heavy duty air pump recommendations

[gregga]

One of my fry racks look like it has spaghetti hanging all over it. I need an air pump strong enough to run 4-6 sponge filters and/or tumblers (I currently have 6 separate air pumps running). Someone recommended a Dolphin 5 Star......any other thoughts?

[emartin]

EcoPlus air pumps are cheap and very powerful for the ammount of electricity use and cost. Problem is they vibrate like crazy and NEED SECURE placement on styrofoam, a small rag/cloth, etc.

They aren't THAT noisy but DEFINITELY NOT recommended for display tanks or around the house as they are noisy. I have mine in my garage/fish room and it's fine.

You can get them at Kensfish.com: http://www.kensfish.com/eccopluscommercialairpumps.html

It comes with a 6 or 8 outlet plastic manifold but it'd be better to make your own custom one.

[fischfan13]

I second what Ed says!
Yourfishstuff.com also carries these pumps and I use one in my fishroom as well.

[triscuit]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3669+14684&pcatid=14684

this is the one I have, and I'm happy with it, but it looks like it is more expensive than the ones available at Ken's.

[emartin]

Yourfishstuff.com only carries one model of the EcoPlus, EP-30 which does 30liters of air per minute http://www.yourfishstuff.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=176&category_id=24&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

[fischfan13]

Greg, I have both the EcoPlus and the Dolphin 5 Star...and there is absolutely no comparison. For the few extra $$$ you will get a powerful pump that will last MUCH longer than the 5 Star.

[emartin]

Greg, I have both the EcoPlus and the Dolphin 5 Star...and there is absolutely no comparison. For the few extra $$$ you will get a powerful pump that will last MUCH longer than the 5 Star.
I agree with Bill.

The only problem I had with my Eco Plus 5 was with mounting. What happened was I had it too loose on the styrofoam and eventually from all the vibrating it started a rythym with the stand it was on making a HUGE racket...

Once I added a better piece of styrofoam and tied it tighter to the stand it no longer does that. The initial noise when you first turn it on is just the air rushing out and for the first few hours you WILL smell an oily motor smell but it goes away and gets odorless later.

[pogi2009]

anybody using Linear Piston Air Compressor from Jehmco - http://www.jehmco.com/html/central_air_pumps.html ?
It is quiet expensive though.

[steve0199us]

If you have use for 20-25 outlets, I'd go with a LPH from Jehmco. All my tanks+ tumblers are running off the LPH26. They are very silent!

[pogi2009]

Steve,
am waiting for it to be on sale... looking for the LPH26 or LPH45... hopefully next year.
Tony

[gregga]

which eco-plus model should I be looking at to run 2-3 tanks?

[Afreakin]

This is on sale now. I never used it but it got some good reviews.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18279/si1378968/cl0/coralifesuperluftpumpsl38

[emartin]

which eco-plus model should I be looking at to run 2-3 tanks?
To run 2-3 tanks? I'm going to assume like 4 air sources to each tank...

I would go with the one of the lower models either the one that Kensfish sells or the one that yourfishstuff sells.

Ken has a real good sense of figuring out what LPM rating (liters per minute) or brand and model is good based on what you describe to him. I'd give him a call or send him an email and he will be able to tell you.

Or you could ask fischfan13 on his model which is a Ecoplus-3 I believe. He uses it and could tell you how many tanks he has it running.

My EcoPlus-5 does 88liters per minute at 80watts of electricity and I have a manifold build with about 40 outlets. It all depends on how deep your tanks are, etc. Right now I have it only running one sponge filter on one tank there's so much air coming out of the air pump that I have to bleed like 10-20 valves or else it's a jacuzzi in the 75g LOL.

[Richard B]

I use a Medo LA 80 it runs everything in my room I just replaced my first one whic ran none stop 6 years.
I opted to replace it rather then rebuild. They are a bit more $ but it is silent and provides plenty of air for about 30 outlets. Various depths.
RB