What is an Aquarium Pump?
An aquarium pump is a type of pump that is completely submerged in the water. The aquarium pump is also known as a fish tank pump. The aquarium pumps are used in saltwater aquariums to transfer water or air between the tank and around the tank.
These are mainly utilized to drive a protein skimmer and to provide water circulation in the aquarium system. Therefore, an aquarium pump is also known as a fish tank pump. They improve the water circulation in the aquarium system.
Types of Aquarium Pumps
The aquarium pumps have the following two major types:
- Aquarium Water pump
- Aquarium Air Pump
1) Aquarium Water Pump
The aquarium water pump helps to maintain good water quality by circulating and filtering the water in the aquarium system. Each aquarium tank has unique properties; therefore, the capacity and size of a water pump depend on the aquarium size and the types of invertebrates, plants, filtration, and fish that live in the tank.
Saltwater fish tanks need a higher flow rate of water than artificially planted freshwater aquariums, which can be achieved with a small water pump.
The water aquarium pumps further divide into the below-given types:
i) Submersible Water Pump
The submersible aquarium water pump fully immerges in the water. These types of aquarium pumps have low noise and an easy installation.
The heat generated by these water pumps is transferred to the water; due to that, you may need to install an additional cooling system to counteract the higher temperature of the water.
Read More: Different types of Submersible Pumps
ii) In-line Water Pump
These pumps can handle more water than submersible pumps. They need more maintenance compared to submersible water pumps. In-line water pumps recommend for aquarium systems to maintain relatively low temperatures and handle a high amount of water.
2) Aquarium Air Pump
An aquarium air pump is electrical equipment that transfers air from the atmosphere into the aquarium system and can also use to power air-powered devices such as sponge filters, bubble decorations, and air stones.
Like other animals, fish also require oxygen to “breathe.” Fishes use dissolve oxygen from the water. The problem is that water doesn’t contain much dissolved free oxygen (O2). The water surface, phytoplankton, or plants are the only sources of O2 exchange.
If an aquarium has more fish than its capacity, there would be a needed high quantity of oxygen. In this situation, it is essential to connect an air pump with the fish tank.
The rising bubbles on the water surface produce a large surface area for O2 exchange. The Aquarium air pump delivers O2 from the atmosphere to the aquarium’s water so that the fish can breathe.
When air pumps push air into the water, water movement occurs with the rising air bubbles, which supply O2 to the water for the breathing of aquarium animals and fish. Using air stones, you can significantly increase the efficiency of the air entering the aquarium and improve the aquarium’s appearance.
Air pumps can also use to run certain kinds of aquarium filtering devices efficiently. Aquarium air pumps are appropriate for saltwater and freshwater aquariums.
Read More: Different types of Pumps
How does an Aquarium Air Pump work?
An aquarium air pump is a mechanical device that draws air into an air tube and lets it flow through an air stone. After this process, the atmosphere air delivers to the water of the aquarium in the form of bubbles.
In short, the atmosphere air directly dissolves in the aquarium water, increasing the accessibility of dissolved oxygen so that fish and other aquatic animals can breathe easily.
Though, fish can’t breathe into the atmospheric air and can only breathe through dissolved oxygen in the water column.
When the atmosphere air bubbles start appearing in the aquarium, the water moves and swirls around. Some of the air turns into dissolved oxygen; CO2 and some other gases also move in the water column, rising with the air bubbles and being released from the aquarium. These bubbles generate disturbance at the water surface and further increase the gas conversation between the atmosphere and the water column of the aquarium.
Aquarium air pump also helps to balance the gas exchange in the water column. Since the bubble stones are sited at the aquarium bottom, all of the gas deposited in the lower water column will be unsettled and dispersed or replaced to a new area within the tank.
For a better understanding, watch the below-given video:
How to Install an Aquarium Air Pump
- First of all, place your air pump outside the aquarium and cut the airline tube to the correct length so that the pump is long enough to fix with the aquarium equipment within the aquarium. Make some additional space in the airline tubing so that you can easily move the air pumps or aquarium equipment in the future.
- Fix one side of the airline tubing to the aquarium equipment and place the equipment in the fish tank. After this, fix the other side of the airline tubing with the air pump.
- If your air pump has a higher position than the aquarium top, you may leave this step.
