unique design from the small details. A special ‘no bypass’ design ensures that all the water in the aquarium goes through the filter, leaving no dirty water in the tank. Moreover, it has a safety lock to keep the components inside the filter carefully fixed.
You can also install and maintain it easy with convenient and clearly divided filters. Nozzles and taps are also easily installed by means of strong couplings, and you can fix them easily to the wall of the tank. It also comes with an expandable spray bar to add a unique touch to your aquarium as well as help regulate water flow.
This product is evaluated as a miniature, high-quality ECO system. Filtering ability is also very good and thorough. All water in the tank will be passed through the filter media to remove all waste, debris, and impurities.
However, this filter does not have a self-priming mode and you need to act a bit to activate the active filter.
#4 Fluval Advanced Filtration System – [Best Quality]
This is the best quality filter on this list, it has been added many useful features so you can understand the parameters of the product and the filtering process, from which there are timely interventions as well as monitor the filtering process directly.
This smart filter from Fluval will let you know the status of the water as well as the filtering process through a clear display on the body. You will be connected to this filter to get the most needed information, which you cannot do with other filters. And you can know when you need to clean the filter thanks to notifications from this device.
You can use this filter for tanks up to 160 gallons and its engine is very powerful, confident to ensure all the water in the tank will go through the filtration stage thanks to technology. by Fluval.
Its square shape also makes it easy to store in the space below the tank, even the tightest spaces. However, you should also consider the height of the suction pipe as well as the drain valve when installing the filter.
However, this filter seems to make it a bit difficult to maintain. It does not have a large space for you to operate comfortably and you should not let water stick to the display.
You should also be careful when handling it because the outer shell is easy to scratch and it also has no self-priming mechanism, so you still need a little intervention when you start it up.
#5 Penn Plax Cascade Hang-on Aquarium Filter – [Best Budget]
If your tank is from 55 gallons to 100 gallons, this filter from Penn Plax is a wise choice. Especially it is affordable compared to a quality filter and you only need to spend more than $ 20 to own it. Also an economic choice, right?
This filter is quite neat in size and hardly affects the set up inside the aquarium and its accessories. It has a basic filter layer that can remove debris and waste from tank residents and works fairly quietly. Compared to any hang on back filter, this is one of the most silent active filters.
Especially, the biological filtering ability of this filter is quite good with a sponge to create favorable conditions for the growth of beneficial bacteria. The Bio-Falls not only creates a beautiful appearance for the tank, but it also has a steady flow, which does not affect the residents in the tank. You can also adjust the flow rate easily to suit the type of fish.
However, this filter has no self-priming mechanism, so you still need to fill it with water to start it. Although a bit inconvenient, it does not take much of your time.
What are the common types of aquarium filter for large tanks?
A large aquarium filter is not limited to just one type, it is divided into different species based on their features and design. Each has different advantages and disadvantages, so it can be difficult to choose the best one.
For a more comprehensive view of filters for large tanks, we have listed the most common types, along with some basic information so you can easily choose for yourself the best aquarium filter for large tanks.
#1 Canister filters
Canister filters are the type of filter used outside the aquarium, unlike most other filters used inside the aquarium. This makes it the largest filter as well as the most powerful motor.
This type of filter usually has more features than the best internal aquarium filter because it does not sink in the water. This also means that its service life is significantly extended compared to other types.
It usually has a separate hose for sucking water into the filter and a separate hose for draining water into the aquarium. These nozzles are usually attached to the tank by suction cups or plastic clips.
However, canister filters are usually more expensive and require more installation effort than others, but in general, they have good filtration quality and high performance.
#2 Hang-on-back filter/ Power filter
This type of filter usually has a neat design and is hung on the wall of the tank (usually hanging at the back). It is also a popular choice and many people choose for their aquarium.
This filter usually has a user-friendly design, is easy to install and does not require much effort and time for maintenance. There is a small tube that draws water into the filter and the water after filtering will be discharged immediately as a waterfall. You can also easily change the filter bags and clean the entire filter.
This filter is affordable and can be easily purchased at any aquarium store. However, it is quite fragile and has a short lifespan.
#3 Under Gravel Filters
This type of filter is popular and low cost, often doing very well the role of mechanical filtration with filter stones. It was a popular type of filter from the beginning when other filters were not developed.
Nowadays this filter is no longer the first choice but it still maintains a loyal customer base. However, this filter does not seem to work well with a biofilter.
Conclusion
With a large aquarium, choosing the right filter is not that simple, you need to know the information and research the product carefully because each fish requires a different environment.
Never be subjective when deciding to buy a product without going through thorough research. The best aquarium filter for large tanks is usually not cheap so you definitely don’t want your investment to be pointless.
Take a closer look at the information we have provided, as well as consult the list of the best aquarium filters for large tanks reviews in order to make the best decision.