Filter Recommendations For 10 Gallon Tank?

I currently have a Tetra Whisper 10I filter, but it keeps bubbling up really high and even overflowed once. I'm pretty fed up with it.

I want a filter that fits my 10 gallon tank and is quiet.

Pictures of current filter bubbling over and aquarium hood opening below.

 

Are you looking to replace it with another hang on the back filter? Or just any quiet and efficient filter?

 

Are you looking to replace it with another hang on the back filter? Or just any quiet and efficient filter?

It doesn't need to be hang on back, I just need to be able to fit it on my tank without making any alterations. I've only ever had hang on back filters, so I'm not sure how the other kind works.

 

I honestly always recommend canister filters. For smaller tanks 20 or below I recommend the fluval 106 canister filter, it has high mechanical filtration as well as has a lot of room for chemical filtration material like purigen or carbon as well as a lot of room for biological filtration. I personally have one on my 5 gallon and it works very well. I also believe a sponge filter would work but I have never personally used them and don’t know how well they perform in the long run. If you want to go with another hang on the back filter I really like the marineland(not 100% if the biowheel will fit), the aquaclear, and the fluval brands of hang on the back filtration. If you go the canister filter route the actual filter stays beside or below the tnak the only part that is inside the tank is the intake tube and the outflow tube that brings the water into the canster filter and back into the tank.

 

Get a sponge filter. All you do is plug it into your air hose and it becomes your biological filter.

Just make sure you run both at the same time and you can remove the HOB in a month and a half. Get a sponge that is rated about a 20g.

 

I also recommend getting a sponge filter. super quiet and won't have to replace anything for a long time

 

Fluval QuiteFlow or AquaClear are two great HoB filters.

I've noticed that when I clean the AquaClear, sometimes I'll have to kickstart it by moving the impeller with a kebob stick. I think sometimes gets stuck in there and I just have to push it out of the way or something. Other than that, it works great.

 

I have two of the Tetra i20, similar to yours just bigger. you can modify it like I did. cut off the filter material. gently rinse it in old tank water. stuff it in the bottom of the filter. put poly fill or quilt batting (available at walmart) about half way full. then put biomax ceramic rings on top, up to the level of the outflow lip. they are available in different size, with or without a mesh bag.

I learned it from this youtuber.

here's a pic of mine:
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I had that same one in my 10, I replaced it with a fluval C2, it’s very nice and quiet, also you can customize the media.

 

Depends on how much you want to spend. A canister filter is going to be quieter but they're more expensive. A sponge filter will work, its less expensive but the air pump can be noisy. The water flow is typically gentle too. I buy the cheapo air pumps from Walmart, you can hang them so nothing that vibrates is hitting a surface. Really reduces the noise IMO.

 

I am also a big fan of sponge filters I am an aquariumist on a budget, so a $7 air pump with a $5 sponge filter seems like a good deal to me.

 

As most people know I settled on Marineland filters a very long time ago. while others have said they have noise, none of the many that I have make noise above the sound of the water fall. The wheel pins do need to be greased with silicone.

I have a Penguin 150 on the betta 10 gallon. That filter is at least 7 years old. I have others that are much older.

 

As others have said, sponge filters are a solid choice. I run at least 1 in addition to any other kind of filtration method I'm using. I've always gotten mine from Drs. Foster and Smith, the Azoo sponge filters. They always come with an extra sponge as well, not that you'll need it anytime in the future. Just swish it around in some tank water every couple of weeks during a water change and you're good to go. I've had my oldest sponges runnning for about 2 years with no signs of wear at all.

 

Get a sponge filter. All you do is plug it into your air hose and it becomes your biological filter.

Just make sure you run both at the same time and you can remove the HOB in a month and a half. Get a sponge that is rated about a 20g.

I also recommend getting a sponge filter. super quiet and won't have to replace anything for a long time

Depends on how much you want to spend. A canister filter is going to be quieter but they're more expensive. A sponge filter will work, its less expensive but the air pump can be noisy. The water flow is typically gentle too. I buy the cheapo air pumps from Walmart, you can hang them so nothing that vibrates is hitting a surface. Really reduces the noise IMO.

I am also a big fan of sponge filters I am an aquariumist on a budget, so a $7 air pump with a $5 sponge filter seems like a good deal to me.

As others have said, sponge filters are a solid choice. I run at least 1 in addition to any other kind of filtration method I'm using. I've always gotten mine from Drs. Foster and Smith, the Azoo sponge filters. They always come with an extra sponge as well, not that you'll need it anytime in the future. Just swish it around in some tank water every couple of weeks during a water change and you're good to go. I've had my oldest sponges runnning for about 2 years with no signs of wear at all.

sponge filters are very much better than your hang on back filter you have at the moment. I strongly recommend one for your ten gallon.