Air Pump

[cornishlass]

I need a new air pump and cant decide which one, the following are available locally, I was wondering if anyone has one of the following and what you think of it, or if you know which is the better choice.

Air pumps

Hydor Air 3 Submersible
Clearseal air pump
Elite air pump
Interpet Air volution
Interpet Aqua air
Rena Air
Tetratec air pump
New air pump

I must admit I like the sound of the first one that’s submersible as we have limited space around the tank.

 

[waterdrop]

Hopefully some opinions will come along between the different ones. I don't really have an opinion because usually all air pumps are too noisy for my taste. Hydor is a good company. I have their external heater and a Koralia powerhead. Just be aware though that being inside the tank doesn't always take away all the vibration noise - my Koralia holds on to the inside of the tank via magnet and I had to put the whole thing on a timer because I don't like hearing the hum during the hours we are home. I don't know whether the submersible air pump would attach to the inside glass or just sit on the substrate.

Hopefully you have the bubbles as an aesthetic choice, right? They can be quite beautiful and do sometimes help lift some of the lower water upward in tanks that don't otherwise have much water movement. But they don't really add hardly at all to gas exchange. That job falls to the filter outlet (jet or spraybar.) Horizontal surface movement of water is really the main thing that promotes good gas exhange.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[cornishlass]

Thanks, I have ordered the Hydro one through work just so i can see how it attaches.

 

[Gilli]

You dont need an air pump. Just point your filter outlet towards the top of the surface to disturb the surface - that will give you all the oxygen you need and you wont need to buy a pump and spend electricity running it. I have a fully stocked 250 L tank with no air pump - no problems so it does work!

 

[cornishlass]

Thanks, I must admit I haven’t had one in use for years, the old one was too noisy so got shoved in the cupboard and I forgot all about it until my Boxer pup found it the other day, needless to say it no longer resembles a pump lol, I do like the look of bubbles so thought about getting one again, but I don’t want a noisy one.

 

[nophtosh]

You dont need an air pump. Just point your filter outlet towards the top of the surface to disturb the surface - that will give you all the oxygen you need and you wont need to buy a pump and spend electricity running it. I have a fully stocked 250 L tank with no air pump - no problems so it does work!

Many thanks. I was looking for this type of info exactly as I eagerly await my tank bits arrival.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Personally, I don't see the need in air pumps. The bubbles air stones make seem too "fake" for my liking.

 

[markp2067]

The hydor ones are ok but they clog up with substrate i found. I had a goldfish that i swear dropped stones into it on purpose lol

 

[Joshwainwright]

The hydor ones are ok but they clog up with substrate i found. I had a goldfish that i swear dropped stones into it on purpose lol

Finding Nemo goldfish

 

[Gilli]

You dont need an air pump. Just point your filter outlet towards the top of the surface to disturb the surface - that will give you all the oxygen you need and you wont need to buy a pump and spend electricity running it. I have a fully stocked 250 L tank with no air pump - no problems so it does work!

Many thanks. I was looking for this type of info exactly as I eagerly await my tank bits arrival.

You are welcome!