Can You S Use A 100 Gallin Canister Filter On A 120 Gallon Tank?

best canister filter for gallon tank header
Updated: 12/2021.

Aquarium filtration is arguably the most of import aspect of keeping healthy fish.

Two primary factors touch what I'd consider the best canister filter for the gallon capacity of my fish tank.

Namely, the fish I keep and the GPH potential of the new pump.

In this guide, I'll brand filter recommendations for both large and pocket-sized freshwater aquariums, based on flow rate data and livestock.

Water volume plays a big role in your decision.

What are the best and near reliable canister filters for a 125-gallon tank and so? What if the tank held 75 or even 55 gallons of h2o?

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Calculating The Needed Flow Rate of an Aquarium Filter
All-time Canister Filters for the Gallon Capacity of a Fish Tank
- 125-Gallon+ Tank Canister Filters
- 90 to 100-Gallon Tank Canister Filters
- 75-Gallon Tank Canister Filters
- 55-Gallon Tank Canister Filters
- thirty to 40-Gallon Tank Canister Filters
- 20-Gallon Tank Canister Filters
- 10-Gallon Tank Canister Filters

How to calculate the needed flow charge per unit of aquarium canister filters?

To determine the needed flow rate of your new aquarium filter yous'll need to take into account the type of aquarium livestock in combination with the fish tank's size.

1. Take into account that the GPH charge per unit is reduced by filter media.

GPH stands for Gallons Per Hour and signifies the hourly h2o circulation an aquarium filter tin maintain. This metric is strictly related to the maximum size of a fish tank that a canister filter can handle.

Anyway, when I first researched canister filters I noticed that most manufacturers did their ain evaluations. Each brand would determine how big an aquarium tank should be for their products to filter properly.

However, upon further reading, I found out that these estimations are based on tests where the filter has no media within and the water tank has naught but a bare bottom.

Filter media and aquarium decor well-nigh the intake of the canister filter tin can significantly reduce its GPH potential.

For this reason, I recommend that you lot ignore the "for aquariums of upwards to Ten Gallons" labels and use the provided GPH data instead.

When doing the calculation you should wait for a turnover rate of no less than v times the full water volume in your aquarium. If you're going for a densely stocked fish tank, nonetheless, you lot will likely want to increase that number to 7 or eight times per 60 minutes.

Exceptions to the dominion are large heavily planted tanks with a few schooling fish within.

The latter typically needs a total water circulation of between 4 and 5 times per hour.

Past following these guidelines you will make sure that your aquarium water remains crystal clear at all times.

I made a nautical chart that will help y'all determine the exact GPH rate needed for your aquarium (bookmark this page for farther reference if yous desire).

Take a await at the recommended filter menstruum rates according to a fish tank'southward gallon capacity:

Aquarium Size:	Recommended Filter Catamenia Rate:
125-gallon or larger tank	no less than 625 GPH
100 or ninety gallon tank	at to the lowest degree 450 to 500 GPH
75-gallon tank	a minimum of 375 GPH
65-gallon tank	at least 320 to 400 GPH
55-gallon tank	around 275 GPH
30 gallon tank	no less than 150 GPH
20-gallon tank	over 100 GPH

Keep in mind that these are the recommended minimums for each aquarium size.

I should also note that the more media a canister filter can hold – the better it is at preventing deadly ammonia spikes in the aquarium water.

two. Determine the type of your livestock and its density.

The larger the fish y'all go along, the more waste they volition produce. Waste product is dangerous because it tin apace turn into ammonia which is highly toxic to fish.

There are as well some aquatic inhabitants that are messier than others of their size.

Some relatively messy aquarium fishes are:

Big carnivorous fish such as Oscars, almost Southward American Cichlids, Arowanas, Stingrays;
Herbivorous fish such as some African Cichlids, Goldfish, and Plecos;
Freshwater eels (visit the link for some ideas on those);
Aquatic turtles.

