Air pumps help to provide oxygen for your fish, which is of course very important. Therefore, I’m about to help you find the best air pumps for your aquarium that the market has to offer.
Best Air Pumps for Aquariums
- Hygger Small Quietest Aquarium Air Pump
- HITOP Dual Outlet Aquarium Electric Air Pump
- Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump
- Tetra Whisper Air Pump
- Pawfly 254 GPH Aquarium Air Pump
Top 5 Best Air Pumps for Aquariums: Reviews
Let’s take a look at each of the top five best air pumps for aquariums.
1. Hygger Small Quietest Aquarium Air Pump: Our Top Pick
- 🐠Adjustable Air Pump: With adjustment control knob, the air flow can be adjusted according to...
- 🐠Double Air Outlet Pump: The bubbles are even,natural and stable. Can be connected to nano air...
The Hygger features a 5 Watt motor and is designed for aquariums up to 150 gallons. It should be able to aerate a fish tank that is up to five feet deep, and on that note, it comes with a 6 foot long power cord.
This unit produces 160 gallons per hour of air flow, which should be more than enough to aerate and oxygenate any home aquarium. It even comes with a double air outlet pump so you can attach two air stones, water features, and anything in between.
This is also a very quiet air pump, as it produces less than 30 decibels of noise, so it should not disrupt you. It actually comes with various special features to help reduce noise. It also comes with special suction cup feet to keep it in one place, so it doesn’t vibrate or move around.
Thanks to its design, it’s also very durable, which is mainly thanks to a thickened ABS plastic as well as the stainless steel cover.
The full copper wire motor is also designed to last for a very long time. All in all, this has to be one of the most durable, effective, and affordable aquarium air pumps out there.
Pros
- High flow rate
- Great price
- Durable design
- Adjustable
- Dual outputs
- Quiet
Cons
- Volume may increase after prolonged use
If you’re looking for what is perhaps the most convenient aquarium pump on the market, this is most likely it.
2. HITOP Dual Outlet Aquarium Electric Air Pump
- Ultra Quiet: Made of ABS thickening engineering plastics, super silent aquarium air pump. Soft...
- Long Service Life: Manually adjustable air volume, won’t cause shakes and electric field...
Something that really stands out about this unit is that it comes complete with everything you need including two return valves, two air stones, two airlines, a connector, and air filtration cotton. The air filter cotton can also be replaced, to help protect the filter from damage due to impurities.
Keep in mind that this unit is designed for aquariums between 20 and 100 gallons in size, with the flow rate being adjustable anywhere from 2 to 5 liters per hour. It does a rather fantastic job at aerating and oxygenating any tank. The fact that it comes with two hose outlets is also quite convenient because it means you can attach two separate air stones.
This air pump comes with soft rubber foot pads to prevent it from making too much noise, and is also designed in such a way so that the motor is not very noisy. The ABS thickened plastic housing doesn’t just keep noise to a low, it also helps provide a whole lot of durability. The fact that it comes in at just 5.12 by 2.24 by 2.76 inches is another bonus, because it doesn’t take up much space.
Pros
- Compact
- Low noise
- Dual outputs
- Energy efficient
- Ideal for tanks up to 100 gallons
- Adjustable
Cons
- Motor may have somewhat limited longevity
If you’re looking for something basic that won’t break your bank, this is one of the best options at your disposal.
3. Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump
Here we have a 4-Watt air pump that is suitable for tanks up to 100 gallons in size. It can be used for both marine and freshwater tanks, and it can put out up to 64 gallons per hour of flow rate. Yes, the flow rate is also adjustable, so you can adjust it for any size of tank that you see fit.
Thanks to this adjustable air flow, as well as the dual output ports, it allows you to fully aerate and oxygenate any section of your fish tank with these. It also comes complete with two air stone discs, so you don’t have to purchase those on the side.
You also get 6.5 foot airline tubing, two check valves, and two connectors. In other words, it comes with everything you need to get started.
Some people may also appreciate how this unit produces a maximum of 45 decibels of noise on the highest setting, and only 25 decibels on the lowest setting. All in all, this is certainly a very easy to use and convenient unit.
Pros
- Fantastic price
- Small and compact
- Easy setup
- Easy maintenance
- Dual outlets
- Ideal for tanks up to 100 gallons
Cons
- Flow rate could be a bit higher
If you’re looking for an air pump that is durable, quiet, and produces enough air flow for most aquariums, this is a great one to consider.
4. Tetra Whisper Air Pump
What’s neat is that here you get a whole lot of variety. There are four different options to choose from, including an air pump for up to 10-gallon tanks, one for tanks between 20 and 40 gallons, one for tanks between 40 and 60 gallons, and one for tanks between 60 and 100 gallons.
Something important to keep in mind is that all of the smaller options only have a single output, whereas the larger options have a dual output. Personally, I like the much smaller options, as they’re ideal for medium-sized tanks, yet don’t take up a whole lot of space.
What you may also appreciate is the patented dome shape along with the suspended motor and the sound dampening chambers, which all work together to help reduce noise. Of course, what is also convenient is that this is by far one of the most affordable air pumps on the market today.
Pros
- Great price
- Very quiet
- Many sizes
- Single or dual outputs
Cons
- Somewhat limited durability
If you’re just looking for something that won’t break your bank, this is it.
5. Pawfly 254 GPH Aquarium Air Pump
- Strong Output: Supply 254 gallons of steady air flow per hour with low power consumption. Suitable...
- High Efficiency: Max flow rate: 254 GPH; Pressure: 0.025 MPa; Power: 7 W. Excellent for fish’s...
Here we have what is by far the largest and most powerful air pump on the list today. This unit can put out up to 254 gallons of steady airflow per hour, and is suitable for tanks up to 300 gallons. It also features 0.025 MPA of pressure, which should be more than enough for any size of fish tank.
To suit its high power, it comes with four separate outputs, so you can attach up to four air stones, water features, or anything else of the sort. To make it suitable for most situations, the air flow is also adjustable.
What many people should also appreciate is the multi-level muffler construction along with the low rubber feet that help to minimize noise and vibration. Even though this unit is very powerful, it still puts out only 45 decibels of noise. Overall, this air pump is also built out of very sturdy and durable materials.
Pros
- Super powerful
- Ideal for the largest tanks
- Quadruple outputs
- Easy to operate and maintain
- Durable
- Good price
Cons
- A bit chunky
If you have a big tank and you need to keep it oxygenated, this is likely the best air pump for you.
Air Pumps for Aquariums Buyers Guide: What To Look Out For
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most important purchasing factors to keep in mind before you buy an air pump for your aquarium.
1. Size Rating
Always pay attention to the size of the aquarium for which the pump in question is rated for. Some are rated for very small aquariums whereas some are rated for much larger ones. You do need to pay close attention to this, because if you get one that is too small, it won’t be able to keep up with your tank’s needs.
2. Flow Rate
The flow rate is also very important to consider, with 0.5 liters per minute being the absolute minimum. Ideally, you want the pump in question to be adjustable to anywhere between two and six liters of air flow per minute.
3. Noise
You should always pay attention to the noise produced by the unit in question as well. Some can be very loud, and this can be disruptive. Therefore, going for a unit that produces 45 decibels of noise at the very most is recommended.
4. Durability
Just make sure that you get an aquarium air pump that is made with solid materials. These air pumps usually aren’t very expensive, so we recommend investing a few dollars more into something that will last for several years to come.
5. Outputs
Depending on how many air stones you want to connect to the air pump, you may also want to go for a unit that has more than one output.
