Selection of power and air volume for household fish tank air pumps

The relationship between power and gas volume

The power of the air pump is closely related to the air volume. Power is an indicator of the electrical energy consumed by an air pump during operation, while gas volume is the volume of gas output by the air pump within a unit of time. Generally speaking, under the same conditions, the greater the power of an air pump, the greater the volume of air it can generate. This is because high power means that the motor of the air pump has stronger power, which can drive the piston or diaphragm and other components of the air pump to move more quickly and powerfully, thereby pressurizing more air into the fish tank. However, this is not absolute. Factors such as the design, manufacturing process, and internal structure of the air pump can also affect the conversion efficiency between air volume and power.

Choose according to the size of the fish tank

Small fish tank (under 30 liters)

For small fish tanks, there is less water, and the demand for dissolved oxygen in the water is relatively low. At this point, it is sufficient to choose an air pump with a smaller power and a moderate air volume. For instance, an air pump with a power of around 1 to 3 watts can meet the basic breathing needs of fish and microorganisms in a small fish tank in terms of air volume. At the same time, it will not cause the water flow to be too rapid due to excessive air volume, which would affect the normal activities and rest of the fish.

Medium-sized fish tank (30-100 liters)

The water volume in a medium-sized fish tank increases, requiring more oxygen to sustain the survival of aquatic organisms. It is usually necessary to select an air pump with a power of 3 to 8 watts. Such an air pump can provide sufficient air volume to ensure that the dissolved oxygen in the water is adequate. If the density of fish in the fish tank is high or there are species with a high demand for oxygen, it may be necessary to choose an air pump with slightly higher power to ensure the oxygen supply in the water.

Large fish tank (over 100 liters)

Large fish tanks have a large water body and a large number of organisms, and the demand for oxygen also increases accordingly. It is recommended to choose an air pump with a power of more than 8 watts, and the air volume should be able to meet the dissolved oxygen demand of the entire fish tank. For some large aquariums, multiple air pumps or professional air pumps with larger air volumes may also be needed to ensure the uniform distribution of dissolved oxygen in the water.

Choose according to the species of animals being raised

Common ornamental fish

Most common ornamental fish have relatively low oxygen requirements, such as guppies and zebrafish. When choosing an air pump, you can select it according to the size of the fish tank in accordance with the above standards. The power and air volume do not need to be too large.

Fish with high oxygen requirements

Some fish have a relatively high demand for oxygen, such as goldfish and koi. When the water temperature rises in summer, the dissolved oxygen content in the water decreases, and these fish are more prone to oxygen deficiency. Therefore, when raising this type of fish, it is necessary to choose an air pump with relatively large power and air volume to ensure that the dissolved oxygen in the water is always maintained at an appropriate level.

Aquatic plant tank

In the aquatic plant tank, apart from the fish needing oxygen, the aquatic plants also consume oxygen at night. Therefore, the water plant tank also has a relatively high requirement for the air volume of the air pump. Generally speaking, the appropriate power and air volume of the air pump should be selected based on the size of the aquatic plant tank and the planting density of the aquatic plants to ensure the dissolved oxygen balance in the water.

Other influencing factors

The specifications of gas stones or gas trays

The gas output by the air pump needs to be dispersed into water through gas stones or gas trays. The specifications of gas stones or gas trays will affect the dispersion effect of the gas and the actual utilization efficiency of the gas volume. If the pore diameters of the gas stones or gas discs are small and there are many of them, the gas will be more evenly dispersed, but it may increase the burden on the gas pump. Therefore, a gas pump with slightly larger power needs to be selected. Conversely, if the diameters of the gas stones or gas trays are large and their numbers are small, the gas dispersion effect may be poor, but the power demand of the gas pump will be relatively low.

Pipe length and degree of curvature

The length and curvature of the pipes connecting the air pump, gas stone or gas plate will also affect the gas volume. The longer the pipeline and the greater the degree of curvature, the greater the resistance to the flow of gas in the pipeline. The air pump needs to consume more power to overcome the resistance and deliver the gas to the gas stone or gas tray. Therefore, when choosing an air pump, the length and curvature of the pipeline should be taken into account, and the power or air volume of the air pump should be appropriately increased.