Any setup that's decently stocked with these aquatic animals would require a water turnover of at least 6 times per 60 minutes.

What is the Best Canister Filter for the Gallon Capacity of Your Fish Tank?

Have a quick await at this nautical chart showing the canister filters that best lucifer each aquarium size:

Canister Filter Name:	For Freshwater Aquarium:	Price Subclass:
one. Penn Plax Cascade Canister Filter	30, 40, 55, and 75-gallon fish tanks	$$
2. Eheim Classic 22(20) External Filter	x, fifteen, xx, xxx breeder, 40 breeder, 50, and 55-gallon fish tanks	$$
3. SunSun HW / Polar Aurora	40, 55, and sometimes 75-gallon fish tanks	$
four. Fluval (X)07 Aquarium Canister Filter	20, 30, xl, fifty, and up to 55-gallon fish tanks with the latter existence planted	$$$
5. Fluval FX(X) Series Canister Filter	75, xc, 100, and even understocked 125-gallon fish tanks with plants	$$$$
six. Aqueon QuietFlow 400 Canister Filter	55, 75, xc and upward to 100-gallon fish tanks that are planted	$$$

Below I'll recommend a item piece of gear for every possible setup, according to my experience and observations.

For optimal recommendations, I am considering fish tank sizes, livestock, and aquascape, combined with the pros and cons of the particular canister filters.

You can also bank check my detailed reviews for each filter I'm about mention. I take personally used or know real-life examples of people who've had success with all of these products.

Take a look at the best canister filters for the gallon chapters of your fish tank:

i. Optimal Canister Filters for 125-Gallon or Larger Fish Tanks

In a 125-gallon fish tank, the filter is the most important piece of gear forth with the lighting fixtures. To keep a 125-gallon tank with fish clean you can endeavour these canister filters:

Fluval FX6 Canister Filter – Use this as a primary filtration unit. Check the FX6 on Amazon;
Penn Plax Cascade 1500 – To exist used as a secondary filtration unit of measurement. Compare the this filter's toll at Chewy and Amazon.

At that place's no easy style around this.

In my feel, to go on such a large freshwater fish tank realistically clean you lot'd need 2 separate canister filters:

The combined GPH rating of both filters should circumduct around grand GPH for a 125-gallon aquarium. For larger tanks – aim for a water apportionment of vii to eight times, because filter media and stocking will hinder the advertised flow charge per unit of your canister filters.

Anyway, my success has been with combining i quality canister filter as the main source of water circulation and a cheaper one, to make upward for the additional filtration.

Of grade, the turnover rate too depends on your livestock. If you plan to have a big, heavily planted tank with just some fundamental tetras in it a unmarried FX6 unit may suffice.

All the same, my judge is that you would like to have at least 3 medium to large-sized fish in such ane tank.

Or mayhap you'll stock it with all the cichlids you lot could detect. Or have some mean turtle(south) that volition double in size in the side by side couple of months. Or, perhaps, a lightheaded thirty″ long freshwater eel.

…All of these produce copious amounts of waste and need killer filtration to thrive.

On my 125-gallon tank that'due south housing my huge Oscars, I run a Fluval FX6 + a Penn Plax Pour 1500 Canister Filter (linked to both in the bullet section above).

The FX6 has 560 GPH and the Penn Plax has 350 while both are bulky and provide enough bed for beneficial nitrifying leaner.

The combined GPH of these two is a little over 900, which circulates the whole water book of my aquarium more than vii times per hour.

My h2o is as transparent every bit air and my ammonia and nitrite readings are solid zeroes.

If you're lower on the budget y'all can supersede the Cascade 1500 with, the way cheaper, SunSun which is half the price merely still provides most as stiff filtration.

The SunSun HW-304B / Polar Aurora 525 is listed every bit a canister filter capable of 525 GPH. Yet, information technology is non clear if that'due south the pump output or the h2o circulation potential of the whole filter.

