Quietest Aquarium Air Pumps
Looking to purchase a new air pump for you fish tank or aquarium? Air pumps lower the pressure inside a fish tank by keeping fresh water flowing. This ensures that the fish don’t suffocate. Pumps are an effective and affordable way to keep healthy fish alive in your tank for as long as possible.
If you have experience with aquariums, you may already know the importance of using an air pump in your tank. You may also be aware that traditional air pumps can be very noisy. Fortunately, there are air pumps available that are built with sound reduction in mind. Here are the top 5 quietest aquarium air pumps for both small and large-size fish tanks.
The 5 Best Quietest Aquarium Air Pumps
1. Hydrofarm Active Aqua Air Pump
- Super silent with multi-level muffler
- Special artificial rubber to keep a steady air flow output and pressure that can be Adjusted freely
The Hydrofarm air pump is ideal for oxygenating aquariums or fish tanks of all sizes. Using four outlets, this pump can process 15 liters of tank water per minute. The Hydrofarm Active Aqua Air Pump is available in four sizes. According to your aquarium’s needs, you can choose the proper size of pump.
The price of the Hydrofarm air pump is under $100. Since this pump only uses 6 watts of electricity to run, you won’t see a cost increase in your monthly utility bill. If you’re someone who likes to keep your home energy efficient, this aquarium pump from Hydrofarm might be the best one for you.
This pump has a rubber mechanism inside that ensures the air flow rate is constant. You can even adjust the air pressure if you wish to regulate the strength of the flow. You accomplish this by using a pressure dial on top of the pump.
If your fishes are looking slow and sluggish, this aquarium pump may be the one for you. The speed in which it removes bubbles and regulates the air pressure inside the tank is impressive.
It’s quiet, too! You can go about your business at home or work without the constant distraction of a noisy air pump in the background. The Hydrofarm pump accomplish this feat using internal mufflers that shield noise from the pump’s motor. At its highest setting, this pump makes just 45 decibels of noise. 60 decibels is thought to be the level of sound of two people having a conversation.
Use a t-valve if you wish to use a filter alongside this pump. If you are using this air pump outdoors or in a environment that is humid or wet, shelter the pump to protect it from the elements.
2. Mylivell Quietest Aquarium Air Pump
- ♥ SUPER SILENT – Our air pump is just driven by a thin piezoelectric ceramic plate, totally different from traditional electromagnetic air pump, No EMI, No motor, No shaft, No other troublesome mechanisms, which makes it super compact, super quiet, light weight and long service life.
- ♥ LOW POWER CONSUMPTION – Power consumption of this oxygen pump is only 1.0W, with flow rate 240 ml/min, high energy saving.
The Mylivell Quietest Aquarium Air Pump runs on a system called Piezoelectric. This form of technology doesn’t have a shaft or motor. In other words, it’s not electromagnetic. This means that the air pump works exclusively on a low power output. To function properly, it requires only 1.8 watts of power. The Mylivell aquarium pump has a plate crafted from high-quality ceramic. With no motor, this is a compact and space saving air pump.
Complicated technology and big motors shorten the lifespan of many devices. This aquarium pump is unique. It’s lightweight and design to last a very long time.
Just how quiet is this pump? Having no motor, the Mylivell air pump is practically noise-free. Generating just 33 decibels, you don’t hear a peep from this little pump.
This pump uses an airstone, which is typically a piece of porous stone or limewood that is used to eliminate large bubbles and the noise of traditional air filtration systems. This pump can work efficiently in aquariums up to 13 gallons in capacity.
How do you know the pump is working? There will be a gathering of bubbles at the top of the tank, making it the perfect environment for fishes to thrive and survive.
Using this air pump is simple. Connect the airstone to the air tube. Connect the tube to the outlet on the side of the pump. Attach a sucker to the opposite end of the air pump, and then plug it into an electrical socket. Place the pump near the aquarium, like on the backside of the tank. Keep in mind that this pump is not waterproof, so do not allow it to fall inside the fish tank or become wet on the outside.
If the pump stops working at any time, be sure to check for clogging as dirt and debris can find it’s way into the pump’s tube. While air pumps make it easier to care for aquariums and fish tanks, these machines still require routine maintenance.
3. Fluval Q1 Air Pump
- Powerful yet extremely quiet aquarium air pump
- Produces consistent air flow thanks to an advanced swing-arm and diaphragm design
For large-sized aquariums or fish tanks, Fluval Q1 Air Pump is a good choice. This energy saving air pump is designed to circulate large amounts of water inside a huge aquariums. It supplies air into aquariums that hold up to 80 gallons of water.
Fluval Q2 Air Pump, the sister model to Q1, can handle air flow in tanks with 50-60 gallons of water. Similar to how we breathe, this pump uses a diaphragm-like system to slowly circulate the air in and out of the tank.
