Got a big tank? Looking for a strong air pump to handle the size? You’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’m about to review the five best air pumps for large aquariums that your money can buy.
Best Air Pumps for Large Aquariums
- Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump
- INCLY 7W Aquarium Air Pump
- AquaMiracle Quiet Aquarium Air Pump
- PYPABL 400GPH Aquarium Air Pump
- VIVOSUN Commercial Air Pump
Top 5 Best Air Pumps for Large Aquariums: Reviews
1. Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump: Our Top Pick
- Steady Output: Max Air Flow Rate: 64 GPH; Pressure: 0.016 MPa; Power: 4 W. Perfect for aeration in...
- Adjustable Air Flow: Feature a rotary knob to control the amount of air for dual outputs, allowing...
Here we have an air pump that is suitable for aquariums up to 100 gallons in size. It features a four Watt motor, therefore allowing for perfect aeration for both marine and freshwater environments. It features a maximum pressure rating of 0.016 MPA, combined with a maximum flow rate of 64 gallons per hour.
It is therefore suitable for moderate and large sized tanks, and of course, the airflow is completely adjustable. Something that I really like about this unit is that the maximum noise it makes is 45 decibels, and just under 25 decibels on the low setting.
What you might also appreciate is that there are two air stone discs included here that produce a lot of bubbles that aerate the water. Based on this, you can rightfully assume that there are two separate output ports, so you can run two air stones or filters at the same time.
You also get 6.5 feet of airline tubing included with your purchase. Overall, I think this is one of the best units out there, especially for the very low price that it comes in at. It may not be the largest or most powerful model out there, but it is suitable for tanks up to 100 gallons, and especially for those working on a relatively budget.
Pros
- Good for moderate and moderate-large tanks
- Durable design
- Adjustable output
- Dual outlets
- Air stones included
- Great price
Cons
- Still quite small for BIG tanks
If you’re looking for a good air pump for large tanks that don’t cost a fortune, this is the top option I’d always recommend.
2. INCLY 7W Aquarium Air Pump
- 7W electromagnetic motor produces exceptional air pressure (Mas: 0.025 mpa) and sends a huge volume...
- High Effective：adopting electromagnetic vibration principle,there is not friction between moving...
Here we have an absolutely massive air pump that is ideal for aquariums several hundred gallons in size, as it can put out up to 245 gallons of air per hour, along with a rating of 0.025 MPA, which is a whole lot of air pressure. This is most likely thanks to the seven Watt electromagnetic motor that it includes.
This is one of the most effective and large volume air pumps out there at this time, especially considering that it still comes in at a relatively low price. What you might also appreciate is that it is designed to be ultra silent, so it doesn’t disturb you or your fish as it runs.
Something else that stands out about it is that it comes complete with four air outlets, which means that you can run multiple filters and air stones at once with ease. What I really like about it is that it is built with extremely durable materials and features great impact resistance. It might not be the most beautiful unit on the list, but it does work very well.
Pros
- Durable
- High volume
- Adjustable
- Four outputs
- Very quiet
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t look too nice
If you need a very powerful air pump, and you don’t mind the appearance of it, then this is a great option to consider.
3. AquaMiracle Quiet Aquarium Air Pump
- ENERGY EFFICIENT GREAT PERFORMANCE – This aquarium air pump adapts pure copper motor to create...
- SUPER QUIET – Compact in size, super thick metal housing, advanced rubber diaphragm, rubber...
Here we have what is so far by far the most powerful unit on the list today, as it comes complete with a 16 Watt motor that can power it to produce over 475 gallons per hour of air flow, which is much more than anything else on this list.
It can be used down to a maximum water depth of seven feet, along with a pressure rating of 0.03 MPA, which is of course extremely powerful. It even comes complete with six separate outlets, as well as six valves and air stones, which means that you can run all six air stones at once, therefore making it suitable for extremely large tanks.
Of course, you can also use it to run your filters. This unit should be suitable for tanks of at least 200 or even 300 gallons in size, if not larger.
Yes, it is also adjustable in terms of the air flow it puts out. Even better is the fact that it is designed to be extremely durable, as it comes with metal manifolds, heat dispersing materials and an aluminum alloy housing, because it is after all a commercial unit.