In my observations, the real number leans towards 300 GPH without any media.

Anyway, in the long run, the Pour 1500 will be the near durable of the two, though it (also) has the advent of a cheaper filter at first sight.

In the particular example where y'all're very depression on budget, I'd propose getting 3x the SunSun.

Mind that you get what you pay for.

They can get strong, but may occasionally intermission and should not be your permanent solution.

Investing in a high-end filter will save you tons of feet in the long run.

It's how you should view it – every bit an investment.

It's the reason why I got the FX6 and, peradventure, so should yous WHEN you tin can afford it.

If y'all have the pocket for information technology, this canister filter is a no-brainer. The motor of the Fluval is among the best on the market place. It is as well quite long-lasting and the adventure of breaking is rather insignificant.

Though a sole unit like the FX6 won't be enough for a 125-gallon fish tank with my setup, information technology however handles a neat portion of the filtration for me.

In my opinion, the FX6 is a must for an aquarium of this size, only you tin can get flexible with your second unit of measurement.

If you want to become total Fluval you can use their 407 Series (yous can expect that ane up on Amazon) every bit your secondary filtration and do good from its apportionment potential of 245 U.s. gallons per hour.

If y'all desire to arroyo the thing in a frugal way you can buy a used 407 on Amazon and save at least half of the price. If you cull to walk that path, know that Amazon has a solid protection policy to ensure you lot get quality 2nd-hand equipment.

For the financially independent who own a big 125+ gallon fish tank: Get this (super underground link to this mysterious detail on Amazon).

The Eheim 2262 is hands downward the all-time aquarium filter out there.

It is German-quality gear that may concluding y'all for x years or more than.

In my opinion, none of the same canister filters beats this one.

It moves tons of h2o but also has an enormous filter media chapters of 4.five gallons, which, by the way, you tin't find elsewhere. With so much filter media the stability of the Nitrogen cycle in your large aquarium is more than or less guaranteed.

If you have a tank that'southward over 150 gallons and you lot want to provide its fish with the all-time possible filtration, the Eheim 2262 is for you.

For an aquarium that'southward 200+ gallons, you may need a 2nd unit to aid the Eheim, with Fluval's FX6 being a sound choice for that.

When it comes to filtering monster-sized fish tanks this Eheim canister filter stands undisputed, in my opinion.

2. Optimal Canister Filters for ninety and 100-Gallon Fish Tanks

The best options for a canister filter on a 90 to 100-gallon tank with big fish probable are:

Fluval FX6 Canister Filter – If you only have space for a single aquarium filter. Cheque this canister filter on Amazon past clicking here;
SunSun / Polar Aurora 525 GPH – Get 2 of these filters as a upkeep alternative. Amazon.com has the Polar Aurora version and and then does Chewy.

I'thousand guessing that if you programme to have a 90 to 100-gallon freshwater fish tank you'll absolutely stock it with medium to large-sized fish. Your livestock volition define what canister filter yous should install, really.

If it's that rare case where you simply desire a lightly-to-not planted 90-gallon aquarium with hundreds of small community fish in it, and then, surely, a single Pour 1500 will practise the job. It's a popular canister filter, that provides a strong catamenia rate of 350 GPH.

This volition rotate the water in your 90-gallon community tank nigh four times per hour, which should exist enough if information technology only houses small schooling fish such every bit neon tetras and zebra danios. The filter pad trays of the Cascade 1500 are not the largest out there, merely they will be more than plenty for such a setup.

However, this is often not the example.

For a 90-gallon fish tank that'south heavily stocked with cichlids or some other medium to large fish that produce a lot of organic waste material, you'd need powerful filtration. The total volume of aquarium h2o should be circulated at least 6 times per hour, which means that you'd likely need a canister filter that has a flow rate of most 540 GPH.

Enter:

Fluval FX6 (with a link to a higher place, to cheque this exact model on Amazon).

Really an astonishing canister filter with monstrous h2o turnover capacity.

