Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm on the look out for a good, quiet air pump suitable for my main fish tank (a 1000L IBC).

What would you suggest?

http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shope ... Air%20Pump

here you go mate, not sure i you can get it across your side of the pond, but i use this one myself and it is nice and quiet and for 1000 ibc, it will be just fine.

good bit of kit, and it is only 10w, i have had this one since 2012 i think.

Regards

Thanks Porter.

I already have one of these...

http://www.hozelock.com/aquatics/pumps/ ... -1805.html

But it can't deliver air to the bottom of the tank. I can only get the air stones about 30cm into the water before it stops pushing air out.

Anything a bit bigger out there?

i've heard good things about bell fountains for oxygenating water.

these little air pumps have good air flow but not very high pressure. i would pick an optimum height in the tank. there will be a point in the tank where more sir flow will be better than the air traveling through more water.

at one point, my continuous flow setup was siphoning air down with the water for a continuous stream of air in the fish tank. for good oxygenation and low noise id look into the bell fountain. i got one ordered in from the garden pump manufacturer for about $15

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Those air pumps seem good value... can't buy cheaper from China.. And.. they have service parts available .. a big plus..

I'm thinking of one as a secondary air source for other water bodies..

The Bell Fountain ... I would have thought that might add to the general noise.
If the Bell Fountain is what I imagine, then they are standard with the (sometimes sold special) ALDI pond pumps, now with 2yr warranty ..

Air Siphoning from the beds is very effective and that is a significant source of noise in my system..

But, to address the OP... what about a more noisy pump at a remote location and a garden hose to the system..
This will give the pressure and the flow without the noise..
I have an ACO-006 in the garage, and planning a second, with a pressure activated failure backup..

Subtle preference should be given to the use of an old hose or a Drinking Water hose (usually blue) to minimise the nasties from plasticisers...

@Porter... hope to visit after Easter if you are around.
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you can get a couple of the small cheap fountain pumps and put them on the bottom of the tank to move the bottom water to the top then use the smaller pumps to airiate the water near the top. i put one in the ibc tap hole pushing water along the bottom of the tank then another pushing water up towards the far end and it seems to get a water flow working. i used 2 solar powered ones which seems to work ok, you can run them off of a plug adapter if you want them running all the time.

mattltm,

I have to ask. Why are you wanting an air pump for a single IBC? Are you trying to stock high? Are you just using it as a backup in case either your current pump goes out, or the power does. Or you are just trying to lower the noise by running air and then putting the exits of the GBs siphons underwater in the FT? All these would require a slightly different air pump.

I only run my pump for 15 minutes every hour so I use an air pump to ensure there is plenty of air dissolved in the ft.

Matt,

Looking at the pump you currently have. Do you have an inline check valve? Some of those valves decrease the amount of air that you can pump to the rated depth. If you do try, and remove it and see how it pumps. It may save you some money. Just remember if you remove the valve keep the pump above the waterline, to prevent possible damage.