The best canister filters, compared.
Top pick: Fluval 207 external filter – Highest score at 9.2 for a tank inside Fluval’s 60–220 litre band: 4.6 from 3,215 ratings at about £124.99, with AquaStop valves on the listing. Best value: Oase FiltoSmart 60 – Lowest price among complete canisters that still state a tank size and a flow: about £43.56, up to 60 litres, 300 L/h and 5 W. Updated 22.10.2026.
A canister filter is a sealed pot outside the aquarium. Hoses take water through mechanical foam, biological media, and often carbon, then return it to the tank. In the UK you buy one when an internal filter is too small, or when you want that media volume outside the glass. Match the maker’s stated litres, not the biggest flow number in the title. If both a pump output and a lower circulation figure are printed, use the lower one. Check that sponges can be replaced, that the impeller is primed wet, and that a shut-off stops a flood when you open the pot. UK mains are 230 volts. The flex has to suit a BS 1363 socket. Do not assume a three-pin plug from a photo. A leak near a socket means stop and unplug. Four to six tank volumes an hour is a hobby rule of thumb, not a law. Test ammonia and nitrite weekly. Both should read zero. How to match litres, flow, and media is set out in the [canister filter buying guide](/hub/diy-supplies/canister-filter/sub/canister-filter-buying-guide).
A canister filter is a sealed pot outside the aquarium. Hoses take water through mechanical foam, biological media, and often carbon, then return it to the tank.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What tank will you keep?
On a tank Fluval rates at 60–220 litres, the Fluval 207 (model A443) is specified for a pump output of 780 L/h and a lower filter circulation of 460 L/h, drawing 10 W at 230–240 V. Amazon.co.uk lists it at £124.99 with 4.6 from 3,215 ratings, and this ASIN prints 240 V, AquaStop valves and a vertical pre-filter. The litre band itself is on Fluval’s UK series page; the bullets do not print it. Many of the first UK reviews call the install straightforward. Some of those reviews mention noise, a drop in output until the pre-filter is cleaned, or a leak. The line “up to 25% quieter than the previous generation” is Fluval’s comparison with the older model, and these sources contain no decibel test. It is the top pick here when you will keep the aquarium inside that 60–220 litre band.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A community tank you will keep inside Fluval’s stated 60–220 litre band.
Less suitable: A tank up to 60 litres, or one that needs the 307’s 90–330 litre rating.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing state a tank size or flow rate?
No. The bullets name eTEC, AquaStop valves, and a vertical pre-filter. Tank litres and litres per hour are not in the bullets. Fluval’s UK series page states 60–220 litres, 780 L/h pump output and 460 L/h circulation.
What voltage does the listing print?
240 volts. Fluval’s series line for this model is 230–240 V at 10 W.
What do UK reviews repeat about setup?
Many of the first UK reviews call it easy to install. Some mention noise, a drop in output until it is cleaned, or a leak.
Fluval rates the 307 (model A446) for aquariums of 90–330 litres, with a pump of 1,150 L/h, filter circulation of 780 L/h, a 7.3 litre canister and 15 W on the 230–240 V line. Amazon.co.uk lists it at £159.99 with 4.5 from 2,623 ratings. The voltage row on this ASIN says 220 V, which stands beside Fluval’s 230–240 V line rather than replacing it, and the item-weight line says 2.72 kg while the title says 1 kg. Easy setup and quiet running are the common praise in the UK texts. Individual reviews mention a cracked top cover, a later pump fault, and a body that cracked and leaked after about five months. Those are single accounts, so they are a limit on this sample rather than a failure rate. The same “up to 25% quieter than the previous generation” sentence appears here as on the 207. Choose it when you want the larger canister and the 90–330 litre rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A tank above 220 litres, or a 90–330 litre aquarium where you want the 7.3 litre canister.
Less suitable: A tank you are happy to keep inside the 207’s 60–220 litre, 10 W band.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage is printed for this ASIN?
The listing row says 220 volts. Fluval’s series line for the 307 is 230–240 V at 15 W. Watts and flow are not in the amazon bullets.
Which weight figure is on the listing?
The item-weight line says 2.72 kg. The title says 1 kg. Both are printed. They are not averaged.
What faults appear in the UK reviews?
Individual reviews mention a cracked top cover, a later pump fault, and a body that cracked and leaked after about five months. Easy setup and quiet running are the common praise.
