What makes them such a popular aquarium accessory is their ability to power other products. Make sure that the air pump you buy can connect to aquarium airline tubing. Some are for bicycle tires, while others are for inflatable mattresses. Pretty simple, huh?įishLab Note: There are many different types of electric air pumps available.

As the lever moves, it pumps a diaphragm (essentially a rubber suction cup), which sucks in air and pushes it out of the air pump.

As the magnet switches on and off, it pulls the lever down.

It is suitable for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.Īs for how it works, it’s actually pretty simple: Because of this, air pumps are not water-proof and care must be taken not to get them wet. The air pump sits on the outside of your aquarium, delivering air through a long hose called airline tubing.

Essential aquarium air pump accessoriesĪn aquarium air pump is an electrical device that forces air into your aquarium and can be used to drive air-powered equipment such as air stones, bubble decorations and sponge filters.

How many airstones can an aquarium air pump run?.

The noisy secret about air pumps (and how to reduce it).

The aquarium air pumps that didn’t make the cut.

Quietest extra-large air pump (100 – 300 gallons).

Quietest medium-to-large aquarium air pump (10 – 100 gallons).

Quietest small-aquarium air pump (up to 10 gallons).

Best battery-operated aquarium air pump.

Best all-around aquarium air pump for large tanks.

Best all-around aquarium air pump for most tanks.

What size aquarium air pump do you need?.

How we tested over 60 aquarium air pumps.

Come to our store located in Kearny Mesa, order what you need from our website, or give us a call with any questions you have at 85. If you keep territorial species such as Plecostomus or Oscars, make sure not to place air stones or bubbling devices near the spots they claim so they aren’t bothered when they rest.įrom air pumps and aquarium monitors to protein skimmers and testing kits, Aquatic Warehouse has everything you need to properly care for your fish tank.

You should only turn off aquarium lights at night, but the pump must stay on at all times. If these pieces aren’t sufficient, try to rest the pump on rubber or on a towel. Most air pumps sit on rubber pieces that have a noise-dampening effect. All the same, if the air lines or the pump itself are transmitting vibrations onto the tank, they may bother fish as they try to sleep. However, they’ll swim away from powerheads, air stones, and decorations that emit bubbles. Fish won’t be bothered by the bubbles or the water agitation when they try to sleep. What promotes water oxygenation is the movement of the water at the surface and the ensuing gaseous exchange. The water bubbles air pumps generate keep dissolved oxygen levels adequate in the aquarium, but not because of the air they contain. Water Column Agitation and Tank Wall Vibration Danios invariably sought sleeping spots away from the surface and air stones at the bottom of tanks. A similar observation was made with regard to water currents. After being kept awake for hours, danios will try to catch up on lost sleep on subsequent nights. What is known, however, is that intense light flashed at zebra danios after the sunset will interrupt circadian rhythms. Stanford University researchers have looked into the possibility of fish suffering from sleep disorders, and their investigations have been inconclusive. We may not see fish close their eyes, but diurnal species such as zebra danios reduce their metabolic and brain cortex activity at night to experience light and deep sleep phases.įactors that May Disrupt Fish Sleep Cycles Fish need sleep for the same reasons we do: to rejuvenate, restore energy, and promote overall health. Marine biologists have conducted extensive research on the topic of fish sleep cycles, and the invariable conclusions is that all aquarium species need a period of rest equivalent to what we do when we turn down for the night. The aquarium experts at Aquatic Warehouse share what you need to know about how an air pump might affect sleep cycles in fish. Often the loud noise coming from the air pump is due to it touching an object like the aquarium stand, and the vibration is casting a loud hum. What you need to look out for is the actual bubbling and the agitation of the water column. In general, fish should be able to sleep without being bothered by the air pump.

Larger tanks require more powerful aeration systems that can generate a lot of noise, but this is more of a problem for the aquarists than for aquarium species. One popular request involves transforming a headboard into an aquarium, and such a project would require dampening the vibrations of the air pump by setting it up away from the pillows. Acrylic tank manufacturers take pride in being able to set up aquariums in just about any place.

Fish tank air pump