5 Best Filters For Goldfish Tanks Compared & Reviewed 2024

Famous for being absolutely flithy, getting the best filter for your golfish is essential so your water doesn’t become polluted and harm your fish.

Indeed, goldfish are known for being relatively easy to take care of, but the amount of waste produced requires a top filter.

In this article, I’ll guide you through how to choose your goldfish filter, as well as review the top options on the market at the moment so that you can choose the best goldfish filter for your needs.

TLDR – Best Pick For Goldfish Tank Filter

If your aquarium is 100 gallons and up, then the Fluval FX6 High Performance Aquarium Canister Filter is your best option.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For smaller aquariums, 55 gallons and under, the Seachem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter is the best filter for goldfish.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Choosing Your Goldfish Filter

Let’s run through what you should consider when choosing the best filter for your goldfish tank.

Biomedia Capacity

Goldfish are known to produce a ton of waste. As this waste builds up, it breaks down into ammonia, which is highly toxic. Luckily, beneficial bacteria can eliminate that since they can continuously break down ammonia into less toxic forms until they’re finally converted to safe compounds.

But what does this have to do with the biomedia capacity of the filter? Well, for the beneficial bacteria to have the most efficiency, they need a surface that they can attach to, preferably one with good water flow. Biomedia is a particular media for the filter that provides that surface, made of a porous material so that water could flow through.

When choosing a filter, it needs to have enough biomedia to hold enough of this bacteria. Goldfish, in particular, need filters with a lot of biomedia capacity.

What Is GPH and Why Is It Important?

GPH stands for gallon per hour. It refers to the maximum number of gallons of water that can run through the filter in one hour. The GPH rate of your filter is important as it maintains a healthy water flow that keeps a clean, chemical-free environment for your goldfish.

It’s generally recommended to use a filter with at least four times the capacity of the aquarium. For example, a 20-gallon aquarium would need a filter with a GPH of at least 120.

Best Filters for Goldfish Reviewed

1. Seachem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter (Top Pick)

• GPH: 350 gallons per hour
• Powerful hang-on-the-back
• Internal motor
• No priming needed
• Regulated oxygenation levels
• Large-capacity filter basket

I personally use this filter and can assure you, it’s highly customizable and makes maintenance a breeze. It features a self-cleaning, corrosion-resistant impeller suitable for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums. The self-priming pump has an adjustable flow using the dial on the front, which you can also use for easy intake flow regulation.

On another note, an adjustable leveling device on the base of the filter lets you provide a suitable environment for your fish by regulating water movement and oxygenation.

Usually, when water flow is stopped, most filters face a certain problem where detritus falls through back into the filter. This filter fixed this problem by designing the basket with raised slots that catch the detritus.

Still, over time, filtration media is prone to become clogged, eventually preventing water from passing through. When this happens in the Tidal 75, water is redirected around the filter and back into the aquarium. Then, this water pushes up a maintenance monitor on the top of the filter, which lets the aquarium owner know that it’s time to clean out the filter media.

Its bottom-to-top flow, through which water is pumped through the bottom of the basket and pushed out the top, ensures that water encounters all filter media. This type of flow differentiates this powerful filter from other hang-on-back filters with a back-to-front flow. When using it, rest assured that water cannot go around or over filter media.

With a rate of up to 75 gallons, it offers an innovative design, with ventilation slots in the filter lid and aeration grooves in the outflow that maximize gas exchange during filtration, ensuring that fully oxygenated water is returned to the tank. 

The high-capacity filter basket allows for your choice of filtration media in customizable configurations and is also fully removable and snaps into the filter’s lid.

Plus, it’s incredibly quiet as it has an insulated, silent pump. It also helps that it has an internal motor. That way, any sound that the motor makes is absorbed by the water and the glass before reaching your ear. I highly recommend this one!

Pros:

• No priming needed
• Internal motor
• Self-cleaning impeller
• Surface skimmer cleans water below the surface
• A heater can be attached
• Suitable for all types of filter media
• Good water flow
• Quiet operation

Cons:

• Some bypass issues could occur with a full media basket and maximum flow

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Penn-Plax Aquarium Canister Filter

• GPH: 315 gallons per hour
• 360-degree rotating valve taps
• Push-button self-primer
• Tip-proof rubber base
• Four media baskets

The Penn-Plax Aquarium Canister Filter is recommended for aquariums up to 150 gallons. Not just that, but canister maintenance is easy thanks to two 360-degree rotating valve taps that can be easily removed while your hoses, intake, and output remain in the aquarium. Push-button self-primer provides quick and easy filter priming.

The filter is equipped with four large media baskets that allow a wide array of aquarium filtration needs suitable for all aquarists while also having more extended periods between replacement.

As for setup, it’s quick and straightforward thanks to flow rate control cut-off valves, swimming pool style hose clamps, and push-button self-primer for quick and easy filter priming.

Lastly, the coarse sponge, which is included for free with each canister filter, provides a large surface for promoting beneficial bacteria growth.

Pros:

• Simple, easy setup
• Large filter trays
• Ultra-quiet operation
• Durable and powerful
• Offers 3 stage filtration

Cons:

• Filter trays don’t always fit properly
• Water can sometimes bypass the media

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Fluval FX6 High Performance Aquarium Canister Filter

• GPH: 925 gallons per hour
• Smart Pump technology
• Auto-evacuation of trapped air
• Anti-clog telescopic strainer
• Rubber feet for quiet operation

The Fluval FX6 is designed for VERY large aquariums (100 gallons and up) with a recommendation for up to 400 gallons. Suitable for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums, it includes all types of media filters – chemical, biological and mechanical. The media baskets are removable, stackable, and hold 1.5 gallons of media while preventing water bypass.

