You finally got that large tank set up in its place and you are ready to add the specifics to the tank. There are many different filters that you can choose from and sometimes it is hard to choose the right filter for your tank. This article aims to educate you on the some of the top choices for 55-gallon fish tank filters so that you can ensure that your tank has the best filter to keep your aquarium clean.
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Best 55 Gallon Fish Tank Filter
There are many 55-gallon fish tank filters for you to choose from, so here are some top picks of filters that are some of the best filters on the market today. By reading these reviews, you will be able to make the best choice for your tank.
Best Canister Filter for 55 Gallon Fish Tank
There are many canister filters in the market, but some are better than others. Here’s a list of the best canister filter for your 55 gallon fish tank or aquarium.
Fluval 407 Performance Canister Filter
Fluval is one of the most popular brands when it comes to filters and the Fluval 407 Canister Filter is one of the best 55-gallon aquarium filters that money can buy. While a bit on the pricey side, the 07 series has a cutting-edge design with a powerful motor that is best suited for larger tanks. This canister filter has filter media that keeps your 55-gallon aquarium clean and in the best condition. If you are looking for one of the best filters available, check out the Fluval 407 Canister Filter.
Pros
- Top tier canister filter
- Energy efficient
- Good for freshwater and saltwater aquariums
Cons
- A bit expensive
MarineLand Magnum Polishing Internal Canister Filter
The MarineLand Magnum Polishing Internal Canister Filter is a fantastic filter for a 55-gallon fish tank because of its micron water polishing, its quick and easy startup, and the extremely reasonable price. While it is not as quiet as some other models, it is very efficient at cleaning tank water. It is one of the most versatile canister filters out there and works very well with any large tank.
Pros
- Versatile design
- Three-staged filtration system
- Less expensive
Cons
- Can get dirty quickly
SunSun HW-303B Pro Canister Filter
The SunSun HW-303B Pro Canister Filter is an extremely reliable canister filter that uses a premium filter carbon, ceramic rings, and bio balls to ensure a top quality filtration system. The water flow of this canister filter flows at a rate of 370 GPH and works especially well with 55-gallon tank and up. It is fairly easy to clean and is not as expensive as many other canister filters.
Pros
- Decently priced
- Strong water flow
- Five-staged filtration system
Cons
- A bit noisy
Eheim Pro 4+ 250 Filter
Another great canister filter is the Eheim Pro 4+ 250 Filter, which comes from Germany. This advanced mechanical filtration system offers optimal energy efficiency and a quiet operation. The filter also carries a control function for adjustable flow rate, which redirects the water flow if the filter media becomes blocked. The Eheim Pro 4+ 250 Filter comes in various sizes and is a good filter for any large tanks.
Pros
- Comes in variety of sizes
- Increases time between cleanings
- Quiet operation
Cons
- A bit expensive
Penn-Plax Cascade Canister Filter
An extremely popular choice at a very reasonable price is the Penn-Plax Cascade Canister Filter. Since it comes in so many different sizes, it can fit any 55-gallon fish tank filter. It gives a very quiet and efficient performance as it maintains and improves the water quality of your aquarium. This filter also comes with five media baskets, five poly-fiber floss pads, a bag of activated carbon, and a bio-sponge filter. The Penn-Plax Cascade Canister Filter is one of the best canister filters on the market today for keeping your aquarium water clean.
Pros
- Highly rated
- Great for 55-gallon aquariums
- Many items included
Cons
- Some leakage reported
Best HOB Filter for 55 Gallon Fish Tank
Hang-on-back filters (HOB Filters) are convenient and easy to use. Here’s a list of HOB filters that are best suited for 55 gallon fish tanks or aquariums.
Seachem Tidal 55 Gallon
If you are looking for quality HOB filters, then check out the Seachem Tidal 55 Gallon HOB Filter. These hang-on-the-back filters are great for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums and Seachem backs it up with a three-year warranty. A great value for your money, the Seachem Tidal 55 Gallon HOB Filter specializes in 55-gallon tanks and higher. It is another of the best aquarium filters available.
Pros
- Highly rated
- Easy to clean
- Great value for money
Cons
- Only good for larger tanks
AquaClear Power Filter 70
The AquaCleat Power Filter 70 is an aquarium filtration HOB system has over seven times the filtration volume than other fish tank filters. It gives ideal conditions for mechanical and chemical filtration. The biological filtration is also perfect for any beneficial bacteria to grow to help the nitrogen cycle. The AquaCleat Power Filter 70 is one of the best filters you can get for your 55-gallon aquarium filter.
