6 Best Turtle Tank Filters (to Keep the Water Fresh and Healthy)

Aquarium filter, filter cleaning. Bacteria

Table of Contents

Investing in a reputable turtle tank filter is critical to providing the finest possible care for your pet. However, many owners are unaware of an exemplary filter’s impact.

Turtles are untidy little creatures. They produce a large amount of waste and can become filthy; hence their tank’s water will quickly get contaminated. 

 

However, if you lack one of the top turtle tank filters, you will fall behind. The water will still get increasingly dirty over time. And, if left untreated, it will hurt your turtle’s health.

Summary: Best Turtle Tank Filters 

 

Tank filter Known for Brand
Zoo Med Turtle Clean Easy Cleaning Zoo Med
MarineLand Magnum Polishing Filter Robust Tank MarineLand
Fluval High-Performance Aquarium Filter Large Water Capacity Fluval
MarineLand Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter High-Quality MarineLand
EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter Easy Installation Eheim
Tetra Whisper EX Silent Small Water Capacity Tetra

 

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Turtle Tank

Tank

While tank size may appear to be a basic comparison, you must also consider the filter’s operating circumstances and strength. What we mean is as follows:

 

Suppose you have three turtles in a 60-gallon tank, and they’re all drooling all over the place. While there are several filters for turtle tanks certified for aquariums up to 60 gallons in size, not all of them will be appropriate for your circumstance.

 

Some of them have trouble fitting into their tank sizes, and the nature of your unclean tank can be hard to manage. In this case, you’ll need either a potent filter rated for 60-gallon tanks or a filter capable of handling a bigger tank, perhaps 90 gallons.

Flow rate

The volume of water that your turtle filter can process each hour is a critical specification to consider. In general, the greater this number, the better.

Reliability and maintenance

Suppose your filter fails and you do not have a backup plan. In that case, the water will get increasingly dirty while you attempt to resolve the issue. That is not healthy for your turtles’ health.

Filtration type

You’ll notice that I specify three-stage filtration with several of the turtle water filters. That refers to the three most common filtration methods (mechanical, chemical, and mechanical). You don’t need to have all three for a filter to operate, but it makes a significant impact.

 

1. Best for Easy Cleaning:  Zoo Med Turtle Clean

 

It’s simple to clean up due to its modest size. Filtration occurs outside the tank, simplifying swapping out components substantially more than conventional filters.

 

Despite the limited area available inside this device, you still receive the industry-standard three-stage filtration. 

 

This tiny container incorporates biological, mechanical, and chemical filtering!

 

Pros

  • Small footprint
  • Relatively quiet
  • The design facilitates cleaning.

 

Cons

  • Only suitable for tanks of 15 gallons or less

 

2. Best Robust Tank: MarineLand Magnum Polishing Filter

MarineLand did an excellent job with this container filter, fitting everything into a reasonably tiny package.

 

Even though the dimension is small, there are two locations within the filter where you may add your filter material. These places are easily accessible yet seal pretty effectively.

 

It has a buried motor, which preserves the design and enables you to complete the installation procedure quickly. 

 

It can filter two hundred 290 gallons per hour. Besides, you may use this turtle tank filter in aquariums up to 97 gallons in size.

Pros

  • Does a magnificent job of removing debris from the water
  • Installation/setup in a flash
  • Rate of solid filtration

Cons

  • Costly

 

3. Best for Large Water Capacity: Fluval High-Performance Aquarium Filter

The Fluval is a monstrous filter capable of handling virtually any home aquarium. However, suppose you have a big setup and want to give your turtles the most excellent possible environment. In that case, this is the filter for you. 

 

It features an incredible multi-stage filter that effectively eliminates all trash and dirt found in the water. 

 

Fluval has the same advanced microchip technology that enables the pump to optimize and increase its performance. That not only makes it more effective but also significantly more efficient.

 

Its setup is a breeze despite its power and internal complexity. Once you’ve determined the location, the installation procedure will take only a few minutes. That is because it is a self-starting filter that requires only water.

 

The Fluval features detachable filter media baskets that stack neatly on top of one another. That provides for good water filtering while allowing for easy replacement of components.

 

Pros

  • Extraordinarily effective and robust filter
  • Capable of pumping up to 925 gallons per hour
  • The microchip keeps an eye on and improves performance.

Cons

  • Quite costly

 

4. Best for High Quality:  MarineLand Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter

Marineland was developed by MarineLand, a business with an excellent reputation for producing high-quality items for aquarists.

 

It utilizes a revolving bio-wheel to filter at an incredibly high degree of quality. The overall filter can perform all three types of filtering (chemical, mechanical and biological).

 

The product delivers quite a punch for such a compact and reasonably priced gadget. It filters up to 350 gallons per hour and is suitable for aquariums up to 75 gallons in volume.

 

When we used this product up and personal, we were astounded. The quantity of power and the efficiency with which it filtered was pretty astounding for its size and price.

 

However, the cost of this turtle tank filter is truly unbeatable (for anything of quality, at least). If your budget is limited and this product is compatible with your aquarium configuration.

Pros

  • Extremely affordable
  • Rate of solid filtration
  • Keeps the water clear

 

Cons

Struggles a little with the tank size restrictions.

5. Best for Easy Installation: EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter 

This EHEIM canister filter can handle virtually any standard turtle tank with three distinct size options (66 gallons, 40 gallons, and 92 gallons). And it’s one of the most efficient filters.

 

When you first get your hands on it, the build quality immediately will impress you. It’s durable, features a high-quality sealing ring on the pump head, and includes well-made accessories.

 

When you purchase this turtle tank filter, you also receive loose filter media and filter sponges, which is convenient. Additionally, there is an intake pipe, spray bar, and hose.

 

It’s very remarkable to see this filter work its magic. Within two days, you’ll notice a noticeable improvement in the water’s quality. 

 

The installation process is relatively manageable. One of the most detailed filters to set up, 

 

Pros

  • Durable construction
  • Highly effective in a wide range of tank sizes
  • Simple installation

Cons

  • The hose is unimpressive in comparison to the rest of the equipment.

 

6. Best for Small Water Capacity: Tetra Whisper EX Silent 

The truly remarkable aspect of this filter is its effectiveness. It’s compact, reasonably priced, and makes little noise. This filter performs best in turtle tanks less than 70 gallons in size.

 

Despite its modest and compact size, the Whisper EX retains many characteristics associated with a high-quality filter. Multi-stage filtration, easy-access cartridges, and a continuous clean water supply are all included.

 

It comes with a simple timer that alerts you when your carbon filter needs to be replaced. That prevents you from purchasing filters early or keeping track of when to replace them independently.

 

Pros

  • It’s affordable
  • Extremely tranquil
  • Astonishing outflow

Cons

  • Only applicable to smaller tanks.

Conclusion

This informative post will help you choose the best turtle tank filter to serve your needs. With the various factors in mind, you’ll find one that makes your aquarium stand out.

Now you can comfortably walk into a store or order one online ASAP!

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Tonya Esperanza

Tonya Esperanza

Our water turtles are lovely creatures. Their serene manner radiates peacefulness around the house.
That's why taking care of their well being is really important to me, and I looked for the best equipment there is for their tank. Let me share with you what I found.

About Me

Our water turtles are lovely creatures. Their serene manner radiates peacefulness around the house.
That’s why taking care of their well being is really important to me, and I looked for the best equipment there is for their tank. Let me share with you what I found.

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