Best Aquarium Air Pumps In 2021

Looking for a pump that can be used in both a freshwater fish tank and a marine water tank? Then head straight for the Tetra Whisper Air Pump. Just as the name implies, this air pump operates quietly just like a whisper and with its dome-like shape that aids the suppression of sound waves, this pump, when compared to a lot of other pumps in the market, is 80% much quieter. The Tetra Whisper promises that you can sleep peacefully without any disruption while it continues to supply the best quality air for your fishy friends, at the best possible frequency.

In addition to its quietness, this air pump is also easy on your pocket and offers a shelf of more than two years, whilst still working hard in heavy-duty situations; the Tetra Whisper air pump would best handle those situations that require you to pump up to 100 gallons of water. The pump is not only just efficient, but the customer care unit of the Tetra Company has been praised for being equally helpful if you ever feel the need to get in touch for any inquiries.

The aquarium air pump market is littered with numerous products that serve the same function of pumping air in fish tanks, however, there are some products that set themselves apart and stand out for their reliability and efficiency. One such product is the  Hydrofarm Active Aqua Air Pump. For a pump so little in size, it has the capacity to pump water in a 3 feet deep pond, which enables your fishy friends to dance freely in the aquarium. Most importantly, this pump is able to trigger enough bubbles to rise to the surface of the tank regardless of depth which speaks to its power. But don’t let this powerful air pump fool you into thinking that it is a noisy one; in fact, it operates almost noiselessly.

It also offers four outlets which provide airflow to your fishes through four different tubes all at once. But that is not all – this highly functioning product can also be used in an outdoor aquarium offering a waterproof structure; hence in a situation where it is raining, you can rest easy with the knowledge that the air pumps will still have your fishes’ back. You will only have to make sure that it is well placed to receive enough air as limited air flow around the motor would cause it to burn out.

The next air pump on our list, the Mylivell Quietest Aquarium Air Pump, is a great addition to your aquarium for a number of reasons. For one, it is an aesthetically appealing air pump with a sleek black design and has been carefully designed to suppress noise. It offers a suction cup for easy setup and further provides more ease when it comes to attaching it to the aquarium. You simply do this by placing the cup at the back of the aquarium.

Another great aspect regarding the functionality of this air pump is that although it works on electricity, it does not consume a lot of power and can work in low currents. And if there is a need to adjust the temperature of the water, you can do so with ease. Sadly, it cannot be used outdoors and is best kept away from water, which means there is no need for it to be in direct contact with the water in the aquarium. It also offers a shelf life that exceeds a two year period.

Powerful pumps for fish tanks are usually noisy and distributive but certainly not with the Tetra Whisper AP 150 Aquarium Air Pump. With the power to cause air flow in an 8 feet tank with the least amount of water, this air pump is able to pump gallons of water with the highest quantity of water placed at 150 gallons. It comes with multiple air stones that can be placed in different positions in your large tank to for enough air to reach all corners of your tank. In the occasion that your aquarium is a saltwater fish tank, you can be assured that this air pump will still work just well as it has been supplied with protein skimmers thanks to Tetra’s intelligent thinking. Tetra has been part of the fish rearing industry for a decade which gives them the upper hand when it comes to experience. They are well known for creating products that fish owners trust to work best for them. For a properly oxygenated fish tank that offers enough movement for your tail wagging friends, making, this pump is the way to go.

For more must-have products for fish tank owners, check out our guide to the best aquarium heaters. 

Owning an aquarium is a huge responsibility; you have to be able to care for the fish you have brought into your abode and as they will be living in a man-made enclave, it is advisable to only purchase products that best replicate the natural spaces your fishes are known to occupy. As the currents of the natural rivers they came from makes it easy for them to swim around, this means there will need to be enough bubbles as well as sufficient oxygen to replicate this kind of environment in your home. The good news is that the Fluvial Q2 Air Pump takes care of all those nitty-gritty details that come with owning an aquarium.

The Fluvial air pump is powerful and works to pump enough air to your fish tank with very low noise pollution. It can be used with more than one air stone while powering up deep tanks that have the capacity to take up much water. Its utility is not limited to tanks that house just fishes as it can be used for just about any small sea animal. What’s more, to set the power of the air pump to your desired specifications, simply adjust the knob by its side.

