An aquarium water filtering system includes a first filtering section, a second filtering section, and a third filtering section. The first filtering section has a first housing configured to receive water, perform a first filtering action on the received water, and produce a first filtered water. The second filtering section has a second housing placed horizontally adjacent to the first housing and configured to receive first filtered water, perform a second filtering action on the first filtered water, and produce a second filtered water. The third filtering section has a third housing placed horizontally adjacent to the second housing and configured to receive the second filtered water, perform a third filtering action on the second filtered water, and produce a third filtered water for return to the aquarium.