Aquarium Filters, Filter Pads and Bio Media

A good aquarium filter keeps tank water clear and gives beneficial bacteria a home, which is why every fish tank needs one running all day. This page covers what Supertails stocks right now: reusable filter pads and bio media that work inside the filter you already own, plus a plain guide to choosing a fish tank filter by tank size.

To be upfront, motor filters, sponge filters and air pumps are not listed on this page today. If you are looking for them, the buyer's guide below explains each type so you can choose well, and you can shop the rest of your setup from the related collections. If you already run a filter and want to buy filter media online to refresh or upgrade it, you are in the right place.

Aquarium Filter Pads and Bio Media You Can Buy Today

These two products do different jobs inside a filter. One strains particles from the water, the other gives bacteria more surface to grow on.

QPets 8 Layer Reusable Filter Pad

The QPets 8 Layer High Density Reusable Aquarium Filter (₹545) is a filter pad, not a motor filter. It has eight layers of different density and can be cut to size, so you can fit it into wall-mounted, external, bottom and waterfall filters, or use it as a pre-filter. The listing describes it as reusable up to 200 times. Because it has no motor, it needs a filter or pump to move the water through it.

Splashy Fin Bio Media for Small Filters

Splashy Fin FishGuard Bio Media Crystal Clear Water for Small Filters (₹94) comes in a 100 mL pack and is made for compact filters in small tanks. Bio media gives beneficial bacteria extra surface to colonise, which helps the filter break down fish waste. It is an easy, low-cost add-on for a nano tank or a betta setup.

Which One Fits Your Setup?

Pick the pad if you are re-lining a filter that already has space for floss or want a washable pre-filter. Pick the bio media if you want more bacteria surface in a small filter. Many small tanks use both, with the pad catching particles first and the media holding bacteria behind it.

Shop Aquarium Filter Media by What Your Tank Needs

Filtration happens in three stages, and each stage suits a different need. Mechanical filtration removes particles, biological filtration breaks down ammonia and nitrite, and chemical filtration, such as activated carbon, is optional and helps with clarity.

Clearer Water from an Existing Filter

If your water looks dull or has floating bits, the mechanical stage is usually the place to start. A fine pad such as the QPets 8 Layer catches debris before it clogs the rest of the filter. Rinse it when flow slows, and replace it when it starts to break down.

A New or Small Tank That Needs More Bacteria Surface

A new tank has little beneficial bacteria, and a small filter has little room to hold it. Extra media such as Splashy Fin Bio Media adds surface area. A stable biofilter in a new tank typically takes several weeks, so add fish slowly and keep feeding light.

Protecting a Filter You Already Own

A pre-filter layer on an intake keeps larger debris out of the main media and out of the motor. Cut the pad to size, fit it over the intake or inside the compartment, and clean it more often than the rest of the filter.

Aquarium Filter Bestsellers at a Glance

Here is what is available right now, with current prices. Open a product for pack details before you buy.

Both items work with a filter you already have, so there is nothing to wire up. If you are still choosing a filter, read the buyer's guide next.

How to Choose the Right Fish Tank Filter

This guide covers the common types so you can choose well. The pad and media above are what we list on this page today.

Sponge, Hang-on-Back, Internal and Canister Filters Compared

A sponge filter uses an air pump to pull water through a sponge, giving mechanical and biological filtration with gentle flow, which suits breeding and hospital tanks. A hang-on-back filter hangs on the tank rim and returns water as a small waterfall. An internal filter sits inside the tank and suits small and medium setups. A canister filter sits outside the tank, holds more media and needs more upkeep, so it suits bigger tanks.

What Size Filter Does Your Tank Need?

Work out your tank volume first: length times width times height in cm, divided by 1,000, gives litres. A 60 x 30 x 35 cm tank is about 63 litres, a little less once gravel and decor are in. A common rule of thumb from aquarium retailers is a filter that turns over the tank volume about four times an hour, with less flow for planted tanks and small fish. Check the pack of any motor filter for its rated flow.

