Air pump for fish room
- Thread starter Karalak42
- Start date
I've been needing to replace my air pump as well and the concern I've had is that almost all air pumps fail in the same way. The diaphragm(s) tear and that cheap and tiny component renders the entire unit as trash. Deciding to get a replacement diaphragm from TopFin or others is crazy talk.
My preference would be a quiet pump with replaceable parts and the company that looks like it makes what I'm looking for is Nitto out of Japan. They're linear piston pumps which are far more reliable than the diaphragm stuff I've been using.
Here's a spec sheet for their two smaller units and I've seen the larger of those two available through Aquarium Co-op. Unfortunately I'm looking for the smaller of the two which Cory doesn't have so I looked around and found a company called Jehmco that's located somewhere in NJ according to the area code of their fax number. They have a full page of pumps they sell and I'm probably going to give them a holler in the next day or so. The unit they catalog as an LPH26 looks remarkably similar to the Nitto LA-28B. I suppose it may be a trashy Chinese copy I'll verify that it's not before I order.
I've never done business w/ Aquarium Co-op or Jehmco so can't recommend either from experience.
My preference would be a quiet pump with replaceable parts and the company that looks like it makes what I'm looking for is Nitto out of Japan. They're linear piston pumps which are far more reliable than the diaphragm stuff I've been using.
Here's a spec sheet for their two smaller units and I've seen the larger of those two available through Aquarium Co-op. Unfortunately I'm looking for the smaller of the two which Cory doesn't have so I looked around and found a company called Jehmco that's located somewhere in NJ according to the area code of their fax number. They have a full page of pumps they sell and I'm probably going to give them a holler in the next day or so. The unit they catalog as an LPH26 looks remarkably similar to the Nitto LA-28B. I suppose it may be a trashy Chinese copy I'll verify that it's not before I order.
I've never done business w/ Aquarium Co-op or Jehmco so can't recommend either from experience.
I can highly recommend using Jehmco to buy the LPH series air pumps, just call them and ask for John as he can usually figure out what size you need based on the height and number of tanks you want to run.
I bought the LPH 60 and when I added more tanks the LPH80, both are linear piston pumps and replacement seals and pistons are available and relatively easy to fix. I've never had a problem with them. For regular maintenance be sure to clean or replace the air filter on top of the air pump at least once a year.
I bought the LPH 60 and when I added more tanks the LPH80, both are linear piston pumps and replacement seals and pistons are available and relatively easy to fix. I've never had a problem with them. For regular maintenance be sure to clean or replace the air filter on top of the air pump at least once a year.
I have been using an LPH26 from Jehmco for many years, about a decade. I chose this small model for the low wattage and light duty of running a dozen air lines. I've been pleased with how well it has worked out. It is fairly quiet, I really don't notice the sound too much. It does generate some heat.
I recently got one of the hydra "silent giant" pumps for use on my quarantine tank. Its performs rather well and it is relatively quiet. Time will tell for reliability. It could probably handle a couple medium sized tanks, 75g or less.
Hygger makes a decent pump for the money as well ime. The 10w models ived used have a shelf life of around 2 years before they start weakening and loudening. I have heard the extra diaphragms can be ordered but have yet to try myself.
For something like you want to power a bunch of tanks i would look into alita air pumps.
Hygger makes a decent pump for the money as well ime. The 10w models ived used have a shelf life of around 2 years before they start weakening and loudening. I have heard the extra diaphragms can be ordered but have yet to try myself.
For something like you want to power a bunch of tanks i would look into alita air pumps.
That looks very much like the kind of disposable 'made in China' type product that I'd like to avoid. I've been keeping fish for a half century or more and thrown out a ton of low grade product that worked great for a while but wasn't intended to be a long term solution. I think it's time I broke out of that mold but I very much appreciate the suggestion!
I'm off to take a look at Alta. Thank you!
Maybe the term "low grade" isn't accurate. If all of the entry level people that wanted to participate in the hobby had to buy commercial grade products as a price of entry a lot of us would have missed out. What I want is something intended not to be disposable and that wouldn't be predisposed to failure as quickly as the typical pet shop model.
And it's got to be field maintainable. The dump has rec'd enough material from me that was more marketing than R&D.
And it's got to be field maintainable. The dump has rec'd enough material from me that was more marketing than R&D.
Call Jehmco. They are great people and will help you determine which model air pump you need. They do all the calculations for you.
I was in the market for a pump like this a few years back; I looked at Jehmco, Alita and others. Being a Canuck, I was hoping to find something with a Canadian distributor and retailer. I eventually went with HiBlow 40, and a friend at the same time purchased a similar-sized Alita. Both have been running continuously for a bit over three years, completely trouble-free. I purchased a "re-build" kit...seals, gaskets, diaphragm, etc...with the pump and have never touched it.
Mine was oversized for my intended application, and the application itself has changed since I purchased the pump. I wanted sufficient capacity to run a couple of airlines outside to stocktanks being used as summertime breeding and growout "ponds". Aerating those proved to be counterproductive, so the pump has since been operating only my indoor tanks, not only those in my basement fish room but also a couple of tanks upstair in different rooms; a couple of tiny holes drilled in the corner of floors allows easy installation of standard airline hoses running up from the basement to the upstairs. No pump hum upstairs is wonderful!
The HiBlow sits on a foam pad on a fishroom shelf, and feeds a DIY manifold created out of PVC pipe and screw-in brass valves. Despite the fact that my fishroom doesn't allow for a circular loop manifold, the system works nicely; it is fantastic to have air on tap at a moment's notice anywhere I need it. The pump is currently running just over 20 air lines, none at depths over 24 inches. Most are bare lines, a few have airstones; the manifold has a couple of unused valves that are partially open for pressure relief, so there is no shortage of capacity. When you buy a central pump, you find all sorts of uses for extra air.
Mine was oversized for my intended application, and the application itself has changed since I purchased the pump. I wanted sufficient capacity to run a couple of airlines outside to stocktanks being used as summertime breeding and growout "ponds". Aerating those proved to be counterproductive, so the pump has since been operating only my indoor tanks, not only those in my basement fish room but also a couple of tanks upstair in different rooms; a couple of tiny holes drilled in the corner of floors allows easy installation of standard airline hoses running up from the basement to the upstairs. No pump hum upstairs is wonderful!
The HiBlow sits on a foam pad on a fishroom shelf, and feeds a DIY manifold created out of PVC pipe and screw-in brass valves. Despite the fact that my fishroom doesn't allow for a circular loop manifold, the system works nicely; it is fantastic to have air on tap at a moment's notice anywhere I need it. The pump is currently running just over 20 air lines, none at depths over 24 inches. Most are bare lines, a few have airstones; the manifold has a couple of unused valves that are partially open for pressure relief, so there is no shortage of capacity. When you buy a central pump, you find all sorts of uses for extra air.