Fluval 407 vs FX2: Flow, Media Capacity & Cabinet Fit

The Fluval 407 and FX2 bridge two different canister platforms. The 407 fits Fluval's 50–100 US Gal range in a narrow 9.5 x 7-inch footprint, while the FX2 expands the manufacturer capacity ceiling to 175 US Gal and raises Filter Circulation to 343 US GPH in a much wider but shorter body. This comparison uses current Fluval documentation and exact product-identity evidence checked September 24, 2026. PetGearReport has not physically tested these filters, measured installed flow or noise, or observed long-term durability.

#1 · Our PickBest when 50–100 gal capacity is enough

Fluval 407 Performance Canister Filter

Best for: Aquariums inside Fluval's 50–100 gallon range where a narrow cabinet footprint, 23W draw and 07 Series media architecture fit the installation better than the wider FX2

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
• Narrow 9.5 x 7-inch cabinet footprint
• 23W 120V draw
• 7 ft published maximum head

What we don't

• 19.3-inch body is taller than the FX2
• 100-gallon upper manufacturer range is below the FX2's 175-gallon ceiling
• 245 GPH Filter Circulation is below the FX2's 343 GPH

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, separately, 245 US GPH Filter Circulation at 120V/60Hz. Those are manufacturer specifications, not PetGearReport measurements.

The 407 publishes 4.2 L basket volume, 6.0 L total chamber volume and 9.2 L canister volume. Its 120V draw is 23W, maximum head pressure is 7 ft / 2.25 m, and the body measures 9.5 x 7 x 19.3 inches.

Product identity evidence checked September 24, 2026: B07JFY2QW6 matched Fluval 407 model A449 / UPC 015561104494, without freezing current Amazon price or availability. The 407 is the cleaner fit when its documented capacity is sufficient and the installation benefits from the much narrower cabinet footprint.

Choose the 407 when its 50–100 gallon envelope already covers the aquarium and the narrow 9.5 x 7-inch footprint is more valuable than the FX2's extra capacity and circulation.

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#2Best for extra capacity & circulation

Fluval FX2 High Performance Canister Filter

Best for: Systems that genuinely benefit from the up-to-175-gallon manufacturer envelope, 343 GPH Filter Circulation, larger overall canister body or shorter 16.5-inch cabinet height

9Score

What we like

• Fluval publishes an aquarium capacity up to 175 US Gal / 750 L
• 475 US GPH Pump Output and 343 US GPH Filter Circulation are published separately
• 10.6 L canister volume with 178 in² mechanical area
• 16.5-inch height is lower than the 407
• 3.9 L published biological volume

What we don't

• 13.4 x 13.4-inch footprint uses substantially more cabinet floor space
• 27W 120V draw is higher than the 407's 23W
• 6.9 ft maximum head is slightly below the 407's 7 ft

Fluval identifies the current FX2 as item A213 / UPC 015561102131 for aquariums up to 175 US Gal / 750 L. It publishes 475 US GPH Pump Output and, separately, 343 US GPH Filter Circulation at 120V/60Hz.

The FX2 publishes 10.6 L canister volume, 178 in² / 1150 cm² mechanical area and 3.9 L biological volume. Its 120V draw is 27W, maximum head pressure is 6.9 ft / 2.1 m, and its body measures 13.4 x 13.4 x 16.5 inches.

Product identity evidence checked September 24, 2026: B0BM9NBRW1 matched Fluval FX2 model A213 / UPC 015561102131, without freezing current Amazon price or availability. The FX2 is the stronger fit when the aquarium or cabinet benefits from its higher capacity/circulation envelope or shorter height enough to justify the much wider footprint.

Choose the FX2 when its additional documented capacity or circulation, or its shorter body, solves a real requirement that the 407 does not.

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How we researched and scored

PetGearReport has not physically tested the Fluval 407 or FX2, measured their installed water flow, noise, priming behavior, debris capture or long-term durability. We compared current Fluval specifications, exact model identity, aquarium-capacity guidance, same-name hydraulic labels, media architecture and published volumes, dimensions, power draw, maximum-head specification, parts support 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 guidance and clarity of Pump Output and Filter Circulation specifications.
• Media capacity & architecture — 25%: published media/canister metrics evaluated within each platform without treating different labels as interchangeable.
• Cabinet fit & installation — 20%: footprint, canister height and practical service access.
• Energy & hydraulic headroom — 15%: 120V wattage and maximum-head 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.

Both round to 9/10 because each solves a different installation problem. The 407 appears first because, when its 50–100 gallon manufacturer range is already sufficient, the narrow footprint and lower draw are a strong default. FX2 becomes the stronger choice when its extra capacity, circulation or shorter body solves a requirement the 407 cannot.

Quick verdict

Choose the Fluval 407 when the aquarium is within its 50–100 US Gal / 150–500 L range and the narrow 9.5 x 7-inch footprint matters. It publishes 245 US GPH Filter Circulation, 23W draw and 7 ft maximum head.

Choose the Fluval FX2 when the aquarium or filtration plan genuinely benefits from its up-to-175 US Gal / 750 L manufacturer envelope, 343 US GPH Filter Circulation or shorter 16.5-inch body. Its trade-off is the much wider 13.4 x 13.4-inch footprint and 27W draw.

