Fluval
Fluval is a long-running aquarium equipment brand best known for its canister and internal filters, replacement filter media, and a line of fish food. We stock a selection from the range, mostly the filtration side rather than the tanks and lighting Fluval also makes elsewhere.
What Fluval actually makes
Fluval's reputation is built on filtration. The U-series internal filters and their foam and carbon cartridges are the part of the range most fishkeepers will recognise, designed to sit inside smaller tanks and handle the mechanical and chemical filtering that keeps water clear between full cleans.
Alongside the hardware, Fluval also makes fish food under the Bug Bites name, formulated around black soldier fly larvae rather than fishmeal as the main protein. It comes in a few different formulas aimed at tropical fish and goldfish specifically, since the two have different dietary needs.
What we stock, and how the pieces fit together
Our range includes Fluval's U1 and U3 filter foam pads, the U3 carbon cartridge, the Mini underwater filter and its foam insert, and the two Bug Bites granule formulas for tropical fish and goldfish. That is a working set for a smaller tank rather than the full Fluval catalogue, which also covers larger canister filters and full aquarium kits we do not currently list.
If you already run a Fluval filter, the foam and carbon cartridges are consumables that need replacing on a schedule rather than left until the water clouds — a foam pad that has gone dark and compressed is doing far less than a fresh one, even if it still looks intact from the outside.
The Bug Bites food works alongside any filter, Fluval or otherwise, and is worth knowing about if you keep tropical fish or goldfish and want an alternative protein source to a fishmeal-based flake or pellet.
None of it is tied to owning a Fluval tank specifically — the filters are built to a standard size that fits a range of small to medium setups, and the food works in any tank regardless of which brand of filter or heater is running it.
From this brand
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Fluval Mini Foam Insert
Ridged foam filter inserts for the Fluval Mini Underwater Filter, supplied as a two-pack
£6.49
Fluval U3 Carbon Cartridge
Two poly and carbon cartridges for the Fluval U3, covering debris and dissolved waste
£8.49
Fluval U3 Filter Foam Pad
Fluval U3 foam pads that catch large debris as the filter's first mechanical stage
£7.89
Fluval U1 Filter Foam Pad
A foam filter pad made specifically to fit the Fluval U1 underwater filter
£6.09
Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Formula Granules
A slow-sinking tropical fish microgranule built on Black Soldier Fly Larvae, with salmon
£6.29
Fluval Bug Bites Goldfish Granules
A slow-sinking goldfish granule built on Black Soldier Fly Larvae, with added salmon
£6.29
Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Granules
Tropical fish granules with Black Soldier Fly larvae, slow-sinking so all levels of the tank feed
£6.29
Supa Condensation Tray
A 48-inch aquarium condensation tray, shielding the hood's electrics from tank water
£11.49
Aquatic Roman Gravel Jet Black
2kg jet black aquarium gravel, inert and colourfast for coldwater, tropical or marine tanks
£3.99
Pettex Aquatic Roman Gravel Natural Lakeland
Natural Lakeland-tone aquarium gravel for coldwater, tropical or saltwater tanks
From£3.99
Common questions
- How often should I change a Fluval filter cartridge?
- It depends on your tank's bioload, but a foam pad or carbon cartridge that looks compressed, discoloured or is visibly clogged is overdue. Rinsing foam gently in old tank water between full changes extends its life without wiping out the bacteria living in it.
- Is a Fluval internal filter enough on its own?
- For a smaller, lightly stocked tank, often yes. Larger tanks or heavier bioloads usually need more filtration capacity than a single small internal unit provides, so check the flow rate and tank size guidance on the specific model rather than assuming one size fits all.
- Can I use Fluval Bug Bites for both tropical fish and goldfish?
- Fluval makes separate formulas for each, and it is worth using the one matched to your fish rather than swapping freely, since tropical and goldfish diets are balanced differently for their typical size and metabolism.
- Does Fluval only make filters?
- No, the wider Fluval range also covers tanks, lighting and heating, but what we currently stock is focused on filtration media and fish food rather than the full equipment range.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.