If you have an aquarium, you are going to want an air pump for it. If you do not have an air pump the water will sit still. This prevents oxygenation, as well as encourages the growth of bacteria.
An air pump will get the water moving. More like the current of the ocean. It will make sure your fish have enough oxygen in the water. It will also discourage the growth of unwanted bacteria.
Aquarium Air Pump Reviews
UPMCT Aquarium Air Pump
The UPMCT Aquarium Air Pump is meant to be used in aquariums between 1 and 80 gallons.
This air pump has dual outlets. You can easily use this air pump for multiple fish tanks, or different areas in one tank.
This air pump is equipped with rubber feet to absorb the noise. You do not want your air pump to be loud, and disturb you and your fish.
You can adjust the flow rate of the air pump. This makes it versatile, a lower flow rate for smaller tanks, and a greater flow rate for larger tanks.
Pros
- Dual outlets.
- Adjustable flow rate.
Cons
- Subtle humming noise.
HITOP Dual Outlet Aquarium Air Pump
HITOP Dual Outlet Aquarium Air Pump is designed for aquariums between 20 and 80 gallons in size.
This air pump has dual outlets. It makes it easy to run multiple tanks, or have two different areas of air flow.
This pump has been outfited to make it quiet. Quiet air pumps are much less stressful for you and your fish.
There is a replaceable cotton air filter. You can always be sure the air flow is clean.
Pros
- Dual outlets.
- Replaceable air filter.
Cons
- Not for small tanks.
Hygger Powerful Dual Outlet Aquarium Air Pump
The Hygger Dual Outlet Aquarium Pump is powerful, with 16LPM and 10W.
This air pump is designed for tanks between 75 and 600 gallons. This is a great option for a bigger tank. It is strong enough for aquariums up to six feet deep. You can be sure it will reach the depths of your tank.
It has a maximum of 30 decibels. Even though it is powerful, it is still relatively quiet.
The dual outlets allow you to reach more than one area of your tank. It will help make sure the entire tank is oxygenated.
Pros
- Dual outlets.
- Maximum of 30 decibels.
- Large aquariums.
Cons
- Not for small aquariums.
- Still loud.
Hygger Quiet Mini Air Pump for Aquarium
The Hygger Quiet Mini Air Pump is a 1.5W pump meant for tanks up to 15 gallons.
This air pump is very quiet. You will not be disturbed by a loud motor with this air pump.
It is energy efficient with only 1.5W of power. It will not use a lot of electricity.
It has an air stone, a 3.6 ft long air tube, and a double sided sucker. It has all of the accessories you need to run this air pump.
Pros
- Energy efficient.
- Very quiet.
- For small aquariums.
Cons
- Not for large tanks.
- Not very powerful.
AQUANEAT Aquarium Air Pumps
AQUANEAT Aquarium Air Pump is a small pump, meant for tanks that are 10 gallons or less.
This air pump has a valve that prevents back flow. You do not have to worry about water getting into the air pump if the power goes out.
The rubber feet help keep this air pump quiet. Nobody wants to hear a noisy air pump running all day long.
This air pump will make sure that there is enough air flow in your aquarium. It is important to make sure that there is adequate oxygenation for your fish.
Pros
- Adequate oxygenation.
- Valve prevents backflow.
- Rubber feet to quiet.
Cons
- Not for large tanks.
- Not very powerful.
VIVOSUN 285 GPH Air Pump
This air pump is equipped to dissipate heat. It will not overheat your aquarium.
There are 4 different, and adjustable, outlets on this air pump. It can power several different aquariums, or be put in several places of one aquarium.
It has a steel engine cylinder and piston. This makes the pump energy efficient. It is also able to pump 15 liters of air per minute. It is a very powerful air pump!
Pros
- 4 adjustable outlets.
- 15 liters of air per minute.
- Energy efficient.
- Dissipates heat.
Cons
- Loud (up to 60 decibels).
- Vibrates a lot.
Homasy Submersible Water Pump
The Homasy Submersible Water Pump has 80 GPH (300L/H, 4W).
This pump has a 5.9 foot cord. It can be used to power aquariums, and outdoor ponds as well.
The flow rate is adjustable. You can decide how much air flow you need for your specific circumstances.
It is a small and compact size. It is much easier to hide this pump somewhere than other air pumps.
Pros
- Extra long cord.
- Can be used outdoors.
- Adjustable flow rate.
- Compact size.
Cons
- Very loud.
- Not the best quality.
Tetra Whisper Air Pump for Deep Water Aquariums
Tetra Whisper Air Pump for Deep Water Aquariums is a very powerful air pump, with 3.5W.
This air pump can be used for aquariums that are up to eight feet deep. You do not have to worry about it being able to handle a deep fish tank.
It is also equipped with the ability to run up to 10 accessories. You will not ever need another pump.
It adds an aesthetically pleasing bubble effect. This effect can be a very fun addition to your aquarium.
