Air Pump

Found an air pump in the garage...it is an Aqua Culture cheapo from walmart ...2 outlet air pump and the box says 20-50 gallons...would this be sufficient enough for a 27 gallon tough box (tote) for 6 plants in 3 inch net pots? would just have to buy 2 air stones if this pump is enough, have the pots and tote here.

i say yes. but to be sure hook the system up and look at the bubbles the more the better.

I say no. Plants really like lots and lots of air. I'd use it but as part of a team. It'll be fine for early veg on its own, but I'd plan to back it up before the plants start to get that "overwatered" gasp on. cn

maybe till it quits working. don't skimp on the air pump.

The question of "how much air" has never been answered to my satisfaction. Has anyone here ever seen an o2 deficient plant? Does anyone know how much 02 a plant consumes? Anyone know how much o2 is in the regular tap water you might feed a plant grown in soil? Whatever those numbers really are, I can't imagine they're more than a fraction of what a pump of that size running continuously can supply. I say that you should be fine. Provided, of course, that the pump doesn't crap out on you. Reason enough to keep a backup on hand eh Corso312?

Corso: According to one of our teachers, "Plants use a lot more air than water," so I don't think you can have too much. What they look like isn't so easy to see except that the ones that are well airiated grow faster bigger and of course that's what we all want. Just make sure that the bubbles you make are tiny and there are lots of them. A couple of closing hints are to use good air stones and black drip irrigation hose instead of the clear plastic crap they sell that kinks real easy. Also don't forget to use the one way check vales in the air lines. I hope that helps. Hank

Thanks...Figured it was cheap useless chinese garbage....any suggestions on a good one...bang4buck I am speaking.

I tried that same pump and it burnt out in 3 days. Then I got another go keep my fishing bait alive and that one also burnt out in a few days. Those pumps are garbage.

lol...that is exactly what I bought it for last year..keep my minnow bucket aerated ...tired of keeping shiners in the fridge.

I just bought a 4.x liter per minute air pump from the hydro store for $16. It has 2 ports into both sides of a 7$ 4-way gang valve into 4 small fine airstones from Petsmart for $1.50 each in four 2 gallon buckets. Seems to be pretty decent.

I use a big pump from petco....I used to use the Walmart ones but broke easy. Use a pump that has metal tips that wont break and adjustable air output

captkody said:

i say yes. but to be sure hook the system up and look at the bubbles the more the better.

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I agree. If it works, use it. You can always add more air later if you feel that it's necessary.

Aqua culture air pumps from walmart are cheap and burn out or break within the first year. They are 3.5 watts, which means they would aerate no more than 3.5 gallons of water. If you want to provide enough air for a 27 gal res, you will need at least a 27watt pump. Even then you will only be supplying about 1% of the roots total oxygen needs (about 5ppm DO). The rest must come from leaving a slight air gap between the bottom of the net cup and the water line.

thanks for the info...now when ya say "slight air gap" how much is ideal? 1" ? or 2 inches?

Corso312 said:

thanks for the info...now when ya say "slight air gap" how much is ideal? 1" ? or 2 inches?

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I can't find the thread that I want to link to, bummer.

Great article, it describes 3 basic areas of the root system, what they do, water preferences, etc.

As long as the roots are in the aerated water things will be fine, I generaly keep the water level 1 to 2 inches below the bottom of the net pot, it's been down 8 inches with no real problems.

Hugo Phurst said:

I can't find the thread that I want to link to, bummer.

Great article, it describes 3 basic areas of the root system, what they do, water preferences, etc.

As long as the roots are in the aerated water things will be fine, I generaly keep the water level 1 to 2 inches below the bottom of the net pot, it's been down 8 inches with no real problems.

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Ya in my 2.5 gallon buckets my water level drops to below half or so, maybe 4 inches below net pot. I usually keep it at bottom, so just refill and repeat. Check ppm and ph, and do it again.

Actually "the more air/O2 the better" is not completely correct. all you need is an exchange of oxygen within your nutrient solution. This happens by braking the surface tension of the water/solution at the surface of the water. People run undercurrent dwc's nowadays with no air pumps at all. They just have the water flow from one bucket to the other, with the water/nutrient solution coming into their buckets from above the surface of the water and making a light splash and braking the surface tension of the water on the way down as it falls in from one bucket to the next. A very small air stone and or air pump would be sufficient as long as you have bubbles floating up to the surface of your bucket/bin and breaking the surface tension of the water, creating an oxygen exchange. Good Luck.

I've never experienced a failed pump from WalMart / Aqua Culture. I guess I'm fortunate - a couple have been in service use over 2 years.

the more the better. Cant go wrong w/ this and its the cheapest price HERE:

http://www.dchydro.com/product/4/Commercial-Air-Pump-with12-out/

And these air stones ROCK!!! Best price is HERE:

http://www.wayfair.com/Hydrofarm-Round-Air-Stone-Disc-ASRD-HYF1055.html

contact them by email if you want to buy bulk and they will discount the order!


dont skimp on your air you can never have enough...walmart and petco pumps SUCK!! stick w/ active aqua product + hydro farm...I mean you dont need these exact ones but active aqua makes good hydro equipment.

Amos Otis said:

I've never experienced a failed pump from WalMart / Aqua Culture. I guess I'm fortunate - a couple have been in service use over 2 years.

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Yea, I had one in a 10 gallon aquarium for a little beta fish that lasted for a year before my fish died and I took the tank apart. But I think the thing is there is a much higher probability of your shit failing with walmart pumps. Guess we hit that 30% success rate haha.