Aquarium Air Pumps
Help and advice on shopping for: Aquarium Air Pumps
Give your fish a breath of fresh air
Just like us, fish need to breathe oxygen to survive. In a fish tank this means that fish will often use up all the air in their tank and start to 'gasp' at the water's surface to get more air, this is stressful for the fish and can lead to many diseases. With our range of air pumps from top brands, including Interpet, Marina and Aqua One, you can aerate your water and ensure your fish have plenty of fresh air.
What are aquarium air pumps?
Aquarium air pumps mix water and air, often through a stream of bubbles and an airline (which can even be disguised as a volcano or some other decorative feature). They require relatively little power and even a small one can aerate a remarkable amount of water. Air pumps work particularly well if used alongside a fish tank filter as the filter will remove toxins that can contaminate the water.
Why should I buy aquarium air pumps?
Aquarium air pumps are a necessary part of fishkeeping, if you want your fish to thrive and avoid stress they need a readily available air supply. Air pumps are some of the cheapest and most efficient pieces of aquarium hardware so picking one up is a no-brainer.
What are the main types of aquarium air pumps?
Most air pumps work by sitting outside of the tank and pumping air into it via a single air hose, creating a stream of bubbles. However, some models either have multiple outlets, allowing you to set up several hoses, or come with an airstone, which is a porous rock that will diffuse the air equally in all directions instead of in a solid stream. All methods of aeration are effective and will work in a smaller tank but airstones and multiple outlets will help to keep a pump effective in a larger tank.
What should I look for?
Ensure that the air pump you're buying is suitable for the size of tank you need to aerate. Most air pumps have a suggestion of the size of the tank they should be used with so this should give you a good idea if the one you're looking at is right for you. It's also important to look at the energy efficiency of each pump as you will be running them constantly. If you want to improve your air pump's effectiveness, it's worth checking out our range of airstones and accessories.