It will circulate the water in your tank five to six times, depending on the filter media. Fluval's FX6 external filter has an estimated GPH charge per unit of 563 for total aquarium apportionment, and a pump that has an output of 925 GPH (non the same affair).

My experience with the Fluval canister filters has been that they are reliable and piece of work as described.

They're very placidity, withal super powerful. I don't really meet any other filter suitable for a setup like this.

I don't have xc-gallon, nor 100-gallon tanks at the moment, simply, as I mentioned before, I run an FX6 on my predatory 125 gals in combination with some other filter.

Anyhow, I'chiliad sure you did notice the cost of the filter I'one thousand recommending.

I can mumble all day how the numbers are justified, simply I won't diameter you with that.

I reviewed the FX6 in my other article on the top canister filters and you lot can check that one out if you'd like (I left a link to it upwardly in this post).

Essentially you become what you pay for, and this investment will probably last you no less than 5 years from my feel.

This filter tin handle the waste of pretty much anyone – aquatic turtles, large fish, or both.

What I as well like about information technology is that it has enormous space for filter media.

The Fluval FX6 is actually i of the all-time and most reliable canister filters for larger aquariums on the market.

In fact, it's so powerful that occasionally information technology may suck up a babe fish or five. If you take that make sure you secure the intake pipage with a barrier of some sort. Or merely movement them to a breeding tank.

Low-price alternative: Spending $300+ on an aquarium filter is non something all of us tin afford, though it'southward expected when you get for large aquariums and expensive fish in them. If your budget is tight, in that location'southward an selection for you:

Chinese equipment.

I'm aware of how that sounds, but it's not as bad as you may think.

The SunSun HW-304B or its mirror – the Polar Aurora (link to Amazon in a higher place, past the way) – claim to turn over 500 gallons of water per hour. In my experience, this is non the truth, only they all the same realistically achieve effectually 300 GPH.

With two of these, the total menstruum charge per unit of your xc-gallon tank will be pushing 600 GPH, which is 6.half dozen times of hourly water turnover.

But that'due south non everything: look at its toll.

That'southward right, you can get two of these canister filters for less than the coin you lot'd pay for a single FX6.

I can't assistance but agree that for a tighter upkeep, the SunSun aquarium filters are admittedly killing the competition.

They practice motility effectually plenty of water and have iv trays for filtration media, and so there's that.

2 units will provide crystal clear water in a well-stocked ninety-gallon aquarium. The SunSun HW-304B / Polar Aurora 525 are the go-to choices for many frugal aquarists with larger fish tanks.

Anyway, I think information technology'southward of import to mention that these filters won't final you lot 5 years, and if they do, there may be some repairs along the way.

Besides, they come with a built-in UV sterilizer.

Author'due south note: UV sterilizers are devices that articulate micro-algae spores and some parasites from the water. Unremarkably, you'd want to get one if you're having a green tint to your tank's water.

Anyhow, I don't recommend turning on the congenital-in UV sterilizer of the Polar Aurora for more than than a couple of hours on the weekend. The UV seedling is strong enough to eat through the plastic if it stays on for longer than that.

You should get a separate UV aquarium sterilizer if you demand one.

Anyhow, the SunSun HW-304B / Polar Aurora canister filters are a pretty skillful choice for a fish tank of this size if yous don't have more money to spend on equipment. Yet, If yous practise, I would e'er recommend going for the rock-solid Fluval FX6.

A SunSun HW-304B / Polar Aurora will concluding you for at to the lowest degree a year and a half with proper maintenance.

My honest recommendation here is to let your budget decide.

3. Optimal Canister Filters for 75-Gallon Fish Tanks

You can try these canister filters to best maintain a 75-gallon freshwater aquarium:

Penn Plax Cascade 1500 Canister Filter – For 75-gallon tanks with less than 80% bioload. See whether Chewy or Amazon accept the best offer for this model;
Aqueon QuietFlow 400 – For a fully stocked aquarium. Check this unit out on Amazon;
Fluval FX4 High Functioning Aquarium Canister Filter – For a tank with heavy bioload. Yous tin can see the Fluval FX4 here.

