In this article, we have reviewed the best canister filter for turtle tanks. If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot of the top ones.
Table of Contents
Turtles are the cutest aquatic species. Just like fish, turtles produce a lot of waste. The waste produced by turtles as well as plants builds up over time. It makes the water dirty.
This leads to lots of bacteria buildup, making the turtle tank smelly. Circulating the water helps in water flow. It prevents the growth of harmful bacteria.
A clean environment will keep turtles healthy. Manual cleaning of these habitats is time-consuming. With a proper filtration tank, the water in the tank will remain fresh. It helps clean a large amount of waste that turtles produce.
Canister filters are the most popular for turtle tanks. The canister filter is big. It frees up a lot of space.
These filters are placed under the tank. Canister filter has three or more stages of filtration. It is easy to maintain the tank.
Our Top Choice: Marineland Power Filter
The MarineLand Penguin 350 Power Filter 50 - 75 Gallon Aquarium, 350 GPH is our top choice for the best canister filter for turtle tanks.
Key Features
- Multi-stage filtration
- Rotating Bio-wheels
- Filter out waste and debris
- Upto 75 gallons
- Comes in different sizes
Best Canister Filter For Turtle Tanks
#1 Marineland Power Filter
Marineland power filter has multi-stage filtration. The filter gives turtles a healthy environment to live in. Different sizes for tanks is available.
Features and Benefits
- Rotating Bio-Wheel. The bio-wheel provides excellent wet or dry filtration.
- Multi-Stage Filtration. It has a three-stage filtration process. First is mechanical filtration, which filters out waste. The second is chemical filtration. The black carbon removes smells and harmful waste. The third is biological filtration. The bio-wheel eliminates harmful ammonia and nitrite.
- Start-up and Maintenance. The Marineland filter requires no setup virtually. Connect the parts and hang the filter at the back. It is easy to maintain. The filter cartridge has to be replaced after one month. You can clean the filter as needed.
- Size. It is available in 5 sizes. This filtration system comes with 75, 100, 150, 200, and 350 gallons per hour size.
- Compatibility. Each filter comes with one rite-size filter cartridge. Fix the cartridge as per the tank size.
Why should you buy it?
The Marineland power filter is suitable for upto 75 gallons of tanks. It has above 350 gallons per hour of filtration power. It has a very high-quality filtration process.
You might like to read: Best Exercise Wheel For Cats
#2 Penn-Plax Canister Filter
Penn-Plax canister filter is easy to install. All the necessary accessories are available to connect to the tank. Penn-Plax filters can be modified as needed.
Features and Benefits
- Flow Valves. The flow valves of the filter rotate 360 degrees. It makes it easy to move in the tightest aquarium cabinets. Flow valves can be easily removed for maintenance purposes.
- Media Basket. The extra-large media basket allows customizing media needs. It comes with five media baskets. The water gets filtered in multiple ways. The combination includes bio-floss, bio-sponges, and activated carbon.
- Push Button. The push-button primer allows for a quick and easy prime of the filter.
- Accessories. It comes with a spray bar, tubing, directional spout, and filter medium.
- Durability. The filter is very well constructed. The hard plastic outside is very durable.
- Size. The Penn-Plax filter comes in different sizes. Some are built for small tanks, and some for larger ones. All have similar features.
Why should you buy it?
Penn Plax filter is suitable for both small and large tanks. It can contain upto 200 gallons of water. It has a flow of upto 350 gallons per hour. All the valves can rotate 360 degrees.
#3 Tetra Whisper Filter
Tetra is known for producing quality, affordable filters. The tetra whisper uses special filters that don’t need priming. It is effortless to install.
Features and Benefits
- Multi-Stage Filtration. The filter directs water through multiple flows. The carbon inside removes dirt and odors. The bio-scrubber removes harmful ammonia and nitrite.
- Continuous Flow. The filter continuously moves water. The motor operates quietly. It thus prevents debris that gets built up.
- Fast Setup. The filter sets up quickly. No priming is required.
- Size. The filter fits 45-70 gallon tanks.
- Timestrip Technology. The filter comes with time strip technology. It can change from white to red when the button is switched on. Thus indicating to change the cartridge.
- Filter Cartridge Carrier. The filter comes with a filter cartridge carrier. It helps keep the hands clean. Thus, eliminating unwanted drips.
- Size. Different sizes are available that can fit upto 70-gallon tanks.
Why should you buy it?
This filter is best for turtle tanks smaller than 70 gallons. It is very affordable and doesn’t make any noise. Its advanced technology makes it user-friendly.
You might like to read: Best Substrate And Bedding For Ball Python
#4 FX4 Canister Filter
This multi-stage filter is robust and works through 700 gallons per hour. It provides turtles with three times filtration. This helps keep the tank at an optimum level.
Features and Benefits
- Multi-Stage Filter. The multi-stage filter is mighty. It pumps out 700 gallons of water per hour. FX4 helps remove waste and debris with ease.
- Microchip Technology. The smart pump microchip technology continuously monitors and optimizes pump outflow.
- Self-Start. Add water, plugin, and the filter will start its process. The water changes quickly. This eliminates the need to lift heavy buckets. It auto-evacuates trapped air every 12 hours.
- Filter-Media. The filter media includes mechanical, chemical, and biological filters. The media baskets are stackable. It can be removed and customized as per need.
- Easy To Install. The filter is very compact and easily fits under most tanks.
Why should you buy it?
FX4 series is one of the best filters for turtles. It can filter upto 250-gallon tanks. The multi-stage filter is potent. The filter keeps circulating the water at all times.
