Fluval 307 vs 407: Flow, Media Capacity & Tank Fit

The Fluval 307 and 407 share the same 07 Series architecture, but the 407 adds media volume, filter circulation, head pressure and a larger aquarium envelope at the cost of a taller canister and higher power draw. This comparison uses current Fluval documentation and current public product identities checked September 25, 2026, without treating price or availability as static. PetGearReport has not physically tested these filters, measured their installed flow or noise, or observed long-term durability.

#1 · Our PickBest fit in the 50–70 gal overlap

Fluval 307 Performance Canister Filter

Best for: 50–70 gallon overlap setups where the smaller canister height and lower 16W draw matter more than the 407's extra media and hydraulic headroom

9Score

What we like

• Fluval rates it for 40–70 US Gal aquariums
• 303 US GPH Pump Output and 206 US GPH Filter Circulation are published separately
• 3.1 L basket volume in a 16.5-inch-tall body
• 16W 120V power draw
• Same 07 Series pre-filter and media-tray architecture as the 407

What we don't

• 70-gallon upper manufacturer limit leaves less sizing headroom than the 407
• 3.1 L basket volume is smaller than the 407's 4.2 L
• 5.75 ft maximum head is lower than the 407's 7 ft

Fluval identifies the current 307 as item A446 / UPC 015561104463 for 40–70 US Gal / 90–330 L aquariums. The manufacturer publishes 303 US GPH Pump Output and, separately, 206 US GPH Filter Circulation at 120V/60Hz. Those are two different specifications and are not PetGearReport measurements.

The 307 provides 3.1 L of basket volume, 4.5 L total chamber volume and a 7.3 L canister volume. Its 120V power draw is 16W, maximum head pressure is 5.75 ft / 1.75 m, and the body is 9.5 x 7 x 16.5 inches.

Product identity evidence checked September 25, 2026: B07JH4JHTC matched Fluval 307 / model A446, without freezing current Amazon price or availability. In the shared 50–70 gallon overlap, the 307 is the more compact choice when its published capacity already meets the aquarium's needs.

Choose the 307 when its 40–70 gallon envelope already covers the aquarium and the smaller 16.5-inch canister, 3.1 L basket volume and 16W draw fit the cabinet and filtration plan.

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#2Best for extra media & headroom

Fluval 407 Performance Canister Filter

Best for: 50–100 gallon setups that benefit from more media volume, higher documented filter circulation or greater head-pressure allowance and have enough cabinet height

9Score

What we like

• Fluval rates it for 50–100 US Gal aquariums
• 383 US GPH Pump Output and 245 US GPH Filter Circulation are published separately
• 4.2 L basket volume and 6.0 L total chamber volume
• 7 ft maximum head pressure
• Same 07 Series maintenance architecture with more capacity

What we don't

• 19.3-inch canister is 2.8 inches taller than the 307
• 23W 120V draw is higher than the 307's 16W
• Extra capacity is unnecessary if the aquarium is comfortably served by the 307

Fluval identifies the current 407 as item A449 / UPC 015561104494 for 50–100 US Gal / 150–500 L aquariums. It publishes 383 US GPH Pump Output and 245 US GPH Filter Circulation at 120V/60Hz.

The 407 increases basket volume to 4.2 L, total chamber volume to 6.0 L and canister volume to 9.2 L. Maximum head pressure rises to 7 ft / 2.25 m, while 120V power draw rises to 23W and height increases to 19.3 inches. Width and depth remain 9.5 x 7 inches.

Product identity evidence checked September 25, 2026: B07JFY2QW6 matched Fluval 407 / model A449 / UPC 015561104494, without freezing current Amazon price or availability. The 407 is the stronger fit when the aquarium or plumbing layout benefits from that additional documented capacity; it is not automatically the better purchase for every tank in the shared range.

Choose the 407 when the larger 50–100 gallon envelope, 4.2 L basket volume, 245 GPH filter-circulation specification and 7 ft head limit solve a real sizing or installation need.

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How we researched and scored

PetGearReport has not physically tested the Fluval 307 or 407, measured their installed water flow, noise, priming behavior, debris capture or long-term durability. We compared current Fluval specifications, model identity, aquarium range, same-name hydraulic labels, media capacity, dimensions, power draw, head-pressure limits, maintenance architecture, replacement-parts documentation and current public product-identity evidence. Amazon pricing, temporary availability and customer-star ratings were not scoring inputs.

