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October 19th, 2008 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Automatic Aquarium

Picking the best Recirculating Aquarium Pump

What's one of the most important aspects of keeping your aquarium clean and healthy? A recirculating aquarium Water pump helps keep the water squeaky clean and sparking clear, leading to healthier, happier fish and a beautiful aquarium experience. That means you need to put some real thought into choosing the right water pump for your aquarium, because it's the lynch pin that everything else hinges on.
A good water pump powers your filtration system in your aquarium, and the size of the pump depends on a Lot of factors. How far do you have to pump the water? How fast do you want the water to flow? Will you use your pump to power other devices, like a protein skimmer? These are all questions you need to answer before you purchase the right pump for your system. If you have questions, ask them before you choose a pump, or you could be disappointed.
You need to know how many gallons per hour (GPH) your pump needs to process, and you need to account for any bends or turns in your plumbing system to help determine the size of the pump you need. There is a method to calculate the GPH. Most owners try to recycle the aquarium volume about four times per hour. For example, this means your pump should be able to circulate five times as many gallons as your tank holds. If your aquarium holds 10 gallons, your pump should flow at a minimum of 50 GPH. If you have a lot of plumbing restrictions, it may be a good idea to purchase a pump up one size from the size you calculate you need.
There are two types of recirculating aquarium water pumps, submersible and in-line, and each has some advantages and disadvantages. Submersibles, as you'd expect, operate completely underwater, sometimes in the sump area of the filtration system. They pull water through the filter, and pump it back into the aquarium, sometimes through other devices. These types of pumps are usually quieter than in-line models, and they're easier to install. However, the pumps are water-cooled, which means they could add additional heat to your aquarium. They also tend to be bulky, so you need to make sure there's room for them in your sump area.
In-line pumps sit outside the aquarium, and connect to it through an inlet and outlet hose. These pumps are air-cooled, so they won't alter the temperature of your aquarium, and they usually bigger, more powerful pumps than the submersibles. Most in-line pumps are configured to fit into either a pressure or free-flow system, but not both.
Another important aspect of choosing the right pump is purchasing it from a reputable dealer known for their quality and selection of pumps. Check out any online pet supply merchant for a huge selection of recirculating aquarium water pumps of all shapes and sizes, for anything from saltwater to fresh water aquariums large or small. Look for some of the best-known water pump lines, like Marine Line and Coralife.
Most all water pumps can be used in either a salt or fresh water system, but don't forget you have to buy things like clamps and hoses separately, because recirculating aquarium water pumps don't automatically come with these accessories.
Recirculating aquarium water pumps may sound complicated, but they're really not that hard to understand. Just be sure to use a reputable dealer who can help you choose just the right water pump for your aquarium. With the right water pump, maintaining your aquarium plants and animals will truly be a breeze!

About the Author

Julie's Pet Market carries some of the best-known water pump lines, like Marine Line and Coralife, and they even have pumps you can use outdoors, too.