Aquarium air pump buying guide

Fish tanks are mini ecosystems and need support from the outside to maintain their delicate balance. Water circulation, heating, filtration and oxygenation are all essential. Aquarium air pumps are mechanical devices designed to supply air to the fish tank from the outside.

They are used to oxygenate the tank. An air pump is particularly important if you don't have any aquatic plants or if you own a lot of fish. In order to choose the right air pump, you need to think about the characteristics of your aquarium and choose the right product to match.

Air pumps, or bubblers, are small devices that can be placed inside or outside the fish tank depending the model. These pumps draw in ambient air and release it into the fish tank using tubing fitted with one or several air stones or bubblers which generate bubbles that rise to the surface of the tank.

Depending on the model, the pump may be battery-powered or mains-powered. The tube that draws in air can be made of plastic or silicone. If the pump is not supplied with a check valve, you will need to fit it with one to prevent it from accidentally taking in water (during a power cut, for example).

Bubblers are designed to release the drawn-in air as bubbles which helps to increase gas exchange and oxygen levels. This type of aeration is essential to the well-being and vitality of your fish.

The characteristics of air pumps vary from model to model. To ensure you pick the right one for your aquarium, it's important to ensure the air pump can provide enough power and to check the types of installation accessories it comes with.

Air pump power

The power of an air pump must be matched to the size of your fish tank. If you have a large aquarium, you need a powerful pump. The same goes for the number of bubblers or even the use of a 'bubble wall'. If you have any doubts, always go for the most powerful model. Ideally, your air pumps should also have different speed settings to adjust the power

The power of an air pump is measured in watts and can range from 4 to 35 W. However, the most important measure of power is litres per hour (l/h).

For small aquariums measuring up to 72 litres, a pump able to process 65 to 140 l/h will work fine. You should be looking for about 0.9 to 1.5 l/h per litre of water. For example, a 100-litre tank will need a pump able to process about 90 to 150 l/h.

Aquarium air pump accessories

It's also important to look into the types of accessories provided with an air pump. To do so, you simply need to read the product specifications as you will often find that some important accessories are not supplied.

For example, some models aren't fitted with a check valve which is absolutely essential. In this case, you will have to purchase the valve separately.

Air stones or bubblers are designed to produce small bubbles and may or may not be supplied. The same goes for the air valve and tubing which are, of course, key to the air pump operation.

To sum up, there are four essential components of an air pump: the air valve, the airline tubing, the diffuser and the check valve. Try to find an air pump that comes equipped with all these parts to avoid having to purchase components separately.

The quality of the materials, the noise level and the accessories provided all vary from model to model. These factors will determine the reliability and performance of a pump. 

Noise level

Noise level is an important factor as a noisy environment can be stressful for fish. If you want your fish to thrive, choose quiet equipment.

Bubblers

Most models have just one air outlet. However, if you are fitting out a large fish tank it's best to go for a model with several bubblers.

Multiple air outlets can be great for anyone hoping to enhance their aquarium décor with bubbles.

Air pump materials

The more money you invest, the more hardwearing the materials and the better performance will be.