- If your pump has a lower position than the aquarium top, you will require a check valve to stop water from leaking out of the airline tubing. Cut the airline tubing somewhere between the aquarium equipment and the sponge filter, install the valve between them so that check valve’s one side (with flapper) faces the air pump. If you connect the valve backward, no air will move when the air pump is switched on. Turn the check valve around.
- Use the air pump power cord to make a drip ring (to stop water from going in the wall outlet) and then turn ON the air pump. After some time, bubbles will start rising on the aquarium water surface.
Read More: Different types of Centrifugal Pumps
Why is my fish tank pump not pumping water? How do I fix it?
If your fish tank pump not pumping water, it may have the following problems:
1) Clogged Filter
In maximum cases, the aquarium pump stops pumping water due to a bad filter. These filters may clog due to a variety of reasons, such as debris built up or air leaks in the line.
If your pump filter isn’t working properly, first of all, deeply inspect it. If it is clogged due to debris build-up, remove the filter from the pump and wash it.
If there is no clogging, there may be a leak in the line. To fix his leak, tight the tank fittings or seal the leak with aquarium sealant.
2) Damaged or Clogged Impeller
A damaged or broken impeller may cause the improper working of the pump. To check this, turn on the power supply and place your hand on the pump body. Is it vibrating? is it too hot?
If your pump is vibrating at a very high temperature, there are high chances that it may have a clogged or broken impeller. Remove all the parts of the pump by following the pump manufacturer’s instructions.
Use a clean piece of cloth to clean the impeller and make sure the hose is not clogged. If necessary, clean the hose.
After plugging in, place your hand on the pump. Is it feeling cool without vibration? If yes, it means your pump motor has probably burned out, and you need to replace it.
3) No Suction
Maximum aquarium filters use a motorized impeller to create suction on the filter housing and force aquarium water into the suction tube and filter media. If the filter can’t suck water, the pump doesn’t work. If you observe the filter working but no water getting in, this is usually due to a clogged impeller or inlet pipe.
To fix this problem of the fish tank pump, follow the below-given steps:
- Turn off the power supply
- Disassemble the filter to find the blockage.
- Thoroughly flush the inlet tube and impeller casing to remove solids.
- Reinstall the filter in its original place
- Run the pump and check its functionality. If now pump doesn’t work, there may have a faulty impeller or the motor. In such a situation, buy the parts of the filter or whole filters.
4) Stopped Functioning Entirely
If your fish tank pump is not making noise and the filters are also not working at all, pull the filter off and see if there’s anything blocking the motor to stop it from working.
In such a situation, you only have to pause the filter for a few hours before putting it back in. If the filter doesn’t work, check for power issues. If not, there may be a problem with the motor. You can find filter repair kits in online stores. However, in most cases, it is easier and cheaper to purchase a new filter.
FAQ Section
Is an air pump necessary for an aquarium?
If your aquarium has good surface movement to facilitate gas exchange between atmospheric air and water, then you don’t need an air pump for your aquarium.
Aquariums can stay healthy without air stones, but an air pump offers many advantages to an aquarium. It allows additional O2 exchange with more oxygen in the tank and can also be used as a filter or decoration. I recommend that you don’t use an air pump when adding carbon dioxide into the tank.
Where does the air pump place in a fish tank?
The actual air pump can be placed under the tank or somewhere else. An airline connects with the pump outlet that draws air into the aquarium. Sometimes in that line, you need to connect a check valve. At the end of the airline, you need to place an air stone. The air bubbles come out from this air stone.
Can you turn off a fish tank pump at night?
First of all, do not activate the air pump when adding carbon dioxide. Second, you can let the air pump run 24/7, or you may set it on a timer, and it only runs during the day or night time. As long as it is on, it is recommended that you run it on a timer.
What does Airstone do in the aquarium?
An airstone is an item that looks like a stone and highly pours. This is because the air leaves the stone from outside the tank (air pump) through a tube. One end of the tube connects with the air pump, and the other end is connected with the airstone. As the pump is switched on, air (air bubbles) is injected into the water from the airstones.
What does a Water Pump do in an aquarium?
A water pump in an aquarium helps to maintain good water quality by circulating and filtering the water in the aquarium system.
Will fish die without an air pump?
Without an air pump, fish can make alive in completely stationary water for about 2 days. But air stones may not be needed if surface water movement is high with the right filters.