Fluval rates the 107 (part A440, model line HGA440NET) for 40–130 litres, with a pump of 550 L/h, circulation of 360 L/h, 10 W at 230–240 V and a 3.9 litre canister. Amazon.co.uk lists it at £109.99 with 4.4 from 1,755 ratings. This listing does not print watts or litres per hour; the bullets name eTEC and the quieter-than-previous-generation claim. Reviewers mention tanks of about 50 litres and about 125 litres, which is what they wrote, rather than a range printed on this page. One review says the first install took a long time because the silicone seal was fitted the wrong way. Other reviews mention a rattle or a leak after about four months. The title says 1 kg and the item-weight line says 2.22 kg. It fits a tank inside the 40–130 litre band when you seat that gasket in its only orientation.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A tank inside Fluval’s 40–130 litre band, including the roughly 50 litre tanks reviewers name.
Less suitable: An aquarium already in the 207’s 60–220 litre band if you want the larger 5.3 litre canister.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing state watts or litres per hour?
No. The bullets name eTEC, a quieter-than-previous-generation claim, and model HGA440NET. Fluval’s series page states 10 W, a 550 L/h pump and 360 L/h circulation.
What tanks do UK reviews mention?
Reviewers name about 50 L and about 125 L. That is review text, not a manufacturer range printed on this listing.
What setup fault is described?
One review says the first install took a long time because the silicone seal was fitted the wrong way. Other reviews mention a rattle or a leak after about four months.
The Hidom EX-1200 lists 28 W, 1,200 L/h and a recommended tank up to 600 litres, with four trays of ceramic rings, carbon, bio-balls and fine foam, at £64.94 and 4.1 from 100 amazon.co.uk ratings. The bullets also say freshwater, coldwater or tropical, and marine, and the size line is 415 × 240 × 230 mm at 5.41 kg. Fluval’s 307, at a similar pump figure of 1,150 L/h, is rated to 330 litres, so the 600 litre line is a different rating method. Reviews include quiet running and the price, and they also include leaks, a cracked body on arrival, and an impeller failure at about seven months. One UK review alleges fish deaths on the first day. That is one allegation. A review line of about £30 a week in electricity for 28 W does not sit beside Fluval’s published running-cost arithmetic, so it is not a bill to plan around. Buy it as a four-tray canister under £70 after those fault notes.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A four-tray canister under £70 when you treat the 600 litre line as Hidom’s own recommendation.
Less suitable: A buyer who reads 600 litres as if it were Fluval’s rating method.
Specifications
Common questions
What media is included?
Ceramic rings, activated carbon, bio-balls, and fine filter foam, across four trays.
Does the listing say marine?
Yes. The bullets say freshwater, coldwater or tropical, and marine, with a recommended tank size up to 600 litres.
What do UK reviews report going wrong?
Reviews include leaks, a cracked body on arrival, an impeller failure at about seven months, and one allegation of fish deaths on the first day. Other reviews call it quiet and affordable. That fish-death line is one review, not a measured rate.
The AQQA AQ150 lists 18 W, a stated flow of 1,200 L/h and tanks up to 250 litres, at £62.29 with 4.1 from 47 amazon.co.uk ratings. That single flow figure is the whole claim, where Fluval publishes a lower circulation beside the pump output. The listing names quartz balls, filter cotton, a flow-control valve, four sealing buckles and a 2-year warranty in a bullet. UK reviews praise quiet running and mention a spray bar, and they say branded replacement sponges were not sold, with one buyer cutting shop sponge to fit. One review reports a 250 litre tank, and another reports lost flow and a unit that ran hot on a 180 litre tank. Priming is absent from the bullets; reviews mention a priming button, without a stroke count. It is a canister under about £70 when you can source media yourself.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A budget buy under about £70 for a tank inside the stated 250 litre line, if you can replace the sponge yourself.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants Fluval’s review volume or a published filter-circulation figure.
Specifications
Common questions
What filter media does the listing name?
Quartz balls and filter cotton. UK reviews say replacement sponges were not sold and one buyer cut shop sponge to fit.
What tank size is stated?
Up to 250 L, at 18 W and 1,200 L/h. One review reports a 250 L tank. Another reports lost flow on a 180 L tank.
Are accessories included?
The title says complete accessories. The listing does not name every part. A review mentions a spray bar.