#5 EHEIM Classic Filter
EHEIM classic filter provides excellent durability for its price. The filter is straightforward to maintain.
Features and Benefits
- High-Quality Filter. The filter comes with specialized filter media along with coarse and filter pads. Water first enters through an internal coarse filter. All the waste gets removed.
- Multi-Stage Filtration. The classic EHEIM allows for a three-way filtration process. Absorptive filtration provides a balance between mechanical filtration and water circulation.
- Accessories. Accessories include a spray bar, inlet pipe, and hose.
- Compact Kit. The EHEIM kit comes with a stand and other accessories to set the filter.
- Size. The filtration comes in 3 sizes. It can filter 40, 66, and 92 gallons of water.
- Media Baskets. The filter media can easily replace the media basket. It is effortless to maintain, as well.
Why should you buy it?
EHEIM filter is suitable for tanks upto 95 gallons in volume. The flow rate is 164 gallons per hour. This canister filter is quiet and durable. It can run for years with proper maintenance and cleaning.
You might like to read: Can you flush cat litter?
#6 Polar Aurora Canister Filter
The polar filter can handle a tank of upto 200 gallons. Filter comes with four media trays. This canister filter is very convenient to use.
Features and Benefits
- Filtration Media. Filter comes with four media trays. You can customize the filtration media. It ensures turtles are living in a clean environment. It can effectively perform biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration. The filter also comes with bio-balls, activated carbon, and ceramic rings. This ensures water is cleaned at the maximum level.
- Spray Bar. It comes with an adjustable spray bar. The spray bar is helpful to adjust the output flow.
- Self-Primming Pump. The self-priming pump is easy to use. There is no need to remove water manually. The filter gets disconnected in a single valve. Thus it is easy to maintain.
- Built-in 9 Watt Light. The filter has an inbuilt 9 watt light. It is designed to control algae growth and bacteria. Thus making the water clear.
- Size. The filtration comes in four sizes. All the different versions have great flow rates. It can filter 75, 100, and 200 gallons of water.
Why should you buy it?
This canister filter is suitable for larger tanks upto 200 gallons. It is very affordable with good quality filtration. The filter can handle upto 525 gallons of water per hour. This filter comes with 9 watt light. This eliminates all harmful bacteria.
Buyer’s Guide: Best Canister Filter For Turtle Tanks
Tank Size and Flow Rate
When you buy a filter, make sure it fits your tank. The power of the tank depends on the tank size.
The process of cleaning your tank depends on its flow rate. The flow rate of a good filter is high. Turtles produce a lot of waste. For this high water flow rate is required. If you have a 50-gallon tank, you should have a filter pumping 200 Gallons per hour.
Type Of Filter System
Turtle owners must keep their tank and water clean. The more the number of turtles in your tank, the more often you need to change your tank’s water. This is due to waste accumulation. A multi-stage filter is an ideal option to consider. Choose a filter that has mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. It helps remove all the waste and debris from the water.
Maintenance
All types of filters require proper and regular maintenance. Choose a filter that is easy to maintain. The filtration with the cabinet system is very easy to maintain. You just have to pull out the filter, remove the old media, and replace the new one. The more media the filter has, the less maintenance it requires.
Durability
The durability of the filter is essential to check. It is essential to select a filter with the right construction. The type of materials used is essential for durability. Filter with a hard plastic model with metal parts is a better option.
Budget
The budget plays a vital role in the purchase decision. The price range of the canister filter varies depending on the filtration type.
Noise
The constant noise made by the turtle tank can be bothersome. It’s better to choose filters that are silent and have no noise.
Power
The filter must have a powerful motor. A powerful motor helps minimize the time required to clean water. It thus helps clean water more thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Canister Filter For Turtle Tanks
Why should you choose a canister filter for turtles?
Turtles produce a lot of waste. They require potent filters. Circulating water in the tank keeps the temperature consistent. It further prevents algae growth. If a good quality filter is not used, the water becomes unhealthy very quickly. Canister filters are recommended for turtles for efficient operation and better filtration.
Do turtles produce more waste than fish?
Turtles produce larger amounts of waste than fish. The tank gets very dirty if it is small. So it needs to be cleaned. For this, a good filter is needed as per the tank size.
How often should you clean the turtle tank filter?
Different filters come with different cleaning times. It is essential to know the timing offered by the filter manufacturer. This will help keep the filter in good condition for a long time.
How to choose a suitable canister filter for a turtle tank?
Turtles produce a lot of waste. It’s better to choose a filter that can filter triple the volume of water. If the tank is of 55-gallon capacity, choose a filter that can filter 110 gallons. Choosing multi-stage filtration is better. This medium will remove all the waste from the water.
Conclusion
It is essential to choose the right size filter for your tank along with adequate filtration capacity.
Turtles require a clean environment to live healthily. With a proper filtration system, the tank will remain clean and fresh. Powerful canister filters help filter out the waste quickly with their multi-stage filtration process.
In our opinion, MarineLand Penguin 350 Power Filter 50 - 75 Gallon Aquarium, 350 GPH is the best choice as it has a very high-quality filtration system. The Penn-Plax Cascade 1500 Aquarium Canister Filter – Provides Physical, Biological, and Chemical Filtration – 350 Gallons per Hour (GPH) is our next best choice because it’s easy to install and has customizable media trays.
Suppose you are looking for a value for money option. In that case, you can also consider the Tetra Whisper EX 30 Filter For 20 To 30 Gallon aquariums, Silent Multi-Stage Filtration (26311), Blacks & Grays, which offers excellent value and features at a very reasonable price point.