The displayed 1–10 number is a PetGearReport research score, rounded to the nearest whole number from the same five weighted categories for both filters:

• Tank fit & hydraulic documentation — 25%: exact aquarium range and clarity of Pump Output and Filter Circulation specifications.
• Media capacity & architecture — 25%: basket, chamber and canister volume plus the shared 07 Series pre-filter/media-tray design.
• Cabinet fit & installation — 20%: canister height, footprint and the practical clearance burden of the installed filter.
• Energy & hydraulic headroom — 15%: 120V wattage and maximum head-pressure allowance considered together rather than treating either as an automatic advantage.
• Documentation & parts support — 15%: current official model pages, item/UPC traceability, manuals and replacement-part support. | Filter | Tank fit / hydraulics 25% | Media capacity 25% | Cabinet fit 20% | Energy / headroom 15% | Docs / parts 15% | Weighted result | Published score | | — | —: | —: | —: | —: | —: | —: | —: | | Fluval 307 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9.10 | 9/10 | | Fluval 407 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9.20 | 9/10 |

Both round to 9/10 because they share a well-documented platform and solve adjacent sizing needs. The 307 appears first because the central decision on this page is the 50–70 gallon overlap, where its smaller cabinet height and lower power draw can make it the more economical fit when the extra 407 capacity is not needed. The 407’s slightly higher weighted result reflects additional media and hydraulic headroom, not a universal performance win.

Quick verdict

Choose the Fluval 307 when the aquarium is inside its 40–70 gallon range and the 3.1 L basket volume, 206 GPH Filter Circulation and 5.75 ft head limit already meet the setup. Its 16.5-inch height and 16W draw make it easier to justify in the shared range.

Choose the Fluval 407 when the aquarium is closer to or above the 307’s upper limit, you want 4.2 L of basket volume, or the plumbing layout benefits from the 245 GPH Filter Circulation and 7 ft maximum-head specification. Make sure the cabinet can accommodate a 19.3-inch-tall canister plus service clearance.

Fluval 307 vs 407 at a glance

What you gain by moving from 307 to 407

Inside the 50–70 gallon overlap, the 407 upgrade is justified only when its extra media volume, documented circulation, head allowance or larger aquarium envelope solves a real requirement. The 407 does not reduce the 9.5 × 7 inch cabinet footprint; it adds height, power draw and capacity.

The 50–70 gallon overlap is the real decision zone

The 307 is rated for 40–70 gallons, while the 407 is rated for 50–100 gallons. That creates a 50–70 gallon overlap where either model falls inside Fluval’s current manufacturer envelope.

Inside that overlap, “buy the bigger filter” is not a complete decision rule. The 407 adds 1.1 L of basket volume, 39 GPH of published Filter Circulation, 1.25 ft of maximum head allowance and a larger pre-filter area. It also adds 2.8 inches of canister height and raises 120V draw from 16W to 23W.

If those additional specifications solve a real media, plumbing or capacity requirement, the 407 makes sense. If they do not, the 307 gives you the same 07 Series service architecture in a shorter body.

For broader sizing context, use our aquarium filter size guide. It explains why a manufacturer range and model-specific hydraulic documentation are more useful than treating one generic turnover ratio as a universal rule.

Pump Output vs Filter Circulation

Fluval publishes two hydraulic numbers for each filter. For the 307, Pump Output is 303 US GPH while Filter Circulation is 206 US GPH. For the 407, Pump Output is 383 US GPH while Filter Circulation is 245 US GPH.

This distinction is useful because it prevents an apples-to-oranges comparison. Compare 303 versus 383 when discussing Pump Output. Compare 206 versus 245 when discussing Filter Circulation. Do not compare the 307’s Pump Output with the 407’s Filter Circulation and infer performance from the larger number.

PetGearReport has not measured installed flow for either model. Real system behavior can vary with media condition, hose routing, head height and maintenance state.

Media capacity and the shared 07 Series architecture

Both models route water through the vertical pre-filter before it rises through the media trays. The difference is scale rather than a completely different filtration concept.

