Collection: Air Pumps

Where Air Still Beats a Powerhead

Air-driven equipment is quiet, cheap to run, and keeps working when a return pump can't. Sponge filters in a fry or shrimp tank, airstones in a quarantine setup, and gentle surface agitation for gas exchange all come down to a reliable air pump — and in a power cut, a battery-backed pump is what keeps a tank alive.

Choosing an Air Pump

• Diaphragm pumps — the standard for single tanks, sized by outlet count and the depth of water they push against.
• Linear piston pumps — high-output units for fish rooms, sumps and deep systems, with rebuild kits and diaphragms available separately.
• Battery-powered pumps — AC/DC models that switch over automatically during an outage, or run on batteries for transport.
• Airline hardware — control valves, T-connectors and check valves to split a line and stop back-siphon into the pump.

Fit a check valve any time the pump sits below the water line — it costs a couple of dollars and prevents a siphon into the pump. Sizing questions? Email info@jlaquatics.com.