4 Outlet Air Pump --> 1 Sponge

[Fish Eat Fish]

Hello everyone,

I am slightly embarrassed to even ask but I don't use air pumps all that often and the ones I have used had a single hookup. I have a 4 outlet pump that came with a tank and I want to just run one sponge. I turned it on and blocked 3 of the outlets with my hand and it didnt seem to increase the flow to the open one. Are these all plumbed together? Or are there 4 separate bellows that supply 4 lines of air? I guess what I really want to know is should I be capping the unused 3 or just letting them vent? I tried searching this but search is broken for me and Google wasn't much help. A number of functions seem broken for me since the site maintenance.

Thanks

 

[Wailua Boy]

I wouldnt block the air flow as it could shorten the life of your pump just divert the air to additional tanks or sponge filters

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

I just don't need any more. I'm already turning the tank over 18 times an hour and I can't hide 4 sponges. I only have the one for use in an eventual fry tank. I want a good seeded filter ready and I don't use a sump.

 

[Wailua Boy]

I guess in that case just bleed it off. One other option is do away with what other filtration you are using and just rely on a air driven filter, could be an option

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

It has adjustable output so I would assume I can junction all 4 into 1 or block 3. I just realized that I could blow into one output while it's unplugged and if air comes out the others than they are plumbed together.

 

[HarleyK]

I wouldn't block anything.
Either let it go into air, or combine all four into a single line and have super-output into your sponge .

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

I just used a gang valve in reverse haha. It gets the job done. I also have it turned down to 2/3 power.