Aquarium Air Pump

The aquarium air pump , commonly called a "bubbler", plays a very important role in the aquarium.
Oxygenating your aquarium water is an important aspect of your daily life. Without oxygen, your fish and plants will die. To prevent this, purchasing an air pump is a solution.
It is necessary to choose the right air pump or air compressor to ensure good oxygenation of the water in your aquarium.
Depending on the associated air diffuser , you can create a very aesthetic effect like a wall of bubbles.

How does an air pump work?

Air pumps consist of one or more electromagnets on which membranes are mounted which, under vibration, suck in ambient air to expel it through the pump outlet(s). An air pump generally has a felt on its inlet, also called a filter, to filter the sucked air.

Air pump equipment:

The circuit of an aquarium air pump generally consists of a silicone tube on which a non-return valve and a silica, ceramic or flexible diffuser are installed at its end.

The non-return valve, also called a check valve, is essential and its role is to prevent the siphoning of aquarium water, during a power outage or when the air pump is located in the aquarium cabinet. The diffuser, as its name suggests, has the role of diffusing air bubbles within the aquarium water. The most classic diffuser is the silica diffuser. There are also ceramic diffusers to obtain finer bubbles, as well as flexible diffusers which play the same role but diffuse the air in the form of an aesthetic curtain of bubbles.

How to choose your air pump?

In order to choose an air pump suitable for your aquarium, you must take into account different criteria which are the power of the device, its noise pollution, its robustness, its ease of installation and the availability of parts in case of malfunction.
First of all, your air pump must have a flow rate of at least "one times the gross volume" of your aquarium.
Two important aspects characterize the air pump: its flow rate and its number of outlets .
The easiest way is to rely on the manufacturer's data. The multiple outlets will allow the air to be distributed to different places in the aquarium. Here are other selection criteria: adjustable flow rate or not, noise level of the pump , number of membranes.

Air pump installation tips:

Installing the air pump requires some precautions to ensure the system operates optimally:

• Place it above the aquarium water level to avoid the risk of backflow.
• If you can't install it elevated, use a check valve that prevents water from flowing back up the pipe. This valve is installed between the pump and the pipe connected to the diffuser.
• Preferably, place the diffuser near your heater if you have a warm water aquarium. This helps spread the heat evenly.
• For the hose connecting the diffuser to the air pump, choose a silicone hose which is more resistant to wear and humidity.

Aquarium air pumps from major brands at low prices: Aquael, Eheim, Hailea, Sera or BoYu.