Gentle Flow for Bettas, Shrimp and Fry

Bettas, goldfish and shrimp can struggle with strong current. A sponge filter, a flow control knob or a sponge over the intake all reduce flow. If your betta is pushed around the tank, the flow is too strong.

How to Clean and Replace Filter Media

Rinse media when flow drops, and avoid cleaning everything at once, so you do not wipe out the beneficial bacteria. Many hobbyists prefer rinsing in a bucket of old tank water instead of under a running tap. Replace pads and media when they fall apart or stop holding their shape.

Why Buy Aquarium Filter Media from Supertails?

Supertails is India's pet care store with 10,000+ products across dogs, cats, birds and fish. Every product here is genuine, with the price and details on its product page, so you can check what you are buying before you pay. Your tank, food and filter media can all go in one cart.

Genuine Products and Honest Listings

We tell you what each item is and what it is not. The QPets item is a filter pad, not a motor filter, and the listing says so. Read the product page before ordering, as some items are non-returnable.

Complete the Rest of Your Tank Setup

A filter works best alongside clean, conditioned water. Browse aquarium water care to treat tap water, and use the related collections below for food, gravel and decor.

You look after your fish every day, and a clean filter is a big part of that. Shop filter pads and bio media on Supertails today and keep your tank water clear.

Aquarium Filter FAQs

Which is the best filter for a fish tank?

It depends on your tank size and fish. Sponge filters suit small tanks, fry and bettas, internal and hang-on-back filters suit small to medium tanks, and canister filters suit larger ones. Match the rated flow to your tank volume, and keep flow gentle for delicate fish. Supertails currently lists filter pads and bio media for use inside your existing filter.

What size filter do I need for my tank in litres or feet?

Work out litres by multiplying length, width and height in cm and dividing by 1,000. A common rule of thumb is a filter that turns over the tank volume about four times an hour, with less for planted tanks and small fish. Tank length in feet is only a rough guide, so check the filter's rated flow instead.

Can fish live without a filter?

Fish can survive short periods without a filter, but waste builds up and oxygen can drop, so it is not a good plan for the long term. A filter holds the bacteria that break down ammonia. If the filter stops, turn it back on soon, keep feeding light and do a partial water change with conditioned water.

How long do aquarium filters last?

It depends on the type, how hard it runs and how well it is kept. Motors can run for years with cleaning, while pads and media wear out sooner and should be replaced when they break down. The QPets pad is described on its listing as reusable up to 200 times.

What is the difference between mechanical, biological and chemical filtration?

Mechanical filtration removes particles from the water, usually through pads, floss or foam. Biological filtration uses bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. Chemical filtration, such as activated carbon, is optional and helps with clarity. Most tanks rely on the first two, with the chemical stage added when needed.

Is a sponge filter good for bettas and shrimp?

Yes, sponge filters are a popular choice because they give gentle flow, which bettas and shrimp prefer. They filter mechanically and biologically, and shrimp can graze on the sponge. They need an air pump to run. Supertails does not list sponge filters on this page today.

Sponge filter, hang-on-back or internal filter: which suits a small tank?

For a small tank with delicate fish, a sponge filter gives the gentlest flow. A hang-on-back filter is simple to maintain and easy to access, while an internal filter sits inside the tank and takes up some space. Pick by the fish you keep, and add a pad or bio media to improve filtration in whichever you choose.

How do I clean aquarium filter media?

Rinse media gently when flow slows, and avoid cleaning all of it at once so you keep the beneficial bacteria. Many hobbyists prefer rinsing in a bucket of old tank water instead of under a running tap. Replace pads and media when they fall apart or stop holding their shape.

What is the QPets 8 layer filter pad and what can I use it with?

It is a reusable, cut-to-size filter pad with eight layers of different density. The listing says it fits wall-mounted, external, bottom and waterfall filters, or works as a pre-filter. It has no motor, so you need a filter to move water through it. Measure your filter's media compartment before cutting.

Do I need an air pump with a sponge filter?

Yes. A sponge filter runs on air from an air pump, which pushes air up a tube and pulls water through the sponge. You also need airline tubing to connect them. Supertails does not list air pumps on this page today, so check the pump's rating against your tank size before buying elsewhere.