Pros
- Great for all types of filtration
- Comes with activated carbon filter
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- A bit noisy
Marineland Emperor 400
The Marineland Emperor 400 is another popular HOB power filter that has a rotating spray –bar driven bio-wheel that provides incredible a multi-staged filtration for your 55-gallon aquarium. It has a powerful filtration system that Marineland has become known for. They also include replacement filter cartridges specifically designed for this product. The Marineland Emperor 400 filters out any harmful chemicals or debris and is a fantastic choice for your 55-gallon fish tank filter.
Pros
- Pumps 400 GPH
- Multi-staged filtration
- Rotating bio-wheel
Cons
- A bit noisy
Fluval C Series Power Filter
Fluval is one of the most trusted names in aquarium equipment and they certainly do not disappoint with the Fluval C Series Power Filter. Set at a very reasonable price, the power filter has a bio-screen pad that blocks all sorts of debris along with a chemical area of activated carbon, which treats any harmful chemicals. The mechanical filter media includes a dual-layer of foam and polyester, which is easy to remove and clean. The Fluval C Series Power Filter clips on the back of the aquarium and is ideal for any 55-gallon aquarium filter.
Pros
- Highly rated
- Five-stage filtration system
- Biological C-Nodes
Cons
- Some issues with motor reported
Best Undergravel Filter for 55 Gallon Fish Tank
Undergravel filters are great, because it can capture debris that would otherwise accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Here’s a list of undergravel filters that are best suited for your 55 gallon fish tank or aquarium.
Penn-Plax Undergravel Aquarium Filter for 55 Gallon Tanks
People often underestimate the importance of a solid filter for under the substrate. Penn-Plax Under Gravel Aquarium Filter is one of the best internal 55-gallon fish tank filters. This filter is air-driven and uses the air pump to cycle water through to the top of the aquarium surface. Filter plates sit under the gravel allowing air and water to pass through. This process aerates the tank, filters out any debris, and allows anaerobic bacteria to collect and colonize against the gravel. Penn-Plax makes an easy to install under gravel filter that efficiently serves multiple purposes.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Less moving parts
- Great value for money
Cons
- Cleaning is difficult
Lee’s 40/55 Premium Under Gravel Filter
Lee’s 40-55 Premium Under Gravel Filter utilizes larger plates so that less of them are required to cover a 55-gallon tank. This particular under gravel filter is better suited for saltwater aquariums and have a multi-leveled plate design which resist splits or cracks in the foundation. While it is a bit more expensive, it does offer top quality filtration from the underside of your tank. Lee’s 40-50 Premium Under Gravel Filter is easy to assemble and a great value for the money spent on it.
Pros
- Easy to assemble/install
- Long-lasting filtration
- Larger plates
Cons
- More expensive
Best Sponge Filter for 55 Gallon Fish Tank
While sponge filters are often associated with small fish tanks, they are actually quite suitable for 55 gallon fish tanks as well. Here’s a list of sponge filters that are best suited for 55 gallon fish tanks or aquariums.
Hygger Sponge Filter
When considering sponge filters, take a close look at Hygger Sponge Filter. This sponge filter has replaceable media and uses four biochemical sponges to provide amazing filtration. When connected to an air pump, the water flow goes through the sponges that absorb all the particles and debris. The filter media is the sponges matched with ceramic filter balls, which is readily removable for cleaning or replacement. The Hygger Sponge Filter is a fantastic choice for a 55-gallon aquarium filter.
Pros
- Easy to install/use
- Long lasting with cleaning
- Good suction power
Cons
- Needs air pump
Hikari Bacto-Surge High Density Foam Filter
Another good option is the Hikari Bacto-Surge High Density Foam Filter, which works well with freshwater and marine waters. This sponge filter is highly porous, which gives the most amount of surface area for bacterial colonization. The Hikari Bacto-Surge High Density Foam Filter is easy to use and boasts incredible suction power. Set at a reasonable price, this is a great item that last a very long time as a 55-gallon fish tank filter.
Pros
- Long lasting with cleaning
- Amazing suction power
- Great price
Cons
- Coarser material than some might prefer
Best Fish Tank Pump for 55 Gallon Fish Tank
None of the aforementioned filters contain an air pump along with them. Having an air pump allows these filters to aerate the tank and keep the water flowing, which helps the filters do their jobs. Here are some suggestions on some of the best fish tank air pumps.