The Fluval Q1 Air Pump uses a swing-arm mechanism to power the motor. The air pump is constructed with double-walls to ensure its longevity. The sturdy construction helps with sound suppression as well. The two insulated walls muffle noise from the pump’s motor.
The baffle chamber also helps reduce noise, making it virtually silent at 10 feet away. The pump runs on 3.5 PSI of air pressure, and can be used with standard air tubes. The Fluval Air Pump is waterproof. You can put this pump inside your fish tank or aquarium. Inside the tank, you will notice that this pump creates currents when pumping the air out of the water.
4. Hygger Quiet High Output Aquarium Air Pump
No products found.
Hygger has created a high output air pump that’s performance doesn’t disappoint. While it’s one of the more costly options for aquarium air pumps, it supplies 10 watts of air pressure into your tank. The Hygger Quiet High Output Aquarium Air Pump is a powerful machine. It works with 100-120 voltage of power.
Compared to a conventional air pump, this one has two outlets to drive more air out of a large-size aquariums. This air pump has magnetic bearings, which means there is little friction as the pump works at a high-speed to circulate the air in the aquarium. These bearings do not come in contact with the motor moving inside the pump. This sturdy construction helps with the longevity of the air pump.
This air pump is ultra quiet. The magnetic bearings help to reduce vibrations while the motor continues to run. The casting is made from stainless steel which contribute to the noise reduction. The casting is supported by 4 rubber columns that also help with loud noise from the motor. There are shockproof rubber feet on the bottom of the air pump. Any shaking or vibration will not cause this pump to make noise!
It can pump out 250 GPH or 16 liters of air per minute. This high-output machine can pump out air in a fish tank or aquarium that holds up to 600 gallons of water. This air pump is ideal for extra large private fish tanks as well as commercial aquariums.
It’s suggested that this pump be placed outside the tank as it’s not effective at holding back water, and fish may become trapped. If you decide to place it inside your aquarium, be sure to inspect the condition of the valves on the tubes on a regular basis. When not in use, the valves ensure that water doesn’t find its way inside the pump motor. Prior to use, soak the airstone for 10 minutes. This will allow the air pump to create bubbles when the pump begins to move and oxygenate the water.
5. Supreme Aqua-Mag Air Pump
- All our pump products are certified to UL or ETL standard
- Air volume 275 cu.In/Min.
The Supreme Aqua-Mag Air Pump has a reputation as being one of the quietest air pumps for small-sized aquariums. It’s an ideal air pump for water depths of no more than 4 inches. It can circulate in 275 cubic inches of water per minute. Any more water and you will find the machine’s performance is less effective in removing air from your fish tank. If you have goldfishes and guppies, this pump is perfect at circulating the oxygen and removing the bubbles from the tank.
The Supreme Aqua-Mag Air Pump as two outlets. With 2.0 PSI of pressure, this air pump promises to increase the air flow in your tank. This pump does consume a lot of energy, however. 3.5 watts to be exact. If you have little experience with maintaining fish tanks and aquariums, the Supreme Aqua-Mag is an excellent entry-level pump that is simple to operate.
In addition to the pump itself, you will need a few airstones, a power outlet, and a t-tube. Follow the manufacture’s directions when using this air pump for the first time. You can easily adjust the dial on the top of the pump to control the air flow through out the tank.
When measured, this air pump generated sound around 31 decibels. For an entry-level air pump to be this quiet is very impressive. To put into context how quiet this pump is, it makes half the noise of a microwave in your kitchen. To reduce the noise even more, place the pump under the aquarium and into a container or basket.
How to Maintain Your Aquarium Air Pump
If you are going to spend money on an air pump for your fish tank or aquarium, then it’s important you take the time to perform regular maintenance on the machine. If you just place the pump in your tank and forget about it, there will come a time when the pump seizes to work properly. Over time, it will become damaged from the build-up of dirt and debris that’s collected from inside the aquarium. You will then be forced to buy a new pump right away.
Once a month, take the air pump out of the tank and clean the inside filter. For water-resistance pumps, be sure to completely dry them before using them again. Clean all attachments including air stones, filters, bubble wants and tubes. Don’t use any detergent or soap to clean an aquarium air pump.
Aquarium air pumps have improved over the years. Traditional pumps were loud and cumbersome. Thankfully, you can find smaller and quieter air pumps to suit your needs. Not only do the five pumps listed above get the job done, they do so quietly. Which one do we consider the best of the best? It’s a tie between the Hygger Quiet High Output Aquarium Air Pump and the Mylivell Quietest Aquarium Air Pump. These two air pumps outperform all others in performance and price.