What is the Best Filter for 5 Gallon Tank?

Cleaning a fish tank can be serious business. Not only do fish excrete waste products, but algae also sometimes inhabit the tank, which can make the tank water pretty cloudy and the sides of the aquarium not so pretty.

This is why you may need to look for the best filter for 5 gallon tank. A filter’s job is to clean up most of the waste material that comes out of your fish (or shrimp…or snail…) or whatever your tank contains.

It is important to keep it clean so that your fish do not get suffocated and that you can see clearly what’s going on inside the tank.

With a clean fish tank, you can also enjoy healthier fish with less toxic waste (e.g. ammonia) that circles around the waters.

Top Filters for 5 Gallon Tank

Here are our top picks for the best filter for 5 gallon aquarium:

Aquapapa Corner Filter Aquarium Fish Tank

This corner filter has multiple layers of filter media, such as a set of black bio-sponge and ceramic rings that are layered in a cake-like style.

It has a corner design so it can fit most tanks just fine. It has an air output and input hole, a cover, an and air input tube.

The assembly is pretty straightforward by just layering. This one uses mechanical filtration so it can be great for beginners. It only needs to be cleaned about once every 2 to 4 weeks.

Things We Liked

• Low profile design
• Multiple layers of filter media
• Easy to set up
• Also great for shrimps
• Okay for Betta tanks

Things We Didn’t Like

• Cleaning the filter sponges can be a bit tricky

Upettools Aquarium Filter

Also a low profile aquarium filter, this one can work in most 5-gallon tanks, especially those with 5.5 gallons and the like.

It has a horizontal design – not the type of filter pump that you see every single day. It has aquarium sponge filters, media containers, ceramic biofilter, and a total of 5 layers to make it more effective in cleaning fish dirt.

The telescopic tube makes it easy to aim to your preferred position while the filter box can be filled with any kind of filter media that you want. The filters also rotate so you can position them smoothly in your tank.

Things We Liked

• 360-degree rotation
• Telescopic aiming tube
• Horizontal design
• Works on most fish species
• Okay for shrimps
• Comes with ceramic and foam media

Things We Didn’t Like

• May not work with a weaker pump (requires a better air pump)

Marineland Rite-Size Penguin Power Filter Cartridges

If you are just looking for filter cartridges for your main filter, this one could do the trick. They are sized for most power filters out there, including 5-gallon ones.

If you have any of the Marineland aquariums or fish tanks, you may find them fitting well, such as the Eclipse, Silhouette, Portrait, and Contour models.

Since they are color-coded, you won’t have problems telling them apart. These cartridges can be replaced every 2 to 4 weeks depending on how active your fish are (and how many fish are in your aquarium).

Things We Liked

• Works on most Marineland aquarium models
• Uses activated carbon
• Good for Betta tanks
• May also work on some discontinued tanks

Things We Didn’t Like

• Some bits of carbon can fly all over when installing

Aqueon QuietFlow Filter Cartridge

If you have an Aqueon filter or tank instead, you can use this filter cartridge. This one takes up to 10-gallon tanks so it may be just fine on any 5-gallon tank with its small (s) size.

It can just be replaced approximately every 4 to 6 weeks and is easy to install due to the cartridge bottom key slot.

It comes ready to use with its activated carbon. If you have the mini bow filter, you can also use this cartridge for it. At 2 x 3 inches, this filter can even work on 1-gallon tanks and the like.

Things We Liked

• Great for really small tanks
• Can last for weeks
• Easy to install
• Low profile design
• Okay for Betta tanks

Things We Didn’t Like

• May not have a lot of carbon compared to other cartridges

Aquaneat Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter Corner

Yet another corner filter, this one works even on smaller tanks from 1.5-gallons up to 5 gallons and even 10 gallons.

It can be fine for Betta tanks and it can be easy to install. It is also low-profile and great as a supplemental filter.