According to my experience, to filter 75 gallons of water in a fish tank you'd need something that can turn the water at least 5 times per hr. If the aquarium you have is predatory and contains large carnivorous fish or turtles, and therefore messy, make that 6 to seven times.

The Cascade 1500 would be perfect for most setups here (click the upper link to view the exact model on Chewy or Amazon). Information technology is rated at 350 GPH which tin can be plenty for a decent water circulation of 4.six times per hour.

I recommend this filter if y'all are not stocking your freshwater 75-gallon fish tank to the fullest and besides keep some aquarium plants inside.

I employ the Cascade 1500 on my heavily planted 75-gallon aquarium that harbors small customs fish.

I would say it's moderately stocked, and I am positive it is close to eighty% bioload. My readings of ammonia and nitrite are well shut to 0, with ammonia being constantly there and nitrites ranging between 0 and 0.2 ppm.

When dealing with a planted tank, still, you lot'd want enough menses to movement around carbon dioxide, without tearing your plants apart. It'due south why I chose the 1500 series, and I am (nonetheless) pretty happy with my selection.

Anyway, with larger fish such as Oscars, cichlids or freshwater eels things tin go muddied.

Literally.

I've found that to really filter the water here, you'd need a stronger unit.

My recommendation for a decently stocked 75-gallon tank would exist the Aqueon QuietFlow 400.

Information technology is rated at a turnover of 400 gallons per hour, and I accept to say, that may very well be the existent number.

Past the manner, I just have one tank with Oscars and nevertheless, despite the messy creatures in information technology, I accomplish crystal clear water.

And let me tell y'all, with an Oscar that's ten inches long the filter you have is probably the most important equipment in your aquarium organization at that point.

If yous risk information technology with a smaller and weaker aquarium filter you may end up killing your monster fish, by having too much ammonia in the h2o.

Anyhow, for a 75-gallon tank with a small turtle, or i that is FULLY stocked with cichlids I'd strongly recommend scaling your new canister filter up a lilliputian.

Price included, only not by much – around $lx when none of the items are on sale.

If that seems similar a lot, let me tell yous that these $lx can be the divergence between wasting $$$ at having to buy a new filter soon afterward, and a strong, year-long filtration.

That being said, an appropriate choice for a messy 75-gallon tank would be the Fluval FX4 aquarium canister filter.

Aquatic turtles are as dirty every bit it gets, and if yous've always owned one you'd know that.

The FX4 model of Fluval's canister filters is classified as a proficient option for up to 250-gallon fish tanks, merely this is not your concern.

What we're looking at hither is the GPH flow rate, which is 450, as advertised. This is probable enough to handle a 75-gallon tank with aquatic turtles as a turtle habitat needs a solid canister filter in place.

The Fluval FX4 too has multiple filter media trays, for y'all to stock with whatever pads y'all desire.

This will suffice for even the messiest turtle and you won't end up fierce your tank downwardly, because of issues with stagnant water.

four. Optimal Canister Filters for 55-Gallon Fish Tanks

The best canister filters for l and 55-gallon freshwater fish tanks likely are:

Polar Aurora Canister Filter – A budget aquarium filter. You can find it at Amazon or at Chewy;
Penn Plax Pour 1500 – For heavily-stocked tanks. You can find this canister filter at both Chewy.com and Amazon.com;
Fluval 407 External Canister Filter – For an understocked 55-gallon tank. Click here to see the Fluval 407 at Amazon.

For freshwater aquariums of this size, I've estimated that yous'll probable need a canister filter that spins between 240 and 330 GPH, depending on the bioload in the fish tank.

Bigger fish tend to be messier and if I was planning to continue such I'd want to be prepared.

