Want a fish tank but need a quiet filter

[TinyMouseTheatre]

We always had fish growing up and I'd like to get a tank, not sure if I fancy cold water or tropical, I have experience of looking after both.

The thought of a noisy filter in the lounge is putting me off though.

Which filters are the quietest?

I’ve got a Biorb tank and you wouldn’t know it was there most of the time as it’s really quiet. Mine is 105L and I had to get a standard heater and adaptor stand for it as the Biorb heaters are only suitable for tanks up to 60L. They are pretty simple to keep clean and maintain.

Thanks so much @Iheartmysmart. I do like the look of those.

Can I ask what fish you have?

I only have two currently, a Siamese flying fox and a pleco. They were rescue fish which sounds ridiculous but they belonged to a relative who wasn’t looking after them properly and had them in a tiny tank. They need something bigger than the 105L ideally but I don’t have the space. They are very entertaining for fish!

Internal filters will generally be quieter than external canisters or hang on back ones because the whole thing is submerged in the water. If you're using an internal filter then I'd not suggest anything like goldfish if you are thinking coldwater, goldfish are mess machines and need a lot of water volume and strong filtration to manage all the... output. I've not had other coldwater fish though so can't speak to them. What size tank are you thinking? I think tropical would open up a lot more options generally, for fish and for equipment tbh.

Just to say though, I've had all types of filters in the past and I find a good quality external is barely noticeable for sound, especially if the tank stand has a cabinet that you keep it in.