5 Budget-friendly Internal Filters Suitable for Turtle Tanks

When managing a turtle tank, it’s your sole duty to clean it regularly.

Otherwise, within a few days, your tank will end up with the worst smell you could ever imagine.

So, with this in mind, think about your pet turtle.

How difficult would it be for them to survive in unhealthy water?

If you care for your pet turtle, you will start looking at a solution.

It’s OK if you don’t have much time for cleaning and maintaining the standards of a turtle tank.

You can set up an internal filter into your turtle tank and automate everything.

Once installed, it will also make the turtle tank a better environment for them to live in.

Now, talking about Internal filters, they are helpful because they:

  • Can be hidden easily: They don’t take up any room in the aquarium due to their compact size.
  • Are easy to install and operate: There is no need for you to be an engineer to use one of these filters since it’s plug-and-play.
  • Come with different cartridges that can be used for biological filtration, mechanical filtration, and chemical filtration.

Therefore, this post will list the best internal filters for practical and affordable turtles.

TetraFauna Internal Filters

The TetraFauna Internal Filter can be used for tanks with a capacity of up to 55 gallons.

It is suitable for aquatic turtles and other similar aquatic pets.

This filter system is built into the tank and works in three stages to clean and clear the water.

Mechanical filtration involves trapping floating matter in the water with a foam pad.

Biological filtration involves converting toxic ammonia into less harmful nitrite and then removing nitrates from the system.

Chemical filtration uses activated carbon to remove dissolved toxins from the water, making it safe for your pet turtle.

The TetraFauna Internal Filter also has a waterfall feature that looks more beautiful for your eyes.

This adds to the aesthetic appeal of your tank while also helping to circulate water and improving the quality of the environment inside.

It also has an extra tray where you can add a UV light or heater to make your pet more comfortable while they swim around it.

Marineland Magnum Polishing Internal Filter

The MarineLand Magnum Polishing Internal Filter is the 2nd filter I recommend buying for your turtle tank.

It is compact, efficient, and very effective in removing dissolved toxins from the water.

If you own a turtle tank, keeping it clean can be a challenge.

But a good filter can make your life much easier.

And Marineland Magnum Polishing Internal Filter does the job for small aquariums as well as larger aquariums of up to 100 gallons.

The filtration rate is 150gph (gallons per hour), and its flow rate can be adjusted with the help of a knob on top of the filter.

The flow rate determines how much water gets pulled through the filter.

A higher flow rate increases water movement, which improves oxygenation inside your tank and causes more debris to get into your tank’s water column.

If you want better filtration efficiency, turn down the flow rate a little bit but not turn it off entirely, or it might stop working.

You can use foam pads in addition to the cartridge provided by MarineLand to achieve better filtration results.

Just make sure that you replace these pads as often as possible.

FREESEA Internal Power Filter

FREESEA Internal Power Filter is designed to be placed at the back of your tank and discreetly hidden from view.

It comes with an adjustable flow rate so you can control how fast you want the water to be cleaned by altering the direction of the nozzle.

The flow rate can be increased or decreased, so you have complete control over it at all times.

The filter comes with a fine sponge that catches the tiniest waste particles in the water.

The unit also has activated carbon cartridges which help remove odors from the tank water and leave your aquarium smelling fresh.

The cartridge also helps to remove chlorine from tap water when refilling your tank or changing the water out completely.

The FREESEA internal power filter is easy to install as it comes with all necessary attachments such as suction cups, tubes, air valves, etc.

Therefore, you don’t need to buy anything extra to set up this filter.

Tetra Whisper Internal Filter

The Tetra Whisper Internal Filter features a combination of biological and mechanical filtration to ensure clean and clear water.

It helps maintain a healthy aquatic environment, thus eliminating the need for frequent water changes.

This internal filter is ideal for tanks that hold up to 40 gallons of water.

It comes with a hanging system that makes it easier to install and remove.

It has replaceable bio-bags, which make cleaning easy.

These bags also use replaceable bio-bags to eliminate foul smells, thus making your aquarium odor-free.

Therefore creating a waterfall effect, which your turtles will enjoy.

PULACO Internal Filters

Last but not least, the PULACO Aquarium Filter is another excellent little filter that’s easy to install and operate.

This filter comes with the capability to clean up the water of up to 20 gallons.

Therefore making it a suitable option for smaller turtle tanks.

It comes with two media compartments to add your favorite media, such as activated carbon and ceramic rings.

Once you’ve set this filter up, it’ll create a waterfall effect similar to TetraFauna & Tetra Whisper Internal Filter.

Overall, this waterfall effect enhances the breathing capacity of the turtles residing within the home aquarium.

This filter is more suited to freshwater setups than saltwater ones.

The PULACO aquarium filter has a minimum waterline requirement of 1.9 inches and operates on 2 watts of power.

Even though the full uses less power, the sound it generates can be bothersome for turtle tank owners.

However, compared to some of the leading Internal filters, this one is relatively quiet for your ears.

Unfortunately, the filter often gets full and dirty because it lacks a built-in foam or floss material that helps trap waste.

So, it would be best if you cleaned it regularly.

And I’m not just saying this for the sake of this post.

When it comes to taking care of your aquatic pets, I don’t think there’s anything easier than cleaning PULACO Internal Filter.

All you’ve to do is remove the impeller cover to access the screen for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Further Reading

5 Nutritious Foods You Should Feed Baby Tetras

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Aquarium Light?

6 Ways to Make Home Aquarium Water Safe for Fish?