Thanks to Smart Pump Technology, setup and water changes couldn’t be easier. It’s self-starting, so all you have to do is add water, plug in, and Smart Pump will do the work. Aqua-stop valves are positioned at a 45-degree angle for easy installation and rotation, and they also have a click-fit attachment system that prevents leaking.

When changing water, you’ll no longer have to lift heavy buckets. All you’ll need to do is attach the hose to the output (kit is sold separately). Purge valves with a drain hose also allow you to remove the water directly from the canister.

For maximum efficiency, trapped air is auto-evacuated every 12 hours, while the anti-clog telescopic strainer provides continued water flow. 

Despite its large capacity, the FX6 is surprisingly quiet due to its rubber feet that reduce vibration and make for a quiet operation.

Pros:

• Easily fits under most aquariums with a 21″ tall design
• Provides filtration for aquariums up to 400 gallons
• Customizable media filtration baskets 
• Adjustable multi-directional output nozzles for customized water flow
• For use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums
• Self-priming

Cons:

• Lid removal has some issues
• Foam in filter baskets needs to be frequently replaced
• Relatively expensive

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. AquaClear 70 Fish Tank Filter

• GPH: 300 gallons per hour
• Decent biomedia capacity
• Simple but effective design
• Large filtration volume
• Energy-efficient pumps

Simplicity truly is key when it comes to the AquaClear 70. Ideal for 40-70 gallon tanks, it has a large, easily-accessible filter container that allows you to customize your own filter media, providing an adequate media capacity.

Meanwhile, the patented filtration system cycles the water back through the filtration media, increasing contact time and allowing you to adjust the water flow according to your system’s needs.

When I first started using the AquaClear 70, I was impressed by its simple yet effective bottom-up filtration design. It ensures that water passes through all the filter media, while the media basket maximizes filtration efficiency and prevents water from bypassing the filter media.

Its quiet operation and incredible efficiency are also worth admiration, with a filtration volume up to 7 times larger than comparable filters. You’ll also get to save on operation costs, thanks to the energy-efficient pumps. It’s a highly recommended pick!

Pros:

• Good bio media capacity
• Adjustable water flow
• Quiet operation
• Variety of filter media options
• Quick and easy installation
• Large filtration volume

Cons:

• The lid could sometimes shake against the top of the filter
• Propeller box needs to be cleaned out regularly 

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. Fluval C Power Filter

• GPH: 264 gallons per hour
• Multi-stage filtration
• Cleaning indicator
• Small footprint

The Fluval C Power Filter clip-on power filter has a rate of up to 70 gallons, but the recommended size is 40-gallon aquariums. Power filters are usually designed for smaller filters, so the fact that it has an output of 264 gallons per hour is quite impressive. 

Its relatively small footprint, measuring at 9″ in length, 6.5″ in width, and 8.5″ in height, makes it easy to attach to your tank without any problems in available space.

Now for the technicalities, the filter features innovative five-stage filtration – two mechanical, two biological, and one chemical for crystal clear water. 

The first two mechanical stages include a dual layer of foam and polyester with a large surface area, easily removed for quick cleaning. That layer works at trapping both large particles and fine debris.

The third stage is the chemical one, with an activated carbon filter containing premium, research-grade carbon that provides a good surface area for absorbing undesirable impurities, odor, and discoloration.

If carbon isn’t your chemical media of choice, the chemical basket’s versatile design enables you to replace the carbon sachet (which comes with the filter) with your chemical media of choice.

Stages four and five are biological filtration. At the top of the trickle chamber covers, the bio-screen is placed. It works by removing any leftover debris from the water before it drips into the biological chambers.

Finally, when water reaches the biological trickle chambers with C-nodes, it passes through a complex pore system with a large number of beneficial bacteria that remove ammonia and toxins from the water.

You don’t have to worry about when to clean your filter since there’s an indicator that pops up and tells you when cleaning is due. It also shows when the dual foam and polyester layers in the mechanical stages need cleaning or replacing.

In addition, the quick-release media cartridges help you easily remove each type of media individually when it comes time to clean or replace them.

One of the downsides to this filter is that the dual-sided foam and polyester pad often need to be replaced, mainly because it’s so good at trapping particles and debris.

Pros:

• 5-stage filtration
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Great water flow
• Easy-to-fit custom filter media

Cons:

• Dual-sided foam pads need replacing every few months
• Impeller is a bit tough to clean

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Which Filter Is Best For Your Goldfish?

That’s a difficult question to answer. In the end, it comes down to two choices, depending on the size of your aquarium.

If your aquarium is 100 gallons and up, then the Fluval FX6 High Performance Aquarium Canister Filter is your best option. With an astonishing flow rate of 925 GPH, it’s more than sure to suffice. The customizable features make its use easy and hassle-free.

For smaller aquariums, precisely 55 gallons and under, the Seachem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter is best. It features an internal motor that eliminates both noise and the need for the filter to be primed. All in all, it’s a powerful filter with good water flow that ensures you get excellent filtration.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API