Pros
- Can run 10 accessories.
- For tanks up to eight feet deep.
- Bubble effect.
Cons
- Warranty does not cover rubber parts.
- Must be placed outside of aquarium.
AQUANEAT Aquarium Air Pump
AQUANEAT Aquarium Air pump has 5 watts of power.
It is designed for fish tanks that are up to 100 gallons. It has the ability to oxygenate large aquariums.
It is designed to be quiet, not going over 35 decibels. Quiet air pumps are much less distracting and stressful.
There are two outlet valves. You can power multiple sources of air with this air pump.
Pros
- Two outlet valves.
- For tanks up to 100 gallons.
- 5 watts of power.
Cons
- 35 decibels is still fairly loud.
- Not energy efficient.
Uniclife Aquarium Adjustable Air Pump
Uniclife Aquarium is an adjustable air pump that has 2.5 watts of energy.
This air pump comes with an air stone. This accessory is very nice to have on hand.
It is designed for 5-30 gallon aquariums. If you have a smaller fish tank this is an excellent choice.
The flow rate is adjustable. You can choose how fast or slow you want the air to flow depending on your tank size.
Pros
- Includes air stone.
- Adjustable flow rate.
- For tanks up to 30 gallons.
Types of Aquarium Air Pumps
Multiple valves: Some aquarium air pumps have multiple valves. This is very useful if you are going to be using it for multiple tanks, or if you want airflow in more than one place inside your aquarium. You can use the extra valves to power air stones or other accessories.
Powerful: Powerful aquarium air pumps are meant for deeper or bigger fish tanks. These are able to get the air flow to all areas of the tank. They use more watts than the other air pumps.
Quiet: Quiet aquarium air pumps have been specifically outfitted in order to reduce noise. They have extra parts on them, usually rubber, that absorb the noise. They are also meant to absorb any vibrations from the air pump. This also helps reduce the noise.
Energy efficient: Energy efficient aquarium air pumps are designed to do the job without utilizing as much electricity. This also helps keep them from generating excess heat. Energy efficient air pumps are better for the environment. They also will not increase your electricity usage as much.
How to Choose an Aquarium Air Pump
When choosing an aquarium air pump you need to decide which features are important to you.
If you have a small aquarium you are not going to want an overly powerful air pump. It will overpower your tank. A too powerful air pump would also take up way too much space in your aquarium.
If you have a large aquarium, you are going to want to choose an air pump that is powerful. Especially if your aquarium is very deep. A powerful air pump will make sure even the depths of your tank are oxygenated. Some are designed specifically for reaching the bottom of deep aquariums.
If you have a large tank it is also a good idea to get an air pump with multiple valves. These will help run extra accessories to get air flow throughout your entire aquarium. You can also use the dual valves to run air flow to multiple aquariums. If you have several smaller aquariums, that are near each other, this is a helpful option.
You may also want to consider how much noise you are willing to hear. An air pump will need to run constantly. If the aquarium is in a bedroom or office, or another quiet room, you will want to choose one that is specifically designed to be more quiet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this pump come with tubing? Most of the pumps listed do come with tubing. Read the specifications before purchasing to be sure. If it does not come with tubing, it is easy to find and purchase extra.
Is it possible to choose an air pump that is too big? Yes, it is. In many cases it is possible to just adjust the flow. However, with a too big pump you run the risk of quickly overheating your aquarium.
Is it a submersible pump? Some of the pumps on here are submersible. The majority must be left on the outside of the tank. You use a plastic tube to direct the airflow inside the tank.
Can this pump air into a deep aquarium? The specifications on how deep the air pump can be effective varies from pump to pump. Read the information on the specific pump to be sure it will work for you aquarium.
Do I leave the air pump on all the time? Yes, it is a good idea to keep the air pump running constantly. It will help keep a steady flow of water in your tank. It keeps it constantly oxygenated for your fish and plants.
How to Use an Aquarium Air Pump
- Decide where you are going to place your air pump inside of your aquarium. You will want to place it somewhere that tends to have stagnant water. This will help maximize the water flow inside of your aquarium.
- Measure the length you need your plastic tubing to be. Make sure you have enough tubing for it to reach where you want it to be placed.
- Cut the plastic tubing to the size that you need. You should be able to use a pair of scissors to cut the plastic tubing.
- Then, connect the tubing to your air pump.
- Install any valves that are needed.
- Next, connect the plastic tubing to the equipment you are using. This is often an air stone.
- After this, you simply plug in the air pump and start it up.
- You will want to continuously monitor your air pump to make sure that it is functioning correctly.
Watch this video to learn more about aquarium air pumps.
Conclusion
There are a lot of great options when choosing an air pump. It can be quite overwhelming to decide which air pump is best for you.
This list will help you make sense of which aquarium air pump is the best choice for you. When you find the one you like, click the link included to make a purchase.
Do you have an aquarium air pump that you love? Please leave a comment to share your thoughts!