I can recommend that y'all go afterwards either the SunSun HW-304B / Polar Aurora or the Pour 1500 canister filter. They all provide a flow rate of over 300 GPH which should be enough to handle the water apportionment in a 55-gallon fish tank perfectly.

"What's the difference betwixt them?" – you may ask.

When I'm getting a SunSun I know that information technology volition come at a lower cost and that I will get actually powerful aquarium filtration for my bucks.

The Pour 1500 canister filter is a little chip pricier, only it'due south manufactured in the US and will run for iii or more years upon good maintenance. It is also stronger on the flow rate than the SunSun with 350 GPH compared to effectually 300 for the latter.

Notation that the SunSun claims to provide a flow rate of 525 GPH but I've found that to not be truthful. The realistic water turnover would be around 300 GPH with a margin of +\- 20.

Anyway, if y'all'd want to stock your 55-gallon aquarium heavily, the selection really depends on your upkeep.

Obviously, if you lot actually can't afford to spend the extra $ and then go for the SunSun. By the time a alter is needed (yet, ane to ii years) you'd probably have plenty money to go something durable.

However, if you have the upkeep for it – you should absolutely go for the Pour 1500, as information technology is way worth information technology in the long run.

It's simple – permit your pocket decide.

I should probably mention that you shouldn't experience bad if you go with the Chinese-manufactured SunSun or Polar Aurora.

These canister filters take tons of positive reviews, and that's non merely on Amazon but only about any online aquarium community ever.

Information technology's an awesome purchase if you lot're tight on budget and MANY fish keepers will back me up hither. These filters also have a very powerful turnover potential.

Anyhow, in example you plan to keep something very messy such as larger pleco fish, Oscars, a community of cichlids, or some freshwater eels I recommend stepping upward your game, for obvious reasons.

When keeping medium-sized fish or turtles in your 55-gallon tank you should aim for ~350 gallons per hr of water turnover.

I used to run such a fish tank (I expanded it) and I had a Cascade 1500 doing the filtration. This canister filter was acme-notch and kept my tank's ammonia where it belongs – at 0.

Basically, I concluded up with mine because with these types of fish in my aquarium I wasn't certain if I could compromise with the filtration.

But what canister filter would work all-time in a heavily planted 55-gallon tank with just a few schooling fish in information technology?

In my stance, the Fluval 407 would be a suitable choice for this setup because information technology provides a flow rate of approximately 250 GPH.

With information technology, the effective water circulation of the aquarium sits at around 4.v times, which is plenty to move around the CO2 for your aquatic plants. This GPH rate will as well have a smaller gamble of sucking up the tinier fish or their fry.

The canister filter is a flake pricey itself but I am merely trying to recommend units that do the best piece of work for their toll here.

And so the Fluval 407 would too brand sense for a 55-gallon freshwater planted tank with A LOT of smaller schooling fish.

You lot can read my reviews nigh all of the units I mention in my article on the top-rated canister filters that I linked to, up in this article.

v. Optimal Canister Filters for thirty to 40-Gallon Fish Tanks

For 30 and 40-gallon freshwater fish tanks, a sound selection of an aquarium canister filter would be the Penn Plax Cascade 700 Series. The Cascade 700 is rated for an aquarium of upwards to 65 gallons and has a GPH of 185. This means that it will plow the h2o of your 30-gallon fish tank around 6 times per hour and over 4 times for a xl-gallon i.

You can bank check for the Pour 700 Canister filter over at Chewy or Amazon and find the best current deal.

Anyway, I consider the Cascade 700 strong enough to handle the filtration of a fully stocked xxx-gallon aquarium.

However, if you lot're non pushing it with the bioload, a simple Cascade 500 would do the chore.

The Penn Plax Cascade 500 has a GPH of 115, which will plow the water nearly 4 times per hour.

I ain 2 of the higher-rated Cascade series and all I can say is that these canister filters are pretty much a golden mine.

