With the exception of your aquarium, your filter is probably the most expensive equipment you have to invest for your red eared slider. Your turtles only stay healthy in a well managed and established tank with the best filter for red eared slider tank.
However, I know that most of the name-brand filters are ridiculously overpriced considering than what they really do. If you are in the budget, it is not easy to look for the costly filter with a good build quality. You can check my filter recommendations below to choose the one that suit your budget.
#1 Expensive filter
If money’s not an object to you, then you won’t go wrong with a Fluval filter series and Eheim canister filter. They’re great filters that are very powerful. If you have the large tank about and want to invest in a high-quality filter than Fluval is the best choice for you. The biggest downside to Fluval filters is only the price.
EHEIM filers are pretty cheaper than Fluval, these filters run from $70 to $120. They are cheaper than the Fluval filters but still effective. However, they don’t have as many choices in terms of sizes.
#2 Reliable price filter
I would suggest any of Penn-Plax Cascade series filter for who are looking for something cheaper but still reliable. Penn Plax Cascade canister filters are a very good value for the money. They certainly are reasonably priced, they do appear to be very well-made, and they get pretty good reviews on online markets. They have filters for nearly every sized tank from 30 gallons to 200 gallons.
Marineland canister filters are also another filter that make me pleased with its overall build quality and performance and the price.
#3 Cheaper filter
There are nothing better than SunSun Filter for something that is just as high quality but not as expensive and for a smaller tank. These filters run from $40 to $100. They have sizes for tanks anywhere from 50 to 150 gallons.
They are also well built with large tray that make it easy to use custom media. Sun Sun filters have been greatly recommended among many red eared slider owners for a while now.