Canister, Hang-On or Internal: Which Filter Suits Your Tank

All three do the same three jobs. They differ in where the hardware sits and how much of it you can hide.

Canister

Sits below the tank in the cabinet. Largest media capacity, quietest in the room, most work to service. The sensible choice above roughly 100 litres.

Hang-on / power filters

Clip on the back rim. Easy to service, cheap to run, visible from behind. Good for mid-sized tanks and for anyone who dislikes plumbing.

Internal

Fully submerged, no external parts at all. Least capacity, but nothing to leak and nothing on show — often the right answer in a small or heavily viewed tank.