In fact, from what I've seen, they're the most common canister filter of choice, and I consider that a result of reason.

As well, the toll is more than affordable, as far every bit these quality filters go.

Anyway, if you'd like to benefit from the additional bells and whistles that Fluval offers over the Penn Plax, y'all can for the Fluval 207 Series.

The Fluval 207 will provide your 30-gallon fish tank with pretty much the same GPH charge per unit, but has its ain advantages. You can cheque my thoughts about this unit of measurement in my review mail most canister filters, which I linked to earlier in this article.

Moving on, my experience has been that the Fluval 407 would be able to handle a xl-gallon tank that's decently stocked with fish.

The Fluval 407 Performance Canister Filter has a solid flow charge per unit of 245 GPH, which is likely enough to handle a very overstocked xl-gallon Breeder tank.

Aquariums of this size are often heavily planted and business firm plenty of community freshwater fish.

Trust me you'll terminate up with an overstocked customs tank one twenty-four hour period. Especially, if you're into super colorful fish considering there are many of those.

Anyhow, with the Fluval 407 Canister Filter and the proper filtration media, y'all can keep whatever you want in your 40-gallon.

six. Optimal Canister Filters for twenty-Gallon Fish Tanks

Here'southward what canister filter you tin can endeavor when it comes to 20-gallon freshwater aquariums:

For filtering 20 gallons of aquarium h2o I'd go with either an Eheim 2215 Canister Filter or a Fluval 107. With these units, I'd get a water turnover of near five times per hour for my fish tank. This is more than plenty to go along my smaller aquariums debris-complimentary.

The Eheim 2215 tin be found on both Chewy.com and Amazon.com and you can choose the best offering from the ii.

Eheim is a big brand in the fish-keeping gear industry for a reason. From what I've seen (and owned) it is not uncommon that a filter of theirs would run for vii+ years.

Another quality of Eheim'south canister filters that I like is how much media they can hold.

They have enough of room to house beneficial leaner which is essential for a stable biofilter.

This makes Eheim platonic for smaller fish tanks – they don't have a lot of flow to disturb the small swimmers while keeping ammonia and nitrite spikes at bay, thank you to their large filter media trays.

In smaller tanks of ten to 20 gallons this is very important, particularly when you're calculation new fish.

Add besides many new fish at once and the organic waste material produced will surely overwhelm the ammonia-converting leaner.

From in that location the fish tank can get ammonia poisoning which is known to be quite mortiferous to aquarium fish. If not that you will become a nitrite spike, which tin also exist lethal, especially to freshwater species of fish.

Because of this and my bitter experience every bit a young fishkeeper, I recommend a filter that's really rated for up to xl US gallons.

Writer's notation: You can also add beneficial bacteria supplements to your aquarium when adding new fish. This fashion y'all're "seeding" the tank and making sure the bacterial colonies establish faster.

Anyway, both the Fluval 107 and the Eheim 2215 can maintain a like flow rate of nigh 95 GPH. The guys from Fluval are rather transparent almost the data, but Eheim doesn't really disclose the number.

What I did to summate Eheim's GPH rates was to compare their pump output (which they publicly disclose) to other filters with like pumps, structure, and volume of the media trays.

Anyway, for 20-gallon aquariums that are heavy on livestock, the water turnover volition exist significantly slowed down. Add the filtration media to that and the flow can be reduced by a 3rd or more.

If you'd similar to overstock your 20-gallon fish tank, I'd recommend going for Fluval's 207 Series Canister Filter.

The 207 has an hourly turnover rate of about 120 gallons, which will keep your heavily stocked 20-gallon tank in check by circulating its aquarium h2o book 6 times each hour.

What I relish the nigh well-nigh Fluval'south canister filters is that, bated from their consistent flow charge per unit, they as well come up with a plethora of added bells and whistles and are actually like shooting fish in a barrel to maintain and operate.

Annotation that for a xx-gallon aquarium that'due south long, I recommend getting a spray bar for the return outlet of your canister filter of choice.