Fluval 407 vs FX2 at a glance

The hydraulic numbers are directly comparable only when the labels match: Pump Output versus Pump Output, or Filter Circulation versus Filter Circulation. Pump output and filter circulation are different specifications and should not be combined into one universal flow ranking. In short, pump output and filter circulation are different specifications.

What changes when you move from 407 to FX2

The same-label deltas make the upgrade trade-off clearer: FX2 adds published capacity, Pump Output, Filter Circulation and canister volume, but it also adds power draw and floor-area requirements while giving up a small amount of published maximum head. The 407 basket volume and FX2 biological volume remain non-equivalent metrics and should not be converted into a direct media-capacity winner.

The cabinet trade-off is width versus height

These filters ask for very different cabinet geometry. The 407 measures 9.5 x 7 x 19.3 inches. FX2 measures 13.4 x 13.4 x 16.5 inches.

That makes FX2 2.8 inches shorter, but it needs substantially more floor area. The 407 is taller, yet its 7-inch depth and 9.5-inch length can fit cabinets that simply cannot accommodate a 13.4-inch square canister.

Measure the real cabinet opening, internal depth, usable floor area, hose route and service clearance before ordering. A shorter canister is not automatically easier to install if its footprint does not fit.

Capacity and circulation: when FX2 earns the larger footprint

Fluval publishes the 407 for 50–100 US Gal / 150–500 L aquariums. FX2 is published for aquariums up to 175 US Gal / 750 L. The two labels are not formatted identically: the 407 has a manufacturer range, while FX2 publishes an upper-capacity figure rather than a lower bound.

The FX2 also raises Pump Output from 383 to 475 US GPH and Filter Circulation from 245 to 343 US GPH. Those are manufacturer specifications, not PetGearReport measurements of installed flow.

If the aquarium is comfortably inside the 407 range and its media/circulation specifications already meet the setup, the FX2’s larger numbers do not create an automatic benefit. The stronger FX2 case is a real need for the larger documented capacity/circulation envelope or its shorter body.

For broader sizing context, use our aquarium filter size guide. It explains why manufacturer capacity, hydraulic labels, head pressure, media condition and livestock context should not be reduced to one universal turnover rule.

Maximum head does not favor FX2

Fluval publishes 7 ft / 2.25 m maximum head for the 407 and 6.9 ft / 2.1 m for FX2. The difference is small, but the direction matters: do not justify FX2 as having more published head-pressure capability.

Power draw is also modestly higher for FX2: 27W versus 23W at 120V/60Hz. Neither wattage number is a quality score; it belongs in the installation and operating trade-off.

Media capacity: compare labels, not just liters

The 407 and FX2 use different internal architectures, and Fluval publishes different media metrics for them.

For the 407, Fluval publishes 4.2 L basket volume, 6.0 L total chamber volume and 9.2 L canister volume. For FX2, Fluval publishes 10.6 L canister volume, 3.9 L biological volume and 178 in² / 1150 cm² mechanical area.

The 4.2 L basket volume on the 407 and 3.9 L biological volume on FX2 are not equivalent media metrics. They describe different things in different architectures. The defensible direct comparison is the same-label canister volume: 9.2 L for 407 versus 10.6 L for FX2. Even then, total body volume does not tell you exactly how much of each media type should be installed.

Our aquarium filter media guide explains mechanical, biological and optional chemical media by function and why the actual flow path matters more than chasing one headline liter figure.

Which one should you buy?

Choose the Fluval 407 if:

• the aquarium is inside Fluval’s 50–100 gallon range;
• the 9.5 x 7-inch footprint fits the cabinet better;
• 245 GPH Filter Circulation and the published media architecture meet the setup;
• the 7 ft maximum-head specification is sufficient;
• the lower 23W draw is preferable when FX2 does not solve another requirement.

Choose the Fluval FX2 if:

• the system genuinely benefits from the up-to-175-gallon manufacturer envelope;
• 343 GPH Filter Circulation serves a documented circulation need;
• the 16.5-inch height works better than the taller 407;
• the cabinet can accommodate the 13.4 x 13.4-inch footprint plus service clearance;
• the FX platform’s canister/media architecture fits the intended filtration plan.

If the 407 is already the right platform but you are choosing between 07 Series sizes, use our Fluval 307 vs 407 comparison. If the alternative is OASE rather than FX, use our Fluval 407 vs OASE BioMaster 2 350 comparison for the maintenance, flow-label and cabinet trade-off. If FX2 is the starting point, continue to Fluval FX2 vs FX4. To compare these models with other canister options, use our best aquarium canister filters guide or the broader best aquarium filters guide.

Exact product identity verification

Product identity evidence checked September 24, 2026: B07JFY2QW6 matched Fluval 407 model A449 / UPC 015561104494, and B0BM9NBRW1 matched Fluval FX2 model A213 / UPC 015561102131, without freezing current Amazon price or availability. Current Fluval documentation independently matches those model and UPC identities. No direct Amazon product-page probe was used for this refresh.

Sources

• Fluval — 407 Canister Filter — item A449, UPC 015561104494, aquarium range, Pump Output, Filter Circulation, basket/chamber/canister volumes, head pressure, wattage and dimensions.
• Fluval — FX2 Canister Filter — item A213, UPC 015561102131, aquarium capacity, Pump Output, Filter Circulation, canister/biological volume, mechanical area, head pressure, wattage and dimensions.
• Fluval — FX Series — current FX2/FX4/FX6 model-family context and comparison matrix.