Best Filter for 10 Gallon Tank

Fish are basically aquatic animals and they may tend to pollute the water, much like how your cat’s litter box can get smelly after days of use.

This is why choosing a good filter that’s ideal for the size of your aquarium is a good thing to think about. Imagine a filter that’s too weak to filter the size of your aquarium – your poor fish could be suffering!

Most beginners to intermediate fish keepers have 10-gallon tanks in their hands, which is capable of holding some small fish, fry, and other animals.

In line with this, you may be looking for the best 10 gallon fish tank filter. You’re in luck because we’re rounding up some filter for 10 gallon tank reviews in this article.

6 Best 10 Gallon Fish Tank Filter Reviews

If you’re looking for an ideal filter for 10 gal aquarium, you can check out our following picks:

1. Marina Power Filter

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This power filter has a compact design, so it’s good for most 10-gallon tanks, and a self-priming feature, which can be ideal if you just want to start the filter right away without having to prime it.

The flow control is also adjustable so it can be useful if you don’t want it to be too overkill or too weak for your fish.

Installing can be a breeze and it already includes two Ceramitek filter cartridges: 1 Bio-Carb and 1 Bio-Clear, for you to use. This filter can work well for Bettas due to the adjustable flow.

Things We Liked

• Quiet operation as compared to other back filters
• Automatic self-priming feature
• Includes a sponge filter
• Good price
• Adjustable water flow

Things We Didn’t Like

• Issues with the plastic lid vibrating for other filter media
• Not ideal for small aquarium plants

2. Powkoo Aquarium Fish Tank Corner Sponge Filter

As a small filter for setting into corners, this one is quite easy to clean and use due to its size, which can be ideal if you want more room for the fish and your aquatic live plants.

It can be used in a breeding tank, for small fish, for fry, for goldfish, and much more (even Betta tanks).

With a total of 4 layers, its sponge rib helps to pump through the air to collect water to filter and also provide aeration for the fish.

You only need to replace the bio-sponge every 6 months in order for it to be truly clean. Like with most sponge filters, for the first use, you may need to squeeze it in tank water for 5 minutes first for the beneficial bacteria.

Things We Liked

• Good for corners
• Ideal size for Betta fish
• Doesn’t produce too much current for small fish
• Can also provide food for shrimp

Things We Didn’t Like

• Hose design problems

3. Aqueon QuietFlow Filter Cartridge

If you are looking for filter cartridges, this one may be for you. Sized small, this one is intended for 10-gallon tanks as a replacement for Aqueon filters.

This one has 3 in a pack and can be changed every 4 to 6 weeks as per instructed in your existing filter.

Like with most cartridges, this one should be kept without cleaning the Bioholster to preserve the beneficial biological bacteria. Each of them is dual-sided and has a dense floss design, measuring 2 x 3 inches.

Things We Liked

• Fits most filters with cartridge systems
• Ideal size for Betta tanks
• Can also be used for Neon Tetras
• Reasonable price
• Good as a supplementary filter

Things We Didn’t Like

• May not have much carbon in them

4. Lee’s 13210 10 Original Under Gravel Filter

As an under-gravel filter for fish tanks, this one has a size of 10 x 20 inches, which can be sufficient for most aquarium sizes.

It comes with uplift tubes like with most standard under-gravel ones and its plastic is made to be shatterproof. You can use it with a powerhead filter due to the optional flow-thru setup.

It can be used as a supplementary filter if you already have one. The user instructions aren’t too difficult for most beginners.

Things We Liked

• Almost maintenance-free
• Can act as a supplemental filter
• Easy to assemble
• Shatter-proof tubes

Things We Didn’t Like

• Could have small clogging issues (depends on your substrate)

5. NO.17 Submersible Aquarium Internal Filter

With 8 watts of power, this one has an adjustable water pump that has a max flow rate of 200 GPH and a lift height of up to 3.28 feet.

While it can be a powerful filter, it operates quietly and you also have 2 nozzles of choice for cleaning your aquarium.

You can also choose from the multiple filter media with this motorized filter. Since it is adjustable, you can also use it for other tanks and you can adjust accordingly depending on the fish that live in your tank (so they don’t get blown or sucked into the filter). The filter has a 180-day warranty from the manufacturer.

Things We Liked

• Adjustable water flow
• Low noise levels
• Easy to clean
• A good amount of suction power

Things We Didn’t Like

• Not enough suction cups

6. Aquapapa XY-2008 Corner Filter

Yet another corner filter, this one is specifically designed for corners due to its shape, which you won’t easily find in most filter designs out there. It can be loaded with filter media such as black bio-sponge and ceramic rings with gravel.

It may look like a slice of cake at first, but it has a pumping action for its air pump with noise reduction, which also doesn’t consume a lot of wattages. This makes it a good supplementary corner filter without breaking the bank.