The Oase FiltoSmart 60 is specified for aquariums up to 60 litres at 300 L/h and 5 W, and amazon.co.uk lists it at £43.56 with 3.9 from 137 ratings. Oase’s en-GB page adds 230 V at 50 Hz, a head of 0.70 m, dimensions of 150 × 90 × 164 mm, and freshwater and saltwater. The bullets say a complete install set and that the unit can sit beside or behind the tank. Oase calls it self-venting, so the start is a full container, and the instructions say the pump must never run dry. Reviews mention stiff pipes, and one UK review says there was no hanging bracket, which matches the optional bracket 45051 that is not in the set. The listing calls the noise low, and reviews disagree. At an item-weight line of 850 g it is the compact canister in this set for a tank that really is up to 60 litres, which is where it is the best value.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A freshwater or marine tank up to 60 litres where a 5 W canister beside the tank is enough.
Less suitable: A 100–220 litre community tank that sits in the Fluval 207 band.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it comes with hoses?
The bullets say a complete set with the parts needed to install it. They do not print a hose length. Reviews mention stiff pipes.
Can the title be used for a marine tank?
The title says freshwater and marine aquariums up to 60 L. Oase’s en-GB page also says freshwater and saltwater.
Is a hanging bracket included?
The bullets say it can sit next to or behind the tank. A hanging bracket is not listed. One UK review says the unit had no bracket.
This unbranded canister, model string FK121 on ASIN B0GRMZD273, lists 30 W, 1,800 L/h and tanks of 40–250 litres at £99.99, with 3.8 from 10 amazon.co.uk ratings. The same FK121 string is printed on a different ASIN at 20 W and 1,400 L/h, so the model text identifies two listings. The bullets claim a pull-vent prime of 2–5 pumps, sponge, activated carbon and bio-balls, a valve cut-off, three adjustment points, and 28 dB, which is a listing sentence on a sample of ten ratings. One of those reviews says it leaked on first setup and would not pump, while others mention quiet running and room for media. The title says fresh and saltwater, and the item-weight line is 6.03 kg. At £99.99 it costs more than the AQQA and the Hidom while carrying far fewer ratings.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only if you accept a 10-review sample and you have checked this ASIN is the 30 W, 1,800 L/h page.
Less suitable: A shopper who wants thousands of ratings, or who treats FK121 as one model.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say saltwater?
The title says fresh and saltwater.
Is the model string unique?
This listing prints FK121. ASIN B0GRMY87ZP prints the same string with 20 W and 1,400 L/h. They are different listings.
How many UK reviews are on the listing?
Ten. One says it leaked on first setup and would not pump. Others mention quiet running and room for media.
This second unbranded canister also prints the model string FK121, on ASIN B0GRMY87ZP, at 20 W, a stated 1,400 L/h and 20–170 litres for £89.99. Amazon.co.uk shows 3.7 from 5 ratings, and four UK review texts are on the listing. The listing names sponge, activated carbon and bio-balls, a pull-vent of 2–5 pumps, three flow-adjustment points and 28 dB. That noise figure is the same kind of listing sentence as on the 30 W page, and these sources do not contain a measurement of it. A review mentions a tank of about 130 litres, inside the stated 20–170 litre line, and one buyer says they swapped in their own media. The item-weight line is 5.23 kg. Because the model string matches the 30 W, 1,800 L/h listing, the two pages are separate products with a shared label. Five ratings are too small a sample to set beside the Fluval 107 or 207.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A tank inside the stated 20–170 litre line only after you have confirmed this is the 20 W ASIN.
Less suitable: Anyone comparing it with the Fluval 107 or 207 on review volume.
Specifications
Common questions
What tank range is on the size line?
20–170 L, at 20 W and 1,400 L/h. A review mentions a tank of about 130 L.
What media is named?
Filter sponge, activated carbon, and bio-balls. One review says the buyer swapped in their own media.
How large is the UK review sample?
The listing shows 3.7 from 5 ratings. Four UK review texts are on the listing.
Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures stored for this set on 20 October 2026. This is not a lab noise test and not a measured turnover test. Each stored score is out of 100 and is shown here divided by 10. Stated tank size, a flow figure you can interpret, media you can replace, prime and shut-off, and review volume make the score. The highest score is the top pick. Best value is a different listing: the lowest price among complete canisters that still state a tank size and a flow, for tanks up to 60 litres.
