Aquarium Air Pumps

LEARN ABOUT AQUARIUM AIR PUMPS

Air pumps are generally used in aquariums for three purposes: To power an undergravel filter, to aerate the water or to power decorations, ornaments and designer air stones

Their use for undergravel filters is necessary. Air is pumped via a slim tube and airstone to the bottom of the aquarium where it creates a tower of air rising back to the surface of the tank. The air takes with it water that comes from underneath the undergravel filter plate.

In order for water to get underneath the filter plate, it has to pass through the gravel bed where it is filtered before being drawn up the air tube with the air bubbles, returning to the surface.

The tower of water drawn from under the filter not only filters the water, but also aerates the water when the bubbles reach the surface and agitate the top of the water, increasing the oxygen uptake. (Full hoods on top of aquariums often hinder oxygen exchange. An air pump attached to some type of airstone will draw fresh air from outside the tank into the closed system under the hood.) Air pumps used for aeration also help to reduce the build-up of harmful gasses such as carbon dioxide which can stealthily lower the pH of your tank.

Fish must have a nice high oxygen content in the water. The beneficial bacteria (growing in the gravel bed) that process the water waste also depend on it. Without beneficial bacteria, the water would become concentrated with toxic chemicals.

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Air pumps used for undergravel filters are easy to size. Most manufacturers size them according the size of your tank. If you are using the air pump for the undergravel filter alone, choose the one recommended by the manufacturer.

If you will expect your air pump to also power decorations, toys, or fancy aeration bubble wands, take that into account before you size it. Purchase a larger than recommended pump (at least one size larger than your tank) to accommodate the extra power needed for add-ons.

If you are using the air pump to power a protein skimmer, it must be substantially more powerful to get the most efficient skimming action. Some air stones such as wooden airstones need a significantly higher pressure air pump because their pores are so tiny that it takes more power to push them. The smaller the bubbles the better your skimmer will work, so wooden air stones are usually preferred for that purpose and a more powerful pump is needed to run them.

If your tank is very deep, purchase a deep-water air pump or a size larger than the recomended size for your tank volume. Deeper water requires more powerful air pressure.

Your pump's life and efficiency is greatly affected by the air stone. Change them and clean them frequently. If they get clogged, they will not put out enough bubbles and it will take more power to get air through them, straining the pump and reducing the efficiency of their operation. see Air Stones

Attach your pump outside the aquarium on the table or stand as close as possible to the tank. Use airline tubing to direct the air into the filter's uprights. Use an airline tubing splitter valve if you wish to direct some of th air to decorations.

Some people don't like the sound of an air pump disturbing their peaceful aquarium panorama. Choose the famous "Whisper" pump or consider a powerhead instead.