Aquarium Filter Calculator

Find the right flow rate (GPH) for your tank

Enter Your Details

Recommended Filtration

Enter your tank details to get filter recommendations

Tank Turnover Guidelines

Betta / Low Flow 2-3x per hour
Planted Tank 4-5x per hour
Community 4-6x per hour
Cichlids / Messy Fish 8-10x per hour
Reef / Marine 10-20x per hour

Top Rated Aquarium Filters

Best Canister

Fluval 07 Series

Quiet operation, excellent media capacity, reliable priming. Industry leading canister filters.

107 - Up to 30 gal (145 GPH) 207 - Up to 45 gal (206 GPH) 307 - Up to 70 gal (303 GPH) 407 - Up to 100 gal (383 GPH)
Best HOB

AquaClear

Customizable media, adjustable flow, legendary reliability. The HOB standard.

AquaClear 20 - 5-20 gal (100 GPH) AquaClear 50 - 20-50 gal (200 GPH) AquaClear 70 - 40-70 gal (300 GPH) AquaClear 110 - 60-110 gal (500 GPH)
Best Sponge

Aquarium Co-Op

Great for shrimp, fry, and low-bioload tanks. Excellent biological filtration.

Small - 10-20 gal Medium - 20-40 gal Large - 40-80 gal

Requires air pump (sold separately)

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Understanding Aquarium Filtration

The Three Types of Filtration

Mechanical: Removes particles and debris from the water. Filter floss, sponges, and pads trap waste before it decomposes.
Biological: The most important! Beneficial bacteria convert toxic ammonia to nitrite, then to less harmful nitrate. This happens in porous media like ceramic rings and bio-balls.
Chemical: Activated carbon removes medications, tannins, and odors. Not always necessary but useful in specific situations.

Filter Type Comparison

Type Best For Maintenance
HOB Small-medium tanks Easy
Canister Medium-large tanks Moderate
Sponge Shrimp, fry, bettas Very Easy
Internal Small tanks Easy
Sump Large/reef tanks Complex

Important: Never Replace All Filter Media at Once!

Your beneficial bacteria live in the filter media. Replacing everything at once can crash your nitrogen cycle and kill your fish. Only replace 1/3 of media at a time, waiting 2 weeks between changes. Never rinse media in tap water - use old tank water to preserve bacteria.