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You might be shocked to learn that plants do not require soil to flourish.
The four crucial components that all plants need to thrive are sunlight, air, water, and nutrients.
Hydroponic gardening is soilless. You will use a combination of water and air to meet your plant’s growth needs.
In this post, we will discuss how to supply your hydroponics garden with the air the system needs to function properly.
The best way to supply air to the hydroponics system is a hydroponic air pump.
But how do you know which pump is the best one for your hydroponics system?
Read on for more information on what to look for when buying your hydroponics air pump for your hydroponics garden.
Table of Contents
- 1 What is the right Hydroponic Air Pump for You?
- 2 Best Air Pumps For Hydroponic Systems – Reviews & Buying guide for 2024
- 2.1 1. General Hydroponics Dual Diaphragm Air Pump – Best Air Pump For A DWC (Deep Water Culture) System
- 2.2 2. Hydrofarm Active Aqua Air Pump 4 Outlets – The Best Air Pump For Small Scale
- 2.3 3. Hydrofarm Active Aqua – Best Air Pump For Commercial Hydroponic Systems
- 2.4 4. Danner Manufacturing Supreme OXY-Flo Low Volume Air Pump – Perfect For Indoor Plants
- 3 The Difference Between The Water And Air Pump
- 4 Why Some Hydroponics System Need Air Pumps?
- 5 How To Calculate Your The Air Pump Size You Need
- 6 How To Choose Hydroponics Air Pump
- 7 FAQ
- 8 Verdict for Hydroponic Air Pumps
What is the right Hydroponic Air Pump for You?
I’ve simplified everything for you. Here is a straightforward table that provides the top 4 picks to choose from as per your requirements.
- