If you are looking for the best canister filter for 60 gallon tank then you are at the right place.
In this article, I am going to review the best canister filters available for the filtration of 60 gallon tank.
You can use these canister filters for saltwater as well as freshwater tanks.
Table of Contents
List of the Best Canister Filters for 60 gallon tank
We recommend Fluval External Filter 306. This is a very reliable canister filter with very effective filtration. Check its latest price and customer reviews at Amazon here
| Image | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | Penn Plax Cascade Black 700 Elite | Check the latest price at Amazon here |
  | Fluval External Filter 306 | Check the latest price at Amazon here |
  | EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter | Check the latest price at Amazon here |
  | Polar Aurora External Aquarium Filter | Check the latest price at Amazon here |
1. Penn Plax Cascade Black 700 Elite
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You can use Cascade Black 700 Elite for the filtration of aquariums up to 65 gallons.
This filter can pump water about 185 gallons per hour.
This canister filter comes with all the necessary things you need for the set up like canister housing, all tubes and tubing, bio floss, biofoam, ceramic rings, Pro Carb and large magna sweep with algae magnet.
This filter is very easy to set up as well.
Casted Black 700 Elite is equipped with 360 degree rotating flow valves which makes it easy to place it in a tight aquarium cabinet.
You can also adjust the flow of the water.
This filter is also equipped with 2 large media baskets that can hold a lot of media and you can customize the media according to your needs.
It also comes with a large push-button for priming that makes priming convenient.
Additionally, this filter also comes with a spray bar that can distribute the water flow along the surface of tank water.
Having a spray bar is a very good feature if you have delicate fish like betta as they require low water flow.
At the bottom, it has a tip-proof rubber mounted base that keeps the filter in place.
It also comes with airtight seal which ensures proper flow rate and it also helps to reduce the noise.
Overall users are very happy with the performance of Cascade elite 700. Some users also complained that it is a bit noisy.
So if you are looking for a canister filter with all the essential features like large priming button, 360 degree rotating valves, and spray bar then Penn Plax Cascade Black 700 Elite is an ideal choice for you.
Pros
- Sturdy
- 360 Rotating flow valves
- Flow controller
- Large filter tray
- Spray bar
Cons
- A bit noisy
Price
Check latest price and customer reviews at Amazon here
2. Fluval External Filter 306
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Fluval External Filter 306 is an updated and improved version and it features re-engineered impeller cover which provides added durability, re-engineered priming system for easy start up.
This new filter also has reduced maintenance frequency and increased water flow rate than the older one.
This new canister filter is quieter than the older version.
You can use this canister filter for aquariums up to 70 gallons and it can pump 303 gallons of water per hour.
This canister filter comes with multi-stage filtration and you can use it for freshwater and saltwater aquarium.
This canister filter comes with a unique square-shaped design which can hold 35 to 50% more water than round canister filter of similar size.
This filter features Aquastop valves for easy hose disconnections and it comes with flow adjustment as well.
The flow valves of this canister filter are not rotating.
Fluval external filter 306 comes with 3 removable media baskets and you can customize it according to your needs.
Overall Fluval External Filter 306 is a very powerful canister filter which pumping capacity of 303 gallons per hour.
This filter does not come with rotating valves so it would be inconvenient for you if you have a tight aquarium cabinet.
Users are very happy with the performance of this canister filter.
Some users also complained about the noise.
So if you are looking for a powerful canister filter with all the essential features then Fluval External Canister Filter 406 can be a good choice for you.
Pros
- Powerful
- Easy routine cleaning
- Instant prime
Cons
- Noisy
- No spray bar
Price
Check latest price and customer reviews at Amazon here
3. EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter
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EHEIM classic external canister filter is a very old canister filter but it is still relevant.
You can use this canister filter for aquariums up to 66 gallons.
It is a time tested canister filter and people still praise it for its filtration.
This is a very simple canister filter and it is very easy to use as well.
As it is an old filter it also lacks new features like separate media baskets and priming button but these are nice to have features and not must-have so it’s not a deal-breaker.
This filter comes with all the necessary equipments you need for the setup.
This is also a very affordable canister filter.
This canister filter doesn’t come with media baskets which is a pro and a con as well.
It is a pro because it literally doesn’t have any bypass so no bypass issue!
But it is a con because not having a separate media basket makes it inconvenient.
Also, the water has to go through all the media which means it will become saturated and the flow rate also decreases over the period of time.
But if you just stay up to date with the maintenance of this filter then there will be no problem of reduced flow rate.
This filter comes with a spray bar that will help to distribute water along the water surface. Thi feature is helpful if you have delicate fish.
This is also one of the quietest filters.
It comes with a flow controller.
Overall EHEIM classic external canister filter is still a very good canister filter and customers are very happy with its performance.
This canister filter doesn’t come with instructions but this will not be a problem for you because I have provided a step by step video to set up this canister filter below.
So if you are looking for a time tested canister filter and if you can do the maintenance regularly then EHEIM classic external canister filter can be an ideal choice for you.
Pros
- Reliable
- Quiet
- Energy efficient
- Flow controller
Cons
- No priming button
- No filter media trays
Price
Check latest price and customer reviews at Amazon here
4. Polar Aurora External Aquarium Filter
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You can use this canister filter for filtration of aquarium up to 75 gallons and this filter can pump about 264 gallons of water per hour.
This is a very budget-friendly canister filter and you can use SunSun part for this canister filter like media etc.
It comes with 3 media trays and you can customize it according to your needs.
This filter also comes with a spray bar which is a good feature if you have delicate fish like betta as they require low water flow and spray bar helps you to distribute the water flow along the surface of tank water.
This connector filter is equipped with 360 degree rotating output valves which is a nice feature if you have a tight aquarium compartment.
It is also equipped with a large priming button which is quite convenient.
The single valve disconnect and large priming button make routine maintenance very easy.
This filter is quite big in size which is a pro and a con as well
It is a pro because it will provide a lot of filter media capacity and more contact time with the media which results in better filtration.
It is a con because it may not fit into a tight aquarium cabinet.
Overall users are happy with the performance of this filter. Some users also complained that it makes noise.
So if you are looking for a budget-friendly canister filter with all the essential features like large priming button, 360-degree rotating valves, and large filter media trays then polar Aurora 265 gph is an ideal choice for you.
This filter is quite big in size so if you have a tight aquarium compartment then it may not fit into it.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Spray bar
- 360 Degree rotating valves
- Priming button
Cons
- Noisy
Price
Check latest price and customer reviews at Amazon here