Stated tank size
25%The maker’s litre range has to match the aquarium you keep. A large litres-per-hour title is not that range.
Flow you can read
20%Where a pump output and a lower circulation figure are both printed, the lower figure is the one to plan around.
Media and spares
20%Mechanical and biological media only help if you can replace the sponge without throwing the biomedia away.
Prime, shut-off and mains
20%A wet prime, a shut-off, and a flex that can suit a BS 1363 socket matter more than a quiet claim with no decibel test.
Review volume
15%Stars on thousands of amazon.co.uk ratings outweigh stars on a handful of reviews. Price alone does not carry the top pick.
Match the maker’s stated litres before you trust a litres-per-hour headline. A canister filter does not set the tank size. The maker’s range does. Prime it wet, keep a shut-off on the hoses, and do not assume a UK plug from a photo.
A canister filter is an external aquarium filter. A sealed pot sits outside the tank. Hoses carry water out and back. The pot holds mechanical foam, biological media, and often carbon. You buy one in the UK when an internal filter is too small for the stock, or when you want that media volume out of the glass. A sound buy matches a maker’s stated tank range, uses a flow figure you can interpret, has media you can replace in the UK, and keeps a seal through the first months.
A 1,200 L/h or 1,800 L/h title is a pump claim. It is not Fluval’s tank rating. Hidom’s 600 litre line is not the same method as Fluval’s 330 litre ceiling on a similar pump figure.
Do not replace all mechanical and biological media together, and do not rinse biological media under a hot tap. Rinse it in aquarium water. A canister does not remove nitrate well enough to skip water changes.
The same model string is printed on a 20 W, 1,400 L/h listing and a 30 W, 1,800 L/h listing. They are different ASINs. Do not file a Schuko plug to fit a UK socket.
Read the maker’s stated aquarium size in litres before you read the flow headline. A title that shouts 1,200 L/h or 1,800 L/h is a pump claim. It is not the same thing as a tank rating. Fluval publishes both a pump output and a lower filter-circulation figure. On the 207 those are 780 L/h and 460 L/h, for a stated 60–220 litres at 10 W. On the 307 they are 1,150 L/h and 780 L/h, for 90–330 litres at 15 W. On the 107 they are 550 L/h and 360 L/h, for 40–130 litres at 10 W.
Check that you can buy replacement sponges, not only the media in the box. A review that says branded sponges were not sold means you may be cutting shop sponge to fit. Prime the canister so the impeller never runs dry, and use a shut-off so a service does not empty the hoses onto the floor. Oase calls the FiltoSmart 60 self-venting. The Fluval 207 listing names AquaStop valves. UK mains are 230 volts. Do not assume a BS 1363 plug from a photo, and do not file a Schuko plug to fit.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are leaving an internal filter on a community tank you will keep inside 60–220 litres. The Fluval 207 is the top pick at about £124.99. It scores 9.2, with 4.6 from 3,215 ratings. Fluval states 10 W, a 780 L/h pump and 460 L/h circulation. The listing names AquaStop valves.
You want a small canister beside a tank that really is up to 60 litres, at the lowest price that still states litres and flow. The Oase FiltoSmart 60 is best value at about £43.56. It scores 7.8, with 3.9 from 137 ratings, at a stated 300 L/h and 5 W.
You want the larger canister, not the 207’s 60–220 litre band. The Fluval 307 scores 9.0 at about £159.99, with 4.5 from 2,623 ratings. Fluval states 15 W, circulation of 780 L/h and a 7.3 litre canister. The listing voltage row says 220 V.
The top pick is the Fluval 207 at about £124.99. It scores 9.2, the highest here, with 4.6 from 3,215 amazon.co.uk ratings, for a tank Fluval rates at 60–220 litres, 10 W, pump 780 L/h and circulation 460 L/h. Best value is the Oase FiltoSmart 60 at about £43.56. It scores 7.8, with 3.9 from 137 ratings, and it is specified for tanks up to 60 litres at 300 L/h and 5 W. That badge does not mean the 60 litre canister matches the 207.
Fluval 207 external filter
Highest score at 9.2 for a tank inside Fluval’s 60–220 litre band: 4.6 from 3,215 ratings at about £124.99, with AquaStop valves on the listing.
Oase FiltoSmart 60
Lowest price among complete canisters that still state a tank size and a flow: about £43.56, up to 60 litres, 300 L/h and 5 W.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Updated 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
