Source: Pixabay
Keeping an aquarium is one thing, maintaining it is another and what many newbies never realize is the time and energy that takes, not forgetting the extra cost. It may not run into thousands of dollars, but you will have to fork out a little in the long run.
There are many designs and brands of fish tank filters in the market, each promising to solve all your problems. Sifting through all of this to find what fits your budget can be a lot of problems. We are going to look at some of the cheapest aquarium filters in the market, their best features, their drawbacks, and how they function.
Source: Amazon
The Polar Aurora External Aquarium Canister has a capacity of up to 75 gallons of water, which is pretty impressive. This means it can handle up to three times that amount without straining, making it one of the best budget filter options for fish tanks.
It has an inbuilt Watt Light that controls the growth of bacteria, algae, and other microbes, keeping the water clean without causing any harm to the fishes in the tank. It comes with three filter media trays that host all three types of filtration processes, which is a very convenient option to have as it increases efficiency. It is also a self-priming media filter which eliminates all the need for manual pumping of the water.
Flexible and versatile
Great quality and design
Provides all three filtration processes
Very affordable
Poorly written instructions
Some parts are made with low-quality materials
Source: Amazon
Among the many filter canisters that exist in the market, not many that are considered budget ones can measure up to what the Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter for Aquariums can do. It is designed for efficiency and functionality, coming in with a three stage filtration system with media filter layers that ensure the water is kept clean of all contamination in the water.
Setting the canister up is also quick work with very clear manual instructions that anyone can handle without any outside help. The canister also comes in three varying sizes which can fit small to large tanks, depending on your needs. The best part? The company behind it provides all the support you may need in terms of accessories which may help improve how good the filter works.
Great design
Sleek matte finish
Provides mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration
Cheap
Slow water flow
Biggest version only compatible with tanks that can hold over 100 gallons
Source: Amazon
The Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter is designed by a company that is known for making high-quality aquarium products and accessories. This best value canister has all the features needed to ensure the aquarium stays clean enough for the fish at all times.
It has one of the best designs on this list, with a sleek and compact look that makes it a darling of many aquarium owners who love having a good-looking aquarium in their interior spaces. It also has a very sturdy anti-tip base that ensures the canister stays upright all the while it is in the water even if it happens to get dislodged by accident. This ensures that no dirt is spilled back into the water.
It also comes with valves that can rotate 360 degrees, stopping water from flowing back no matter the position of the canister filter. The biggest version can comfortably handle up to 200 gallons of water although the flow rate is a bit slower than necessary, which again is good for placid and slow fish.
Flexible filter setup
Affordable price
It can handle high capacity tanks
Has inlet and outlet valves
Great design
3-stage filtration
Ideal for sow fish
Slow flow rate
Smaller versions only support two stages of filtration
Expensive is not always better and cheap can sometimes surprise you if you know where to look. There are many other budget filter canisters in the market that you can check out too before making a final decision. However, you have to be careful of what you end up taking. Talk to people who have owned them before or read reviews to get a better idea of what you are buying. For more information on aquarium filtration systems, check out our website for extra valuable tips.
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