The 307 publishes 3.1 L basket volume, 4.5 L total chamber volume and 7.3 L canister volume. The 407 increases those figures to 4.2 L, 6.0 L and 9.2 L respectively. Its vertical pre-filter area also rises from 803 cm² to 1074 cm².

More media volume can be useful when you need more mechanical, biological or optional chemical-media capacity, but volume alone does not replace correct media selection or maintenance. Our aquarium filter media guide explains the role of each media type and why the actual flow path matters.

Cabinet height, power and head pressure

The 307 and 407 share a 9.5 x 7 inch footprint, but the 407 is taller: 19.3 inches versus 16.5 inches. That 2.8-inch difference matters inside a cabinet because the canister also needs practical room above it for hose connections, valve handling and removal during service.

Power draw is another trade-off rather than a quality score. Fluval lists 16W at 120V/60Hz for the 307 and 23W for the 407. The 407 also raises maximum head pressure from 5.75 ft to 7 ft. That extra hydraulic allowance can matter when the return route is longer or higher, but it is unnecessary overhead if the 307 already fits the installation.

Check the real cabinet and hose route before ordering. Do not assume that nominal tank size alone proves that a taller canister will fit or that a higher head-pressure limit is required.

Which one should you buy?

Choose the Fluval 307 if:

• the aquarium is inside the 40–70 gallon manufacturer range;
• you are specifically in the 50–70 gallon overlap and do not need the 407’s extra capacity;
• a 16.5-inch canister is easier to service in your cabinet;
• 3.1 L of basket volume fits your media plan;
• the lower 16W draw is preferable when the larger model offers no practical benefit.

Choose the Fluval 407 if:

• the aquarium is above 70 gallons or you want the 50–100 gallon manufacturer envelope;
• 4.2 L of basket volume is useful for the planned media load;
• the setup benefits from 245 GPH published Filter Circulation or the 7 ft head limit;
• the cabinet safely accommodates a 19.3-inch canister plus service clearance;
• the additional 23W draw is justified by a real capacity or plumbing need.

If the smaller 207 is also a finalist, start with our Fluval 207 vs 307 comparison. If you are still comparing canister brands rather than just these two Fluval sizes, use our best aquarium canister filters guide. If OASE is the alternative to the 407, our Fluval 407 vs OASE BioMaster 2 350 comparison focuses on pre-filter service, non-equivalent flow labels and cabinet fit. If you are deciding whether to leave the 07 Series for the FX platform, the Fluval 407 vs FX2 comparison covers that exact bridge. If you need to compare sizes within the larger FX platform, the Fluval FX2 vs FX4 comparison separates capacity, circulation and cabinet-footprint differences. For a broader filter-type decision, see best aquarium filters or the canister filter vs HOB comparison.

Exact product identity verification

Product identity evidence checked September 25, 2026: B07JH4JHTC matched Fluval 307 / model A446, while B07JFY2QW6 matched Fluval 407 / model A449 / UPC 015561104494. Fluval identifies A446 / UPC 015561104463 for the current U.S.-market 307 and A449 / UPC 015561104494 for the current 407, without freezing current Amazon price or availability.

The Fluval 307 evidence is intentionally anchored at model A446 because public marketplace catalog data does not reproduce the current Fluval UPC consistently; the current manufacturer UPC is therefore kept as a separate primary-source identifier. This preserves an auditable ASIN-to-model link without inventing a stronger marketplace ASIN-to-UPC cross-key than the evidence supports. No direct Amazon product-page probe was used for this refresh.

Sources

• Fluval — 307 Canister Filter — item A446, UPC 015561104463, aquarium range, Pump Output, Filter Circulation, media volumes, head pressure, wattage and dimensions.
• Fluval — 407 Canister Filter — item A449, UPC 015561104494, aquarium range, Pump Output, Filter Circulation, media volumes, head pressure, wattage and dimensions.
• Fluval — 07 Series — shared architecture, model lineup, flow path, maintenance features and current model comparison.
• PriceHistory — Fluval 307 product record — public ASIN B07JH4JHTC to model A446 identity evidence; marketplace GTIN/UPC fields are not used as the canonical manufacturer identifier.
• PriceHistory — Fluval 407 product record — public ASIN B07JFY2QW6 to model A449 identity evidence.