Aquariums do need filters, and for them to work, you may need an air pump. This is why you may be looking for the best aquarium air pump in the market today. We have some aquarium air pump reviews for you in this article.
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Air pumps are usually paired with filters such as the sponge filter, as well as the UG filter. They tend to vary in price and specifications and they also have a rated size depending on your tank’s capacity. For instance, those that are for 100 gallons can have more powerful parts.
In choosing an ideal air pump, you also have to know whether or not it already has a filter with it (e.g. sponge filter) or if it’s compatible with your current filter system. Sometimes, setting it up can be troublesome, so you may want to buy a unit that’s easy to install.
Top 5 Aquarium Air Pumps
Here are our top picks for the best aquarium air pump:
Mylivell Quietest Aquarium Air Pump
As an air pump that’s rated for 13 gallons, this one has a very silent operation so it can be beneficial for those who need a quiet atmosphere sleeping.
It uses unique technology, with the use of a thin piezoelectric ceramic plate, so it has no moving parts. This would be a great aquarium air pump for fish such as bettas.
It also has a lightweight design which makes it easy to install, and at only 1 watt of power, it can save you significant amounts of electricity.
It has a flow rate of 240 mL per minute so it may be best for smaller aquariums. For installation, it has suction cups so you can stick it onto your aquarium. With a noise level of less than 33 dB, it may be best for light sleepers.
Things We Liked
- Low noise levels
- Good for small aquariums
- Low power consumption
- No moving parts
- Easy to install
Things We Didn’t Like
- No inline switch
Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump
As an aquarium air pump for 100-gallon tanks, this one has a low noise level at 25 dB, so it can be friendly towards those who can’t sleep properly.
It has a flow rate of 64 GPH, making it ideal for those with medium-sized tanks. It can be used in both marine (saltwater) and freshwater aquariums just fine.
It has a compact design so you can just easily hide it in your aquarium without being an eyesore.
It has a pressure of 0.016 Mpa and consumes only 4 watts. Its flow rate is also adjustable if you worry a lot about your fish getting sucked in or blowing away.
The unit comes with accessories to install and is backed by a 1-year warranty.
Things We Liked
- Good for medium-sized tanks
- Okay for both saltwater and freshwater tanks
- Compact design
- Low noise level
- Adjustable flow rate
Things We Didn’t Like
- The hose could be improved on its design
Tetra Whisper Easy to Use Air Pump for Aquariums
This aquarium air pump for 55-gallon tanks is from a known brand.
Its dome shape can make it an added attraction to your aquarium while it also helps in preventing the sound from getting into your fish’s environment and outside of your aquarium.
The mounts are also made of rubber shock, which can significantly reduce motor vibration. The air pump has 2 air outlets so you can connect more filters into it.
You can easily install this air pump in only 4 steps: connecting the tubing to the outlet, installing the check valve, installing the air-control valve, and then the air stone or another air accessory before you put it into your tank.
It uses any 3/16 I.D. tubing of standard size so it can be easily bought from the hardware or pet store.
Things We Liked
- Easy to install
- The parts are easy to buy
- Noise-dampening dome design
- Aesthetic look
- Good for medium-sized tanks
Things We Didn’t Like
- The reed valves could be designed better
Hygger Quiet Mini Air Pump for Aquarium
Due to its low profile design, this may be an ideal pick for the best aquarium air pump for multiple tanks.
This is an aquarium air pump for 5-gallon tanks due to its small size. It has a flow rate of 420 mL per minute and has a low power consumption at about 1.5 watts only.
It has two colors (white and black) so you can choose depending on your preference or your tank design.
Since it uses a thin piezoelectric ceramic plate, it has no moving parts as well (like our top pick).
You can connect this easily with its included pump parts, such as air tube, air stone, 2-sided sucker, and power adapter. The unit can be used in most small fish tanks and is backed by a 1-year limited lifetime warranty.
Things We Liked
- Low profile design
- No moving parts
- Okay to use for hydroponic systems
- Low power consumption
- 1-year limited lifetime warranty
Things We Didn’t Like
- The cord length may be too short
Uniclife Aquarium Adjustable Air Pump Single
If you want an aquarium air pump for 20-gallon tanks, this one may be a choice for you. It has up to 30 GPH of its flow rate and uses a single outlet design.
At only 4.5 x 2.3 inches, it’s quite small and also consumes only 2.5 watts of power so it can be energy-efficient. It’s also low on its noise levels at only 25 dB.
This air pump can be used in both marine and freshwater setups and it has a pressure of 0.016 MPa. It is rated for use in 110 -120 V 60 Hz systems.
