Need some helping picking out a new air pump

[frankandnick]

Our air pump is not running as good as it use to and we plan to add another 50, 2-10 gallon tanks with in the next month. So we need a bigger air pump, i cant figure out what one would be best.

We currently have a 185 watt Linear Magnetic air pump that is having a hard time when i add any new air lines.

We need a pump that will power about 300 sponge filters. (3 per tank)

So I'm stuck between buying another 185 watt pump or buying a bigger watt pump or going with a blower.

I see 2 problems\ things i don't understand and was hoping i could get some help.

1. blowers have less pressure (less psi) most of are tanks are 55s, and 30s, with some 10's and 5's. so I'm not sure how important pressure is.

2. I know blowers are loud but exactly how loud compared to my current air pump?

The Linear Magnetic air pump have 5-7psi were the blower only has 1/2 a psi and the more pressure it needs the less LPM it can do.

Thanks in advance.

[jon carman]

I would do a blower my tanks are shallow though.

[jon carman]

My blower is doing about 300 outlets. I don't know all the specs, and can't really tell you why I went with blower, but it has worked fine for me.

[frankandnick]

How loud is your blower?

[jon carman]

Kinda loud, but I ran it into another room so I can't hear it.

[tradewatertropical]

I run a large blower on well over 100 tanks and most have multible sponges or bubble wands. Also most of my tanks are bigger tanks so it pushes the air pretty deep on the most of them. I also have the same size blower running my outside ponds that average 1,200 to 1,500 gallon at 6' to 7' deep and it works fine. But they are fairly loud, I have the one for the fishroon stuck under the front porch so that cuts the noise down to a minumium. The one outside has its own little house that quitens it down considerably. Really just depending on weather you can put up with the high pitch sound of a blower or the suddle sound of a mag. pump that struggles to keep the tanks going.

[frankandnick]

The fish room is sealed off from the rest of the house so im not so much woried about how loud it is unless its extremely loud

[davidtcb1]

I always hear about piston air pumps. Are these the same as blowers or linear magnetic or different?

[frankandnick]

I'm not really sure. We use a commercial style air compresser.

[ree123]

Nov 11, 2012 14:01:44 GMT -6 davidtcb1 said:

I always hear about piston air pumps. Are these the same as blowers or linear magnetic or different?

Piston air pumps and Linear air pumps are considered the same thing. Once upon a time there was a small version of a belt driven 2 piston pump that was not Linear but it is no longer manufactured. I have a few though.
Blowers work like they sound. A motor spins a blade and forces air through a tube to create force into the same air ducts/pvc piping as used for the Linear pumps.

Hope that explains.

[ree123]

I am running an LPH80 and over 100 sponge filters with ease and plent of air pressure.
bought from JEHMCO.
You wanting to run close to 3 times that many outlets tells me you need a bigger pump than I.
I suggest you call JEHMCO and tell tyhem the # of outlets and ask for their advice.
They will talk to you as long as necessary to solve your delima.
And, they will offer advice for free.
Terrific folks !
Personally I like the Linear pump better, as less noisy and less $ to achieve my needs.
Your pocket book and location related to it's noise, and the number of outlets dictates your choice.
The blowers are known to work on deeper tanks, but you are adding shallow tanks and if your established tanks are shallow too, then a Linear.
If deep tanks, and adding that many more, and no issues with $, and no concerns with noise, a blower.
Just my opinion.
Hope it helps and doesn't just muddy the water for ya.

[ree123]

There are numerous sizes of Linear pumps. You only listed 2 in your poll. Call JEHMCO or google them, to see all the models available before deciding for sure, IMHO.

[frankandnick]

I only put 4 because not all that many people know pumps and if i made 10 opitions i thought i might only get 1-2 votes spread between 10 pump. I thought less options more of a chance to point in the right direction.

I think we are going to go with a 600LPM blower and hope for the best.

[frankandnick]

Well got our thomas 2660 pump.

I hooked it up to my current air pump line and it was blowing so much air my tanks started to nearly bubble over. Only drawback is its loud.

[jon carman]

Do you have a pressure release?