Pros
- Tons of power
- Ideal for huge tanks
- Adjustable flow rate
- 6 outlet valves
- Very high quality build
Cons
- More expensive than the others
4. PYPABL 400GPH Aquarium Air Pump
- 【Unique Cruiser Shape】【Super Quiet】【Large Air Volume】
- 【Specifications】Powerful aquarium air pump, Max Air Flow: 400GPH(1500L/H), Power:12W, Max...
This is yet another super powerful unit that features a 12 Watt motor. That is indeed quite a powerful motor, and it powers this unit to produce over 400 gallons per hour of flow rate, with a maximum pressure of 25K PA.
It should therefore be suitable for fish tanks of around 200 gallons in size and even larger. It features dual outputs as well, so you can run two air stones, a filter and an air stone, or even dual filters at once.
What I personally really like about this unit is that it is built to be extremely durable. It features an air filter cotton at the bottom of the bubbler which helps to remove impurities in the air.
It is also made with four layers of insulation, which means that it is not only durable, but also very quiet. It’s also silent thanks to the silicone feet it comes with, so it doesn’t vibrate much as it operates. All things considered, I think this is a fantastic option to go with, and another reason for this is because the price is also very reasonable.
Pros
- Very rugged design
- Whisper quiet
- Lots of power and airflow
- Totally adjustable
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Included accessories are somewhat low-quality
If what you need is a whisper quiet air pump that can put out a whole lot of air flow, this is one I’d recommend over most others.
5. VIVOSUN Commercial Air Pump
- 【Unique Cruiser Shape】【Super Quiet】【Large Air Volume】
- 【Specifications】Powerful aquarium air pump, Max Air Flow: 400GPH(1500L/H), Power:12W, Max...
Here is by far the most powerful unit on the list, and one of the most powerful ones out there in general. What you get here is an air pump with a whopping 25-Watt motor, which can put out up to 634 gallons of Watt air flow per hour.
This should be more than enough for any size of query you have. If that’s not big enough, there is also a 40-Watt model and a 55-Watt model, which can end up putting out several thousand gallons of air flow per hour. This unit, the smallest one, produces exceptional air pressure of over 0.03 MPA, with the larger modules producing even more.
This unit also comes complete with six output valves, so you can run a plethora of filters and air stones at once, and each of the valves can be adjusted for exact air flow requirements. This unit is also built with some of the highest quality materials that I have seen on an air pump out there at this time, with the 100 percent copper outlet nozzle being just one of them.
Pros
- Superior build quality
- A whole lot of power
- Massive airflow
- Highly adjustable
- Relatively affordable price
- Six outlets
Cons
- Not very quiet
If you don’t mind your air pump producing a bit of noise, and you need something absolutely massive that can put out several 100 gallons of airflow per hour, this is one I’d always consider going with.
Air Pumps for Aquariums Buyers Guide: What To Look Out For
Quickly take a look at some of the most important purchasing considerations to keep in mind when choosing an air pump for a large aquarium.
Wattage
Always consider how many watts the unit in question has. The more wattage the air pump in question features, the more air flow it will be able to put out. As you can see, some of the items I’ve reviewed today have huge wattage ratings, which is required for large tanks. A small 3 Watt air pump just won’t do for a 100 gallon aquarium.
GPH & Adjustability
Always consider how much air flow you require in your aquarium. Some of these units can put out 50 gallons per hour whereas others can put out over 1000 gallons of air flow per hour. Even more important perhaps is that the unit in question is adjustable, so you can make precise adjustments to suit your needs.
Number of Outlets
Although it is possible to find air pumps of this nature that only have one outlet, most have at least two, with some of the ones I’ve reviewed today having up to six. The more filters and air stones you need to run, the more of these outlets you need.
Build Quality
When it comes to something like an air pump that has a lot of moving components, I always recommend investing a little bit extra into something that has a slightly higher build quality. Just make sure that the materials used are relatively decent, or else the air pump in question will break quickly, and it probably won’t function properly in the first place.
Noise Level
Some of these aquarium air pumps can be fairly loud, so always pay attention to how many decibels of noise they put out. If you can keep it under 40 or 50 decibels, you’re on the right track.