Did you know that the use of air pumps is not limited to aquariums, as some pumps can be used on ponds as well? However, the type of air pump you would use on a pond is one that is strong enough to handle the quantity of water housed in a pond. Thankfully such an air pump exists in the form of the Pondmaster AP-40 Air Pumps. This powerful air pump has the capacity to work in both ponds and aquariums with a depth of 10 feet while creating water pressure at 5.89 psi. Additionally, to protect your little ones in their pond, or to create air flow for them to swim effectively, this air pump runs on 110v and offers an electric cord that is 6 feet long. What’s more, if your pond requires oxygenation, you better bet that this tool will do the job, as it creates the best aquatic environment for your fish that is clean and fresh.  This clean environment, in turn, offers your dear little ones a healthy, long life as well as protecting both your pool and your fishes from extreme weather conditions.

The Pondmaster is also capable of breaking down the waste of the fishes with its drive in of protein skimmers, all of which contribute to a clean pool or aquarium; whichever of the two you choose to use the air pump in.

For the price of $13.99, you can rest assured that the Ankway Upgraded Submersible Water Pump will be easy on your pocket. This is an air pump that comes with four suction cups that enables you to attach it to your fish tank either horizontally or vertically. You are simply required to attach the cups to the tank and plug it into an outlet and your fishes might as well be back at home in the ocean.  This pump also gives users the option of two types of water flow, with the two nozzles that have been designed; one is 13mm in diameter and the other is 8.5mm.  With the difference in the diameters of the water nozzles, you can alternate the ways your fishes enjoy their tank.

This submersible water pump offers a water-resistant design as you will have to immerse it into your aquarium, but take note that before it is immersed, be certain that it is not plugged to the socket. It should only be plugged in after putting it into the tank. The same applies when changing the water in the aquarium.

Want to give your fishes lots of fun and exercise? Or are you worried that your fish will die from inactivity? Worry no more as the Marina 50 Pump is what your aquarium inhabitants need. For airflow that is created in the mix of high performance with quiet operations, the Marina 50 Pump offers just that. With this pump, you can be assured that your fishes will get all the movement they desire, which, in turn, will make them healthy.

Coming with a cover designed to dampens noise, it is clear that careful consideration was also taken in the design when it comes to nullifying the noise output. Judging from the reviews, the noisiest aspect of the machine is the bubbles, which are an expected part of any air pumping routine. It is, however, meant for aquariums that can take 5-15 gallons of water; hence small aquariums are where you can be ensured of its productivity and with its soft rubber feet, the rate of its vibrations are reduced when generating air flow for the tank. It is strong enough to drive at least two air stones if you so desire to plug them to the pump.

The ninth on our list of the best air pumps for aquariums is the Aqua Tank Pump, also known as the Ehiem air pump. This is a fish tank air pump that can be attached to a variety of accessories that are used for air flow and aeration in man-made water bodies like aquariums and ponds. This pump is, however, not powerful enough for a pond but would work just fine with an aquarium of 60 gallons of water.  The Aqua Tank pump has been built with diffusers that are to be placed on the suction cup to help with easy attachment to the tank.

To prevent the movements that can occur with vibrations of the pump, both the corners and the feet are encased in rubber. However, it is a low powered pump running on 3.5 watts and can also be mounted on the wall with the eyelet that is placed on the back. Placing it on the wall also helps for a sturdier look. All in all, these measures have been put in place to eliminate the possibility of its falling off or vibrating excessively, which also work for noise control.

If a healthy aquatic lifestyle for your fishes is what you are after, the Aqueon Quiet Flow Pump will do the job. Aqueon has produced a variety of aquarium products that are geared towards creating a healthy environment for sea life, as well as maintaining a safe aquatic environment for the fishes you choose to care for. This mission in mind is what led to the production of this Quiet Flow Air Pump.

With this air pump, you are guaranteed that your fish friends are offered enough exercise from all the movement induced by the air flow generated by the pump. It is indeed a quiet flow pump as no noise has yet been reported by users and it comes in a sleek black design with a vertical hose that can be easily taken out to clean. The entire pump has been designed in such a way that is easy to take apart and put back together again. This ease of dismantling certainly comes in handy not only for cleaning the pump but also when there need for the replacement of the valve, diaphragm, and the filter pads. These replacement parts are, however, sold separately from the pump. So, when you do have to change them (which should in no way be sooner than the lifespan of the pump), you will need to buy them yourself.