If you have fry (shrimp) and other smaller aquatic animals, this can be a good choice since it is not too powerful enough to suck up fish and the like.

This may be useful for beginners who just want a filter that does the job without getting in the way of your fish.

Things We Liked

• Doesn’t suck up fish or shrimp
• Good for Betta tanks
• Low profile design
• Good for smaller tanks

Things We Didn’t Like

• The bubble output can be bothersome

Things to Consider

In choosing the best filter for 5 gallon tank, you may want to know the following:

Why should fish tanks have a filter?

A fish filter is important in:

1. Aerating the water.
2. Removes toxic ammonia.
3. Cleans your water crystal clear.
4. Good for tropical fish.
5. Reduces your household chores.

How do I choose the best tank filter?

A good filter for your fish tank can be chosen with the following criteria:

1. Saltwater vs. freshwater fish. What fish do you have? Filters can be different in terms of how they work well on saltwater or freshwater fish.

 

2. Tank size in gallons. If you have a filter that is too powerful for smaller tanks, such as 5 gallons, it may suck the fish or produce large air bubbles.

 

3. Plants in your tank. The plants in your tank could already be obtrusive if you add a larger tank filter to the picture.

 

4. Size of your species. Most fish cannot really roam around if they do not have a lot of space around the aquarium. Therefore, it pays to have a tank filter that is not too obtrusive. Consider filters that are for the corners or the hang-on back ones. You can also try the under-gravel filters.

 

5. Power of your filter. Consider a power rating that is not too heavy or too powerful if your fish tank is too small or if you don’t have a lot of fish (or if your fish are too small, for that matter). That same rule applies to fry tanks.

 

6. Filter media. Know which filter media is included or can be included in the filter.

 

7. Maintenance. You have to know how often to replace the filter. Most of the filter media that you can put in can be taken out after 3 to 4 weeks at most.

What are the different kinds of tank filters?

The different aquarium filter types are:

1. Hang-on back filter. This one is the type where you can replace or insert a filter cartridge, such as carbon cartridges and the like. They are the most popular and they usually do not get in the way of your fish.

 

2. Canister filters. They are mostly meant for larger tanks so it is best to get them if you have about 40 gallons and above. This is because they have 3 stages of filtration and they tend to be pricey as well. However, there are also canister filters that are rated for smaller tanks, anyway.

 

3. Corner filters. These ones make use of a sponge and can be fitted into the corner of your aquarium.

 

4. Under-gravel filters. These are not very popular nowadays but can be used as an additional filter. They can be troublesome to clean but they are absolutely not obtrusive as compared to other types of filters for fish tanks.

How do I use a filter for a fish tank?

To use a filter for a fish tank:

1. Look at the instructional manual. Read the instruction or user manual of the fish tank filter for you to know how to set it up.

 

2. Connect the parts and fittings. If there are things to connect, you should do them now. Refer to the manual and know which parts go where. If you have an air pump or if it has an air pump on its own, you can connect that.

 

3. Place it in your fish tank strategically. Put it near your heater so that when the filter does its job, it also returns the same temperature that your heater wants to maintain. It saves a lot of time and effort by doing this.

 

4. Wait for it to clean up your fish residue. Just let it do its job until you finally see that the filters may need to be cleaned. If you have a very dirty aquarium then it can take some time before everything goes crystal clear.

 

5. Maintain and clean. Most of these filters can be cleaned after 3 to 4 weeks depending on their model and type. Just check the filter media in the case. If you don’t want a troublesome filter then you can go for a higher model.

Conclusion

Our top pick for the best filter for 5 gallon tank is the Aquapapa Corner Filter Aquarium Fish Tank because of the low profile design, multiple layers of filter media, and ease of set up. The design is also great for shrimps and is okay for betta tanks.

While it may be tricky to clean the filter sponges, it can be worth it since it is a cute little tank filter that doesn’t get in the way of most fish and aquatic plants. We chose this among others because of that form factor.