I never used an air pump in my freshwater aquariums when I had them, but luckily I had some Hagen AquaClear Power Heads running my undergravel filter and supplying air bubbles as well.
But I recently setup my 75 gallon SW aquarium and since I run a skimmer on the tank I don't need an air pump. Why did I buy one then? Because I wanted an air pump for my quarantine/hospital tank. When fish are stressed the extra oxygen is helpful to their survival.
Uses:
The air pump can be used for multiple applications. It can be used for its most common application, just running an airstone or bubble bar to add oxygen and pretty bubbles to your freshwater or saltwater tank.
I use it for my quarantine/hospital tank. I keep a filter sponge in my sump of my 75 gallon tank to keep a good supply of nitrogen cycle bacteria established on the sponge. Then when it is time to setup my quarantine/hospital(Q/H) tank I do a water change from my main tank into the Q/H tank and add the sponge which results in little if any "cycle" in my Q/H tank. I attach the airline tubing from the air pump onto the filter sponge neck and it not only adds air bubbles to the water, but the lifting action of the bubbles forces water through the sponge, filtering the water.
If your power goes out at your house the most critical thing to do will be to keep your tank aerated. These pumps are powered by power cords, so they are not designed for this duty, but if you have a battery backup they can be plugged into that and used for a short time until you can locate a battery powered air pump.
The Rena Line:
The Rena comes in a variety of models: 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 rated for a maximum aquarium size of 10, 25, 45, 80 and 160 respectively. I purchased the 100 myself as my Q/H tank is only 15 gallons. The 300 and 400 models have adjustment valves that allow you to control the amount of bubbles going into the tank, which is a nice feature.
Installation:
Installation is easy, anyone could do it.
1. Plug airstone into the airline tubing
2. Plug airline tubing into the pump
3. Plug the power cord into the wall(making sure you leave a dip in the power cord to prevent water from following the cord to the outlet).
The Good:
This pump is QUIET! My wife is not happy with how loud some other parts of my aquarium are and she said anything new I added had to be QUIET! Hence my choice of this air pump.
My wife was watching while I plugged the pump in. I plugged it in, it was very quiet and then I set it on my wooden stand and it was much louder. WHAT?!?! I quickly took the pump off and set it on the carpet and it was even quieter. AHHA! So set it on carpet and it is virtually silent. I seriously have had to check the air bubbles several times just to verify the pump was still running.
I recently bought a battery powered air pump as an emergency life saving device for the fish if the power was to go out and it is LOUD LOUD LOUD compared to this Rena. My wife appreciates the Rena much more now that she has heard the battery powered one.
The Bad:
They don't include airline tubing with the pump. Considering it is pennies to include the tubing I was a little disappointed in this. I didn't buy the tubing at the local fish store as they charge way too much and I went to Home Depot on the way home and purchased 5 feet for less than a buck. I can't remember if an airstone came with it or not, so I can't comment on that.
It is pricey compared to some other air pumps, but for the silent operation, I think it is well worth it.
Summary:
I've heard that these pumps are very durable and I'm now testing that theory. I've had the pump running for 3 months now with no problems and if you want a QUIET pump, this is the one for you. Just make sure to place it on the carpet or a similar soft surface and reserve a little extra money for the expensive price.
If you have an aquarium fish tank a Rena Air pump can provide additional aeration and filtration which will reduce your aquarium maintenance. The inno...More at PetSmart
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