The airflow is even adjustable with the use of the dial on the unit. This allows you to customize your fish tank’s atmosphere without ruining your fish’s mood.
Things We Liked
- Low-profile design
- Low energy consumption
- Adjustable airflow
- Can be used on marine and freshwater setups
- Low noise levels
Things We Didn’t Like
- The airline tube could be designed better
Things to Consider Before You Buy
Here are things you need to know first before buying an aquarium air pump:
How do I choose the best aquarium air pump?
If you want to look for the best aquarium air pump out there, here are some criteria:
- Noise level. When you choose an aquarium air pump, the quietest options are the best. If your aquarium air pump is silent, your fish will be less stressed and you can have a good night’s sleep, especially if you are often annoyed with motor noise. Pick an air pump that’s about 20 dB on its minimum noise level more or less.
To further reduce the noise level, you can also consider units that have coverings or place them on surfaces that have noise-dampening properties.
- Tank size. Do consider the tank size that you have if you are going to buy an aquarium air pump. Tank sizes that are from 5 to 10 gallons are usually small, so you don’t need a super-powerful aquarium air pump for that. On the other hand, tank sizes that are 100 gallons and above may require a more powerful aquarium air pump, usually, those that have more output ports that usual.
- Flow rate. When choosing an aquarium air pump, do consider the flow rate. An adjustable flow rate for your aquarium air pump is more ideal if your fish tend to panic if they (or their babies) get sucked in or blown away by your air pump’s flow. For smaller aquariums, we’d recommend an aquarium air pump that has a low flow rate.
- Ease of installation. When all is said and done, after buying your aquarium air pump, you’d have to install it by yourself (or with the help of someone). Nothing could be more stressful than having to put together something that’s too tough to understand, especially if you lack knowledge with fish keeping at first. An aquarium air pump that has straightforward instructions would seem more user-friendly.
- Included accessories. Sometimes, the aquarium air pump does include a sponge filter as well, although this can depend on the package that you buy. In addition to that, some aquarium air pumps do have added accessories for you to easily attach it to your aquarium. Do note, however, that if you want to use the unit for a tank filter, it should fit properly.
- Profile or design. A small profile for an aquarium air pump can be best for hiding it behind your aquarium décor. Smaller tanks benefit more from a small unit while bigger tanks are okay even with slightly larger units, much like our dome-shaped product above.
What are the uses of an aquarium air pump?
So, why buy this kind of unit for your fish? An aquarium air pump has the following uses and benefits:
- They are needed by sponge filters. If you ever encounter a sponge filter, the first requirement for installing it is buying an aquarium air pump. You can’t get these things to work without an aquarium air pump! This is why they can be important when you are setting your tank up for the first time and you want to use sponge filters instead of the canister, HOB, and other types of tank filters out there.
The output of the sponge filter can depend on the aquarium air pump that you buy, so choose carefully so that you don’t ruin your fish’s environment!
- They may be needed by some aquarium decorations. There are some aquarium décor that does need an aquarium air pump to get them to work. Such décor is usually in the form of bubble-making stones and the like.
- They help add more bubbles to your tank. Bubbles are really cool in terms of appearance and they make your tank look livelier. By adding an aquarium air pump, you can simulate a normal underwater environment for your fish. In fact, they may even play around the bubbles just for fun!
- They improve water circulation for your fish. Just like humans, fish need to breathe properly and by helping with the gas exchange of your water through circulation, the aquarium air pump can be beneficial to your fish’s health.
What are the types of aquarium air pumps that I can buy?
Here are the most common air pump types:
- Battery-powered: these ones tend to be ideal for those who are often out traveling or on the go. They make great emergency air pumps for when there’s a power failure or when you’re moving your fish out of the main aquarium.
- High-output air pumps: these are usually in larger sizes and are best for bigger tanks. They also have multiple outputs so you can use them for different purposes.
- General-purpose air pumps: these are the ones to buy for your sponge filter, fish tank ornaments, and the like. You can easily find these from most pet stores.
Where should I install the aquarium air pump?
Air pumps can be installed in a place where the surface is soft to avoid vibration from the motor. Unlike filters, they don’t get submerged into the water, but rather, sit at the top of your fish tank. Check valves are usually installed along with the air pump.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, our top pick for the best aquarium air pump is the Mylivell Quietest Aquarium Air Pump due to its low noise levels and the small profile that is good for small aquariums. It also has low power consumption and with no moving parts, it can be quite durable for its motor.
The unit itself is easy to install. However, it does lack an inline switch so you would have to plug it in when you want to use it.