Are you looking to buy a canister filter? What size canister filter do you need for a 55 gallon tank?
Do you know that low flow rate canister filters will be a waste of money?
In this article, we’ll look into the right size canister filter for your 55 gallon tank.
What Size Canister Filter Do You Need For A 55 Gallon Tank?
The best Canister filters for a 55 gallon tank must have a flow rate of at least 220-275 GPH (gallons per hour).
The GPH should be at least quadruple (4x) the power of your tank’s size.
What Is The Best Canister Filter?
There are many canister filters on the market today that are available in fish shops or online. We are not being paid by any single manufacturer and wish to remain unbiased in our opinions.
Our top pick is the Fluval 407 Canister filter for a 55 gallon tank. Its very energy efficient and 25% quieter than its leading competitors. They have a flow rate of 383 GPH.
What Is The Right GPH For a 55 Gallon Tank Canister Filter?
If you have any size tank, multiply it by 4 to get the minimum required flow rate of GPH (gallons per hour).
Minimum GPH Values For Canister Filters
- 10 Gallon Tank = 40 GPH
- 20 Gallon Tank = 80 GPH
- 40 Gallon Tank = 160 GPH
- 55 Gallon Tank = 220 GPH
We recommend going over the minimum requirements and opt for more power. You can select canister filters that aren’t too bulky or loud even if you choose a more powerful one.
Why Is A Canister Filter Better?
- Larger surface area agitation
- More media
- More power
- Able to attach a heater
- Keeps your aquarium free of cluttering filters and heaters
A canister filter rivals the hang-on-back filter for its functionality and surface area coverage. It contains more media in the filter and you can customize from various types of media. Some are equipped with 6 or more types of filter media in the media basket.
The canister pulls water through the media and pushes it into the tank. The water moves better with more power and efficiency. Some canisters come with in-line heaters as well.
The best part for aesthetics is that you can keep filters and heaters from cluttering your tank’s beauty by placing them outside the tank instead.
What Are The Benefits Of A Larger Canister Filter?
A larger canister filter will allow for more media types and baskets to customize your beneficial bacteria and carbon filtration. The media baskets are large and fits a pound or more biomedia in each one. You can reuse the pads and cartridge as well without having to constantly replace them.
Canister style filters can be equipped with a UV sterilizer as well. This helps to remove bacteria and algae spores that are unwanted in the water column by zapping them out of existence.
What Is The Best Canister Filter Size For a 55 Gallon Tank?
Due to recommending the Fluval 407 canister filter above its competitors, we suggest the following sizes to match its specifications.
- Aquarium Capacity: 50-100 US Gal
- Pump Performance : 383 US Gal/h
- Vertical Pre-filter: 1074 cm2
- Basket Volume: 4.2 L
- Total Chamber Volume: 6.0 L
- Canister Volume: 9.2 L
- Filter Circulation: 245 US Gal/h
- Max Water Column Height: 2.25 m
- Wattage: 20 W
- Filter Dimensions: 9.5 x 7 x 19.3” (24 x 18 x 49 cm)
A size of 9.5 x 7 x 19.3 inches is a suitable and recommended amount of space for a canister filter intended for a 55 gallon tank.
What Are The Top Canister Filters For A 55 Gallon Tank?
Here are our top 5 picks for the best canister filters that will pair well with your 55 gallon tank:
- Fluval 407 Performance Canister Filter
- Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter
- SunSun HW-404B Canister Filter with 9W Uv Sterilizer
- Penn Plax Cascade 1200 Canister Filter
- Aqueon Quietflow Canister Filter
Pros And Cons
1. Fluval 407 Performance Canister Filter
Pros:
- The impeller is very quiet.
- The company boasts that it is very energy efficient with the same power it takes to run a 10 W light bulb.
- It includes all the filter media you need.
Cons:
- There is no spray bar included in the package. You will have to buy one separately.
- A UV sterilizer is not included.
2. Marineland Magniflow Canister Filter
Pros:
- This model helps to prevent water from bypassing the media.
- The hoses are quick release and easy to use.
Cons:
- You will have to pull out the media baskets one by one. They cannot be pulled out together.
- A UV sterilizer is not included.
3. SunSun HW-404B Canister Filter with 9W Uv Sterilizer
Pros:
- The UV sterlizer is included to prevent algae and harmful bacteria buildup.
- A 525 GPH flow rate makes it the most powerful canister filter on this list.
Cons:
- Chemical and biomedia are not included in the package.
4. Penn Plax Cascade 1200 Canister Filter
Pros:
- The flow valves rotate to help get rid of debris in tight spots.
- The media baskets are large and deep
- The spray bar is customizable
Cons:
- Biomedia and chemical are not included.
- A UV sterilizer is not included.
5. Aqueon Quietflow Canister Filter
Pros:
- It has multiple options for outflow
- The flow valves are quick and easy to connect
Cons:
- A hang-on-back unit is included and encouraged to be used with it.
Conclusion
It’s important to pick a canister filter with a flow rate of at least 220 GPH for your 55 gallon tank. More flow rate is better than less.
You can easily use a canister filter with over 500GPH flow rate without it costing you too much more in electricity bills. Most modern canister filters are energy efficient, but the Fluval 407 is our top pick for its dimensions and capabilities.
We hope this article provides you with some assistance in your next purchase of a canister filter. Feel free to pop by again soon to check out any specific article related to the marine life you are keeping in your tank.
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