What is aquarium filter media?

Aquarium filter media refers to the specific materials located inside the tank filter that purify the water. Filter media can come in three forms- namely biological, chemical, and mechanical.

What are the three types of fish tank filter media?

The three types of fish tank filter media are biological, chemical, and mechanical. Mechanical uses things like sponges and filter floss to remove debris from water. Chemical uses activated carbon and other similar materials to remove chemical contaminants. Biological uses advantageous bacteria media, which can help remove waste.

How long does aquarium filter media last?

Aquarium filter media has different lifespans depending on factors like the type of media, your type of tank, the tank contents, and frequency of water changes. In general, biological filter media may rarely need replacement unless it's damaged; but it must be rinsed and cleaned regularly. Chemical media containing activated carbon is typically replaced within a window of 1–3 weeks. Regularly test your water to ensure that the filters are working properly. Mechanical media, on the other hand, can last for several years, but regular replacement might be best. Consult with your fish-savvy veterinarian or hobbyist to get the best advice for your particular setup.

How often should I rinse fish tank filter media?

Fish tank filter media should be rinsed approximately every 2–4 weeks, but this can vary depending on your tank setup or maintenance. If you notice debris buildup, a change in noise, or a reduction in water flow, it's likely time to rinse. When rinsing, it's important to do so with fish tank water and not tap water, because tap water contains chlorine.

Aquarium & Fish Tank Filter Media - Page 4 (Free Shipping)

Slide 1 of 4

Fluval Nano Bio-Foam Filter Media slide 2 of 4

Fluval Nano Bio-Foam Filter Media slide 3 of 4

Fluval Nano Bio-Foam Filter Media slide 4 of 4

Slide 1 of 4

Fluval Nano Bio-Foam Filter Media

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

2

$6.49 Chewy Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Slide 1 of 6

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count slide 2 of 6

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count slide 3 of 6

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count slide 4 of 6

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count slide 5 of 6

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count slide 6 of 6

Slide 1 of 6

Loading options...

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

1

$7.29 Chewy Price

($3.65/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Slide 1 of 2

Fluval C3 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count slide 2 of 2

Fluval C3 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

8

$8.17 Chewy Price

($2.73/ea) Price per Unit

$14.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Slide 1 of 2

Fluval C2 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count slide 2 of 2

Fluval C2 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

6

$10.79 Chewy Price

($3.60/ea) Price per Unit

$13.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Anjon Bio-Pro 4000 Pressure Pond Filter

$326.03 Chewy Price

($326.03/ea) Price per Unit

$465.75 List Price

Autoship Price

Free delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns
Arrives between Apr 11 and Apr 14

Cobalt Aquatics Total Freshwater Aquarium Organic Removing & Ion Exchange Resins, 20-oz bottle

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

2

$43.82 Chewy Price

($2.20/oz) Price per Unit

$52.79 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns

Boyd Chemi-Pure Grande Filter Media, 40-oz bottle

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

4

$44.47 Chewy Price

($1.12/oz) Price per Unit

$60.12 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns

Eheim 2211 Canister Fine Filter Pads, 3 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

8

$8.75 Chewy Price

($2.92/ea) Price per Unit

$11.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Fluval Chi II Filter Pad & Filter Foam Pad, Value Pack, Value Pack

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

7

$7.98 Chewy Price

($7.98/ea) Price per Unit

$9.49 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Penn-Plax Poly Fiber Plus Aquarium Fish Filter Media Pad

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

5

$13.88 Chewy Price

($13.88/ea) Price per Unit

$14.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Fluval C4 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars

13

$10.88 Chewy Price

($3.63/ea) Price per Unit

$14.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Dr. Tim's Aquatics NP-Active Pearls Aquarium Cleaner, 3,785-mL bottle

$263.89 Chewy Price

($0.07/mL) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns
Arrives between Apr 13 and Apr 16

Fluval C4 Poly/Foam Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

23

$14.05 Chewy Price

($4.69/ea) Price per Unit

$15.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Aqueon ProFlex 200 Micron Filter Bags, 2 count

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

4

$21.99 Chewy Price

($11.00/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Aquascape Dense Fish Filter Media

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$326.32 Chewy Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns

Cobalt Aquatics Long Lasting Pelletized Carbon, 9.5-oz bottle

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

3

$10.85 Chewy Price

($1.15/oz) Price per Unit

$21.57 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Eheim 2213 Canister Coarse Filter Pads, 2 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

4

$8.20 Chewy Price

($4.10/ea) Price per Unit

$10.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Laguna Phos-X Phosphate Remover Water Treatment, 5288 gal

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$49.12 Chewy Price

($0.01/gl) Price per Unit

$92.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns

Fluval Chi II Replacement Filter Pads, 3-pack

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$5.98 Chewy Price

($2.00/ea) Price per Unit

$14.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Dr. Tim's Aquatics Equalizer, 32-oz

$20.99 Chewy Price

($0.66/oz) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Fluval C4 Foam Pad Filter Media, 2 count

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

10

$6.77 Chewy Price

($3.39/ea) Price per Unit

$9.49 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Cobalt Aquatics Complete Freshwater Aquarium Granulated Carbon, 13-oz bottle

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$21.45 Chewy Price

($1.65/oz) Price per Unit

$24.51 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

AquaReady Media Reactor, 4.2-cup

Rated 2.3 out of 5 stars

3

$69.99 Chewy Price

$83.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns

Cobalt Aquatics Total Reef Superior Rechargeable Pollutant Removing Marine Aquarium Resins, 8-o...