Things We Liked

• Specifically shaped for tank corners
• Good for Betta and goldfish
• Ideal for aerating the aquarium while filtering
• Quiet air pump

Things We Didn’t Like

• Can be prone to float due to its weight (you can add some rocks)

Things to Consider

Before you buy or choose the best 10-gallon fish tank filter, here are things you may be concerned about first:

What are the benefits of aquarium filters?

If you ever want to know why you need filters for your aquarium or fish tank, it has a couple of benefits, such as the following:

1. It removes wastewater. Toxic water is due to the ammonia that comes from the fish, which can accumulate if your fish tank doesn’t have a filtration system. Ammonia stress can be fatal to fish, so having a filter is important.
2. It makes the water clearer. For you to easily see the fish, plants, and whatever is going on inside your aquarium, you need to keep it sparkling clean. By removing floating particles and other organic matter, it makes your aquarium more presentable.

What are the different types of fish tank filtration methods?

Generally, there are 3 types of aquatic filtering:

1. Biological. This is usually done with live bacteria and microorganisms deployed in your tank with the help of special filters. The way it works is that these microorganisms convert the toxic ammonia from the fish into nitrate, which is not that harmful to fish.
2. Mechanical. The process of mechanical filter is through a sponge, a filter pad, aquarium gravel, and the like. The filter media needs to be fine enough so that particles that are small are the only things that get caught (not fish babies!). Most mechanical filtration systems involve siphoning dirt.
3. Chemical. This kind of filtration is good for those with aquariums that have a lot of fish. It usually involves activated filter carbon and its job is to remove and extract toxins from your aquarium water.

What are the different types of filters for fish tanks?

If you don’t know much about the different types of filters, here they are:

1. Box filters. They are best for corners and usually come cheap. If you have a small tank, this one can be good for you, since it doesn’t make a lot of noise, can be small enough not to be obtrusive, and can even benefit breeding tanks or fry tanks.
2. Canister filters. They can be ideal for larger tanks or even saltwater aquariums. If you have a lot of plants in your aquarium then having a canister filter can be a good mechanical filtration method.
3. Power filters. These are usually the ones that are loaded with filter media and can hang at the back of your aquarium. They can be cheap but some are also quite expensive.
4. Sponge filters. Although these can be a bit noisy at times, they are good for mechanical filtration and can also help aerate your aquarium with beneficial bacteria. Like most filters, they have cheap prices but there are also slightly pricier models.
5. Diatomic filters. Although not very common yet, this type of filter is a bit expensive but can be used for conditions where you need to get rid of very small particles in the aquarium water. They are akin to swimming pool filters.
6. Under-gravel filter. This is one of those maintenance-free filters that are good for serving as a secondary filter. What it does is lay down under your substrate, catch debris, pulls it up through the tubes and blows it away using the air pump. They have been a staple for most old-school aquarium keepers.

How many fish can you put in a 10-gallon tank?

It depends on what fish you have, the nature of the species (some are loners and some are aggressive), and other factors.

Just make sure you have 1 inch of fish per gallon, keeping in mind how much your fish grows on the average and how quickly they dirty the water.

Which fish fit well in a 10-gallon tank?

You may want to keep any of the following if you are new to aquariums and want something for a 10-gallon tank.

1. Sparkling Gourami. This fish is good for those who want small fish in large batches.
2. Guppies. Also a good beginner’s fish, this one can breed intensively so consider the ratio of males and females before you buy.
3. Betta fish. This is one of the most popular fish for small tanks, so why not keep one?
4. Corydoras. You can add any species of corydoras that’s small enough for your tank.
5. Tetras. Especially the Neon Tetra (you can also get the Glowlight or Cardinal), they are great for added colors for your aquarium.

Any non-fish species to put in my 10-gallon tank?

You can try the following snails and shrimp:

1. Red Cherry Shrimp
2. Nerite Snails

Which plants are good for 10-gallon tanks?

If you want plants for your 10-gallon tank, you can try the following:

1. Anubias – this is a beginner’s plant that has flat leaves, which can be good for hiding.
2. Java Moss – they are great for tropical temperatures and have a hardy texture.
3. Java Fern – great for 10-gallon tanks, this one only requires low to moderate lighting.
4. Water Wisteria – if you have a 70 to 80-degree temperature, this plant can be ideal for it.
5. Amazon Swords – also known as the echinoderms, this one has a vegetative propagation.
6. Corkscrew Val – good as a middle or background plant, it requires high lighting.
7. Crypts – they can be good for foreground plants and they can be planted into the substrate.

How often should I clean my 10-gallon tank?

A good schedule for a 10-gallon tank in terms of cleaning would be once a week. Unlike large tanks, which may require every 2 weeks of cleaning, a small tank can get dirty very fast due to the fact that it’s too small in content.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, we picked the Marina Power Filter as the best 10-gallon fish tank filter due to its self-priming feature, the compact design, the adjustable flow, the inclusion of free filter cartridges, and its just-right price.

While other filters are okay if you want to try other types of fish tank filters, we picked this one due to its hassle-free installation operation for any fish keeper, especially beginners.