Tetra Whisper Air Pump
The Tetra Whisper Air Pump is a highly rated item and comes equipped to handle tanks of many different sizes. This air pump may only be under two pounds, but it is quite powerful and quiet. Its dome-shaped design and sound dampening chambers minimize the turbulence to let the air flow through in a smooth manner. The Tetra Whisper Air Pump provides oxygen and water movement into your 55-gallon tank.
Pros
- Powerful air pump
- Highly rated
- Not too expensive
Cons
- A bit noisy
EHEIM Air Pump 100
Eheim also makes an air pump in the Eheim Air Pump 100. This air pump also brings aeration to the aquarium water, while also being compact and durable in design. Despite its size, it packs a powerful air flow through the water and has a long power cord to prevent power outages. The Eheim Air Pump 100 pumps fairly quietly and is a great option for an air pump for your 55-gallon fish tank.
Pros
- Compact design
- Fairly quiet
- Strong suction power
Cons
- More expensive
Best Internal Filter for 55 Gallon Fish Tank
Another kind of preference of many aquarium hobbyists is the use of internal filters. One advantage of internal filters is the fact that they take up less space outside the aquarium and work within that tank. These internal filters use a water pump and creates a clean environment for your living creatures, while being inside the tank. Here are some options for looking at internal filters.
NO.17 Submersible Internal Filter
The No.17 Submersible Internal Filter is an extremely easy to assemble device for your 55-gallon fish tank filter. The adjustable water pump gives a maximum flow rate of 320 GPH, which means a powerful design. It also uses multiple layers of filter media which are very easy to clean and assemble. The No.17 Submersible Internal Filter can be used in aquariums, ecological ponds, breeding ponds, gardens, rock garden fountains, and hydroponics, which makes it an extremely versatile internal filter.
Pros
- Many different applications
- Easy to assemble
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Some mechanical issues reported
Ultra Quiet Internal Fish Tank Filter
Another great option is the Ultra Quiet Internal Fish Tank Filter. This fish tank filter comes with three kinds of water outlets which gives you better control over the oxygen and filtration. It can contain two pieces of sponge, which can filter out the waste. This internal filter is also good with a wide variety of applications and boasts a strong suction power to keep your water flowing at a good pace.
Pros
- Large application use
- Strong filtration
- Super quiet
Cons
- Longevity issues
What size filter do I need for a 55-gallon aquarium?
When considering the size of the filter for a 55-gallon aquarium, it is important to understand the specifics of each filter available. We have covered many different types of filters for your 55-gallon aquarium and each one has a specific advantage of filtration. You only really want to have one filtration system working at a time within an aquarium. Any filtration system that you are considering as your 55-gallon fish tank filter will need to cover the aquarium on its own. Therefore, make sure that the size filter that you buy covers at least 55-gallons.
What type of filter is best for 55 gallon aquariums?
When considering what type of 55-gallon aquarium filter to choose, you want to keep the gallons of water that are pumping through the filter every hour (GPH). This number is going to tell you how much of that water is getting filtered in the span of one hour, which will affect how clean the water remains. A 55-gallon fish tank is going to require 250-500 GPH to efficiently keep the water clean and healthy for your living creatures. Anything lower than this will result in cloudy water which is less healthy for your fish. Think about your water turnover/flow rate of five or to ten times the tank volume per hour. The best type of filter is the one that pushes the most water through the filtration, while providing quality filter media to catch any unwanted biological or chemical debris in the water.
It is also recommended to do additional research on these products and read reviews for yourself as each type of filter has its own unique qualities and utilizations. You do not want to be stuck with a filter that does not work well enough for your 55-gallon aquarium.
Can I use a sponge filter on a 55-gallon aquarium?
You may think that a sponge filter is too small for a 55-gallon aquarium, but actually the sponge filter is a great filter for these large tanks. When matched with a proper air pump, the sponge filter becomes a perfect wall between unwanted debris and clean, fresh water. They can generally be used with both freshwater and saltwater aquariums and are made from porous foam and plastic tubing most of the time. The flow rate runs at about 180 GPH. Now, this might seem like a good flow rate, it really depends on how many fish you have within your tank. A smaller amount of fish equal less waste and debris that needs to be filtered.
As long as you are cleaning your sponge filters ever two or three weeks, they should be able to last a while. Just be sure not to clear off any of the beneficial bacteria that will inevitably grow on the sponge. The sponge filter can be used to filter out 55-gallon tanks quite well when they are taken proper care for and the best part is that sponge filters usually are pretty cheap and top out around twenty dollars, which make them even more valuable to hobbyists.