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

1

$18.47 Chewy Price

($2.31/oz) Price per Unit

$24.63 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Cobalt Aquatics Ultra Carbon Quick Acting Granulated Carbon, 13.5-oz bottle

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

2

$16.51 Chewy Price

($1.23/oz) Price per Unit

$26.35 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

JBJ Aquarium Rimless Desktop Bio Aquarium Filter Media Replacement, 4 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$16.99 Chewy Price

($4.25/ea) Price per Unit

$18.00 List Price

Autoship Price

Free delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns
Arrives between Apr 12 and Apr 16

Fluval Edge Carbon Replacement Filter Media, 3 count

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12

$3.97 Chewy Price

($1.33/ea) Price per Unit

$7.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Dr. Tim's Aquatics Re-Mover, 16-oz

$13.59 Chewy Price

($0.85/oz) Price per Unit

$13.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Underwater Treasures Seapora Bio Balls, 3000 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars

6

$149.99 Chewy Price

($0.05/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders
Free 365-day returns

Fluval U1 Foam Pad Filter Media

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

15

$4.37 Chewy Price

($4.37/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Eheim Classic 600 Fine Foam Pad 2217 Filter Media

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

6

$17.99 Chewy Price

($17.99/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

Lifegard Filter Media FB300 Fluidized Bed Filter, 3-lb, 300-gal

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

1

$15.74 Chewy Price

($5.25/lb) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns
Arrives between Apr 13 and Apr 17

Marineland Duetto 50 Mechanical Prefilter Sponge Filter Media, 2 count

$3.99 Chewy Price

($2.00/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

JBJ Aquarium HB-45 Reaction HOB Aquarium Replacement Filter Media, 2 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

1

$15.00 Chewy Price

($7.50/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns
Arrives between Apr 12 and Apr 16

Eheim 2211 Canister Carbon Filter Pads, 3 count

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

2

$10.99 Chewy Price

($3.67/ea) Price per Unit

$12.99 List Price

Autoship Price

Free 1-3 day delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns

JBJ Aquarium HB-55 Reaction HOB Aquarium Filter Media, 2 count

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

2

$19.00 Chewy Price

($9.50/ea) Price per Unit

Autoship Price

Free delivery on first-time orders over $35
Free 365-day returns
Arrives between Apr 12 and Apr 16

Aquarium & Fish Tank Filter Media

Fluval Nano Bio-Foam Filter Media

Tetra Whisper Carbon Medium Filter Media, 2 count

Fluval C3 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Fluval C2 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Anjon Bio-Pro 4000 Pressure Pond Filter

Cobalt Aquatics Total Freshwater Aquarium Organic Removing & Ion Exchange Resins, 20-oz bottle

Boyd Chemi-Pure Grande Filter Media, 40-oz bottle

Eheim 2211 Canister Fine Filter Pads, 3 count

Fluval Chi II Filter Pad & Filter Foam Pad, Value Pack, Value Pack

Penn-Plax Poly Fiber Plus Aquarium Fish Filter Media Pad

Fluval C4 Bio-Screen Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Dr. Tim's Aquatics NP-Active Pearls Aquarium Cleaner, 3,785-mL bottle

Fluval C4 Poly/Foam Pad Filter Media, 3 count

Aqueon ProFlex 200 Micron Filter Bags, 2 count

Aquascape Dense Fish Filter Media

Cobalt Aquatics Long Lasting Pelletized Carbon, 9.5-oz bottle

Eheim 2213 Canister Coarse Filter Pads, 2 count

Laguna Phos-X Phosphate Remover Water Treatment, 5288 gal

Fluval Chi II Replacement Filter Pads, 3-pack

Dr. Tim's Aquatics Equalizer, 32-oz

Fluval C4 Foam Pad Filter Media, 2 count

Cobalt Aquatics Complete Freshwater Aquarium Granulated Carbon, 13-oz bottle

AquaReady Media Reactor, 4.2-cup

Cobalt Aquatics Total Reef Superior Rechargeable Pollutant Removing Marine Aquarium Resins, 8-o...

Cobalt Aquatics Ultra Carbon Quick Acting Granulated Carbon, 13.5-oz bottle

JBJ Aquarium Rimless Desktop Bio Aquarium Filter Media Replacement, 4 count

Fluval Edge Carbon Replacement Filter Media, 3 count

Dr. Tim's Aquatics Re-Mover, 16-oz

Underwater Treasures Seapora Bio Balls, 3000 count

Fluval U1 Foam Pad Filter Media

Eheim Classic 600 Fine Foam Pad 2217 Filter Media

Lifegard Filter Media FB300 Fluidized Bed Filter, 3-lb, 300-gal

Marineland Duetto 50 Mechanical Prefilter Sponge Filter Media, 2 count

JBJ Aquarium HB-45 Reaction HOB Aquarium Replacement Filter Media, 2 count

Eheim 2211 Canister Carbon Filter Pads, 3 count

JBJ Aquarium HB-55 Reaction HOB Aquarium Filter Media, 2 count

Brand

Aquarium Type

Fish Type

Aquarium Concern

Deals & Savings

Price

Customer Rating