Equally these water tanks are notably shorter in peak your fish will take less space to swim up and down.

Too, if yous're planning to keep long-finned fish such equally black brim tetras, betta fish, pygmy goldfish, etc. you should definitely get a spray bar for the filter's outlet.

In my experience, a spray bar volition reduce the pressure nether which the water is being returned to the aquarium.

That way the incoming water flow won't disturb the swimming of long-finned aquarium fish.

If yous only continue community fish that like to nuance back and forth such equally Danios, a spray bar would not be needed equally they will bask the stream.

vii. Optimal Canister Filters for 10-Gallon Fish Tanks

In my personal experience, the best canister filter for a x-gallon fish tank is the Eheim 2211 Archetype Filter. It will plough ten gallons of water about 5 times per hour. This menses charge per unit will keep the pocket-size fish tank free of debris and other free-floating particles.

I have estimated that the Eheim 2211 has a flow rate of well-nigh 45 GPH, which is not to be dislocated with its pump output GPH.

I did this calculation myself because Eheim only disclosed the pump output rates of their canister filters.

Anyway, with lightly stocked x-gallon aquariums, a canister filter is not necessary. Your aquarium fish will likely do but fine with a sponge or HOB filter (link to see an excellent 1 on Chewy).

The pros of a canister filter for such a small fish tank are that it will provide awesome filtration while being visually hidden and especially serenity.

I would say that a good reason to go for a canister filter here would be if the aquarium sits in your or your children's bedroom.

It'south important to call up that a minor aquarium will get dirtier manner faster, because of the confined space. Every bit unsafe ammonia can build up pretty chop-chop in such a modest volume of h2o, proper filtration is of utmost importance.

In my observations, most smaller fish tanks stop upward overstocked.

For this reason, you should, equally with all aquarium filters, aim for a canister one that's rated for a larger aquarium, hence my recommendation for the Eheim 2211.

That being said, for a heavily overstocked 10-gallon fish tank that houses a lot of "dirtier" fish such as some small plecos or pygmy goldfish, the proper canister filter would exist:

The Eheim 2213.

Y'all can hands gild this canister filter online at either Chewy.com or over at Amazon.

It'due south what I tin certainly recommend in this state of affairs.

This filter is rated for upward to 66 US gallons (visit the link above to check the unit on Chewy). This rating is based on an empty unit with no filter pads, running on an aquarium with goose egg just water in it.

Filter media, how oft yous clean the canister, and the aquarium decor all impede the flow rate of a filter.

Withal, the Eheim canister filters are, in my observations, admittedly perfect for fish tanks with a book of ten to xv gallons.

The units run quietly, do not blow your smaller aquarium fish and plants around, and provide outstanding filtration.

Anyway, here are some pieces of communication on these filters, that I must mention:

Don't use the fine water-polishing pad that comes with the EHEIM filter. It volition surely make your water crystal clear in less than a solar day, but y'all'd accept to clean it 2 times a week and, trust me, that's a LOT of piece of work.

I would just double the coarse filter media instead.

Some other affair that I should mention hither is the instructions for setting an Eheim filter upwards and priming it. As harsh as it might audio, the instructions are complete garbage. Worry non though.

Enter: the Internet.

There are hundreds of people who have already installed and primed that filter and they likewise know how to best operate it and set it up.

You can hands find a video of 1 such person who shows you how to starting time and prime the unit.

Finally, I want to mention something near the INCOMING water flow. In a smaller fish tank, the fish can be more sensitive to the current. To avoid issues you take 2 actually elementary solutions:

Drill small holes in the output pipe to spread the stream of returning water. Making 3-4 holes will be more than than enough;
Adjust the return pipe to point towards the back glass of your tank. This volition soften the return menses.

Anyhow, these are the all-time possible canister filters for all aquarium tank volumes.

Permit me know in the comment section what you ended up with, or simply enquire a question.