Find here the essentials and best sellers for our pond owners.
Find here the essentials and best sellers for our pond owners.
How to choose an air pump for an aquarium? When talking about aquarium technology, discussions often take place: about choosing the right filter, the right (LED) lighting or the best heater. Also for the use of air pumps there are – especially on the Internet – different views.
It is therefore particularly difficult for novice aquarists to find clear and sensible advice. Answers to the most frequently asked questions about aquarium air pumps are summarized in this article.
Fish, other aquatic species and plants need a certain amount of oxygen in aquarium water, which they take in through their airways or from the surface.
Oxygen naturally enters water in two ways: it diffuses into the water at the surface of the water, which is enhanced by surface movement. In addition, aquatic plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis. The oxygen requirements of fish differ from species to species. For farmed fish that require water that is particularly rich in oxygen, sufficient aquatic plants and possibly an adequate ventilation system must be provided.
If fish are sick and need to be treated with medication, good ventilation is also necessary: in fact, medication often not only eliminates pathogens, but also harms beneficial bacteria. The decomposition process therefore consumes the oxygen content. Different means of water treatment should also be used ideally with good ventilation. The temperature also has an influence on the oxygen content: in summer, it can sink dangerously due to the heat. In the cases listed, the use of air pumps is recommended.
To ensure a sufficient oxygen content, a diaphragm pump (eg sera air 275 R plus), an air hose and an evacuation device are required.
The oscillating arms to which the membranes and small permanent magnets are attached move in the magnetic field of an electromagnet. The membranes move up and down under 50 Hz alternating current and send air intermittently to the outlet of the membrane block to which the air hoses are connected.
Pre-filtered air is compressed through the felt of the membrane block towards the outlet. This movement occurs per membrane approximately 1.5 billion times per year. By comparison, a person's heart beats about 2.6 billion times until age 90. The greater the power supply, the greater the pressure of the membranes and therefore the power of the pump. When the oxygen has been squeezed through the felt, it flows through the vent as small bubbles on the surface.
It depends on the aquarium, the use and the desired functions. sera offers diaphragm pumps in three performance levels: sera air 110 plus, sera air 275 R plus and sera air 550 R plus . In addition to the aquarium ventilation, they can perform additional tasks and supply air to aquarium devices such as the sera L internal filter or the sera aspirator.
In addition, they are designed for the use of the feeder sera to reduce the humidity of the food or to aerate the breeding of Artemia or phytoplankton.
Which air pump is best suited for which function is shown in this overview:
All three models transport air with at least 100 – 140 mbar, which corresponds to 1.0 – 1.4 m water column. This means that eg. a connected diffusion stone produces very few bubbles at a depth of 1.0 to 1.4 m. If the air lines are joined, the pressure can be increased to 160 – 170 mbar.
The air 275 R plus and air 550 R plus models have a particularly simple electronic control with which the air requirement can be adjusted via a rotary knob. Power consumption is minimal with 3, 4 or 8 W.
sera air pumps are very quiet. Tip: Best results are obtained when the air pumps are suspended. Thus, no vibration is transmitted to a cabinet or piece of furniture.
In addition to the air pump, sera supplies non-return valves for all models, thus preventing the backflow of water into the air pumps. The air 275 R plus and air 550 R plus models come with Y-pieces that allow multiple outlets to be combined with an air hose to increase volume while increasing pressure. The particularly flexible air hoses with diffuser stones and control valves are available separately as sera air sets S, M and L suitable for sera air 110 plus, 275 R plus and 550 R plus.
The heart of the air pump, the diaphragm block, can be completely replaced. The felt filter, in which atmospheric dust accumulates, can also be easily replaced by the drawer construction.
Here you will find the technical data of our three diaphragm pumps:
| will air 110 plus | sera air 275 R plus | sera air 550 R plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| l/h (corresponds to approx. l/min): | min. 110 (approx. 1.8 l/min) | min. 275 (approx. 4.5 l/min) | min. 550 (9.2 l/min) |
| watts: | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| Pressure generated: | ≥0.010mPa (≥100mbar) | ≥0.014mPa (≥140mbar) | ≥0.014mPa (≥140mbar) |
| Fittings: | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Spare membrane(s): (art. no. per complete set of spare parts) |
06730 | 06732 | 06732 (2 Stück) |
| Air pump (ref. art.) |
08819 | 08819 | 08819 |
| Recommended accessories (ref. art.) |
sera air set S 08813 |
sera air set M 08815 |
sera air set pond L 08817 |
Leave a comment