Fish Tank Filter Pumps ([year]) Review: Comparison

 

What is a Fish Tank Filter Pump?

An aquarium pump is a small device equipped with an electric motor. It makes the water move in a specified direction at a specified speed. Frequently, a pump is an integral part of the whole filtering system. It pushes the water to the filter and forces it to pass through the filtering media.

Choosing an aquarium filter pump, one needs to consider several things. First and foremost, it’s a type of filter it is compatible with. Another important characteristic is the flow rate – this is the volume of water the pump can process per hour. Other things to consider include the pump type (in-line, submersible, etc.), noise level, wattage, its dimensions, and so on. Keep on reading to know what our top picks in the category of fish tank pumps are.

The Best Fish Tank Filter Pumps: a Comparative Chart

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Best Choice

Homasy Submersible Water Pump review

Homasy Submersible Water Pump

  • Type: Submersible
  • Flow rate: 80 GPH max
  • Tank size: Up to 10 gallons
  • Dimensions, inches: 1.8 x 1.2 x 1.7

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Also great

Simple Deluxe Submersible Pump review

Simple Deluxe Submersible Pump

  • Type: Submersible or inline
  • Flow rate: 400 GPH max
  • Tank size: Up to 100 gallons
  • Dimensions, inches: 5.35 x 2.72 x 3.39

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Also great

KEDSUM Submersible Pump review

KEDSUM Submersible Pump

  • Type: Submersible
  • Flow rate: 550 GPH
  • Tank size: Up to 130 gallons
  • Dimensions, inches: 3.8 x 4.7 x 2.8

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Also great

HISP Fountain Pump review

HISP Fountain Pump

  • Type: Submersible
  • Flow rate: 220 GPH
  • Tank size: Up to 60 gallons
  • Dimensions, inches: 3.1 x 2.7 x 1.9

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Also great

Fannel Submersible Water Pump review

Fannel Submersible Water Pump

  • Type: Submersible
  • Flow rate: 220 GPH
  • Tank size: Up to 50 gallons
  • Dimensions, inches: 3.1 x 2.7 x 1.9

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Top-5 Products in the Category of Fish Tank Filter Pumps: Our Choice

A good aquarium pump is the one that does its job of pumping water exactly as expected while producing minimum noise. Besides, they must be durable, reliable, and easy to maintain. Our top-five pumps meet these basic requirements and offer some interesting extra features.

Homasy Submersible Water Pump

Homasy Submersible Water Pump

Review

This compact fully submersible pump is perfect for small fish tanks and mini ponds. It allows to adjust the flow rate, which makes it possible to adapt it for various aquariums. A nice extra feature is that it comes with two nozzles – 0.33 and 0.51 inches in diameter. If you need an inexpensive 5 gallon fish tank filter pump, it’s quite the thing!

What we think

It is as quiet as a pump can be and very small. Actually, it is almost invisible in a fish tank. Assembling and installing is pretty straightforward; you will cope with it even without a manual. However, the suction cup is not great.

PROS

  • quiet and small;
  • two nozzles available;
  • adjustable flow rate.

CONS

  • the suction cup is not great.
Simple Deluxe Submersible Pump

Simple Deluxe Submersible Pump

Review

Those looking for a high efficiency and versatility may safely rely on this powerful 400-GPH pump by Simple Deluxe. It can be fully submerged in the water or act as an inline pump depending on the construction of your filtration system. A built-in pre-filter prevents the pump from getting clogged, while an adjustable flow rate and two sets of nozzles included add versatility.

What we think

We love both the feature set and design of the pump. It is really versatile and suits for indoor and outdoor use. That being said, there are complaints about leaks, which occur when it is used as an inline pump externally.

PROS

  • powerful and versatile;
  • two sets of spare nozzles;
  • good adjustability.

CONS

  • not 100% leak-proof.
KEDSUM Submersible Pump

KEDSUM Submersible Pump

Review

This is a powerful submersible pump for large fish aquariums and outdoor ponds. Its distinctive features are a low power consumption, quiet operation, and an improved versatility. The pump comes with 3 nozzles of different sizes and a long, 4.6-ft power cord.

What we think

You’ll find more than one application for this KEDSUM pump: mount it vertically or horizontally, indoors or outdoors. It is lightweight and compact, which makes it invisible in a fish tank or a pond. We haven’t found official warranty information, but the customer service is helpful and responsive.

PROS

  • consumes little energy;
  • for indoor and outdoor use;
  • 3 power outlets included.

CONS

  • unclear warranty terms.
HISP Fountain Pump

HISP Fountain Pump

Review

If you want to have your cake and eat it too, consider buying this tiny filter pump, which provides a beautiful visual effect while effectively moving the water. It comes with 12 bright LED lights, which act as night lighting. On top of this, the pump has an impressive flow rate of 220 GPH and comes with two different nozzles.

What we think

This is one of the best fish tank filter pumps for the money with a feature of LED lighting. There are no complaints about its features or reliability. If you are going to use the pump outdoors, keep in mind its power cord is not too long – just 27.5 inches.

PROS

  • compact but powerful;
  • 12 LED lights;
  • two nozzles included.

CONS

  • the power cord is not very long.
Fannel Submersible Water Pump

Fannel Submersible Water Pump

Review

This is another great multi-purpose water pump with LED lights, which can be easily integrated into the filtration system of a fish tank or serve as a decoration in a garden pond. While being powerful enough to process 220 gallons of water per hour, the unit is small and quiet. The flow rate is adjustable. Two spare nozzles of different sizes are included.

What we think

We are impressed with how versatile, quiet, and, at the same time, cheap this pump is! Its build quality is decent, and it does work as it should. Excellent adjustability gives you a lot of freedom in terms of the sphere of its application.

PROS

  • rich in features;
  • bright LED lights;
  • powerful and reliable.

CONS

  • not really.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s important to choose the right aquarium pump. It’s equally important to use it correctly. By giving a due maintenance to your fish tank filter pump, you increase its lifespan.

Q: How to Clean a Fish Tank Filter Pump?

A: Always unplug your pump before cleaning! Stop the filtration system temporarily and take the pump out of the water. Use the manual to disassemble it correctly. Remove all the large debris by hand; then rinse the pump in running water.

Q: How to Make a Fish Tank Pump Filter Quieter?

A: The best solution is to buy a good water or air pump filter for fish tank, which won’t disturb you much. Also, it’s important to keep the maximum water level – it will reduce the noise. Don’t forget about regular cleaning.

Q: A Fish Tank Filter Pump: How to Get Working?

A: Installing submersible pumps is as easy as placing them into the water and attaching to the bottom or the back of the fish tank. Mind they must be completely covered with water! When it comes to installing an inline pump, you need to choose appropriate nozzles and attach the pump to the inflow and/or the outflow tubes of the filtration system. Use the manual to do it correctly.

Q: What Size Pump and Filter Do You Use for a 120-Gallon Fish Tank?

A: You need a pump with a flow rate of approximately 550 GPH to handle a 120-gallon tank effectively. Alternatively, you can use two smaller pumps.

 

Verdict and Recommendations

There are a lot of good professional fish tank filter pumps to choose from. Our pick in this category is a multi-purpose pump from Simple Deluxe. Its main distinctive feature is versatility: you can use it as a submersible or an inline pump depending on the circumstances.

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