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View Full Version : Which Air Pump?

fischfan13
06-25-2009, 10:46 PM
I am in the market for an air pump, and what better place than here to ask.

This is what I am looking for:
Can run 20-30 sponges/box filters
Quiet
Energy efficient

Ideas?
maddog10
06-26-2009, 06:17 AM
LPH45 from Jehmco.

Very quiet, but expensive. I feel it is worth the money. Mine has been running for several years without any problems.
ValleyAquatics
06-26-2009, 06:23 AM
I agree with Maddog. Those are great pumps and quite.
nick a
06-26-2009, 08:06 AM
X3---I'll never own a noisy, cheaper POS air pump again. My LPH80 costs about as much to run as a light bulb and the old saying is true "Silence IS Golden!". You pay a chunk up front--but it's a worthy investment, mine has been running for several years and maintenance=clean the filter every coupla months.
kbeaudean
06-26-2009, 07:51 PM
AV-50 They are quiet and around $73.00 at Kens Fish.
AlishanAS
06-27-2009, 12:07 PM
Silent Giant.
Flareside
06-29-2009, 08:18 PM
AV-50 They are quiet and around $73.00 at Kens Fish.

I have this pump from Kens- cant beat the price. Its fairly quiet, but you definitely hear it running

Silent Giant's were the sh*t...Man I wish they still made them.
Longstocking
06-30-2009, 06:26 AM
The most energy efficiant are jehmco's

Depends on what your needs are. In Maryland electricity is through the roof... so it's worth it to most people.

I decided many years ago to get this one...

http://www.kensfish.com/eccopluscommercialairpumps.html

I have two of them and they filter my fish room with air to spare...

I got the large one from before Ken started carrying this line on ebay. Then he got them in and I got the smallest one. They are higher in electricty though...
nick a
06-30-2009, 07:58 AM
I started my fishroom with something that looks similar to those--the SL-65
http://www.petsolutions.com/Super-Luft-Pump+I96301656+C10.aspx.

It had plenty of power for the dozen or so outlets I was using, but nowhere near enough for my future needs. It sucked down 66 watts and was pretty noisy so, I wanted to look at other options. The LPH's are so extremely quiet; if you didn't see the bubbles, you wouldn't know they're running. The LPH26 (may be enough for you) is rated @ 32 watts & 20-25 outlets. PLUS, John is a hell of a resource when it comes to to running air headers! One of the best decisions I ever made for my fishroom!
EMTBMIKE
06-30-2009, 10:24 AM
I would definitely go with the LPH series air pumps from jehmco. They are extremely quiet and energy efficient.
fischfan13
08-20-2009, 04:02 PM
I ended up getting the EcoPlus Commercial Air 3 at the ACA Convention.
Right now it is running 13 sponges flawlessly.
In a few weeks I will have it up to 20 sponges.
Extremely powerful for what I need, but you will DEFINITELY need air stones in the sponge filters if you do not want the loud bubbling sound coming from the tanks.
Longstocking
08-20-2009, 04:25 PM
Best bang for your buck ! I wish more people would try them out...
Richard B
08-20-2009, 08:59 PM
I run a Medo LA -80 its running about 25-30 air stones & filters.
I have run it for years with no problems.
emartin
08-20-2009, 09:59 PM
I ended up getting the EcoPlus Commercial Air 3 at the ACA Convention.
Right now it is running 13 sponges flawlessly.
In a few weeks I will have it up to 20 sponges.
Extremely powerful for what I need, but you will DEFINITELY need air stones in the sponge filters if you do not want the loud bubbling sound coming from the tanks.
I was looking at the Ecoplus 5 to power sponge filters for a lot of tanks in my garage when I set it all up in a few weeks.

Good to have one other person besides Sarah to verify that they work fine! Certainly cheaper too... 80watts/hour isn't that bad either to run it...

~Ed
fischfan13
08-20-2009, 10:13 PM
I was looking at the Ecoplus 5 to power sponge filters for a lot of tanks in my garage when I set it all up in a few weeks.

Good to have one other person besides Sarah to verify that they work fine! Certainly cheaper too... 80watts/hour isn't that bad either to run it...

~Ed

Back in 6th grade Sister John Catherine would take you by the ear and walk you over to the point where she wanted you to sit or stand...nuns could be brutal, but they also were excellent teachers.
Go forward about 30+ years and Sarah walks me into one of the vendors rooms at the ACA Convention...look at the size of my ear now>>>:ear:
emartin
08-20-2009, 10:53 PM
Back in 6th grade Sister John Catherine would take you by the ear and walk you over to the point where she wanted you to sit or stand...nuns could be brutal, but they also were excellent teachers.
Go forward about 30+ years and Sarah walks me into one of the vendors rooms at the ACA Convention...look at the size of my ear now>>>:ear:
Did you just compare Sarah to an old nun!? :laughing:
fischfan13
08-20-2009, 11:06 PM
Did you just compare Sarah to an old nun!? :laughing:


Nope.
Just to someone who would hit you on the knuckles with a yardstick if you didn't listen to her.
:nono:
nick a
08-21-2009, 07:34 AM
Ed, after you saying you don't trust her opinion, you think she's gonna mind being called a nun? LOL :)
Longstocking
08-21-2009, 09:59 AM
I'm not sure what to think...

I'm a nun that no one trusts :coz: :noidea: :p
phillyofish
08-21-2009, 10:10 AM
at least you're not a priest......
emartin
08-21-2009, 10:55 AM
Ed, after you saying you don't trust her opinion, you think she's gonna mind being called a nun? LOL :)
Lol that's not what I meant. Before I spend money on anything that's imo isn't a well known brand I like to have more than just one good review of them lol.
Longstocking
08-21-2009, 11:12 AM
I have tried to get people to use these for years instead of paying the silly price of the medo air pumps. No one ever believes me :coz: So, you are not the only one that hasn't believed me. COUNTLESS others :lol:

I don't know why people want to pay hundreds more :coz:

I compared the specs etc... and the only down side is they use a bit more electricity than the medo's.... but it's not horrible. Cheaper than running a million HOB's or other filters... They are VERY quiet. All you hear is the bubbles like Bill stated.
fischfan13
08-21-2009, 11:34 AM
They are VERY quiet. All you hear is the bubbles like Bill stated.


Not if you use airstones...LOL.
nick a
08-21-2009, 12:49 PM
My best imitation of Groucho Marx, "If she'd be the priest--I'd be willing to be the alterboy!" Eyebrows up and down several times/flick of the ashes from the cigar :becky:


Don't get me wrong.......I'm just sayin.....:pray2:
emartin
09-03-2009, 09:38 PM
Got my Eco Plus Commercial 5 in the mail today. It was a bit louder than I expected (my guess is what I was hearing was just the air coming out, and that when I have all my air lines hooked up I'll just hear the vibration noise) but it appears to be VERY WELL Built and certainly heavy duty and not easy to break...

I was pretty impressed with the air output to say the least! And it only uses 80watts...

~Ed
Longstocking
09-09-2009, 05:49 PM
It will get quiet once you run the lines :) All you will hear are the bubbles :) Unless you put your ear 3 feet from the thing :lol:
fischfan13
09-09-2009, 06:19 PM
Ed, you will not hear bubbles if you use air stones!
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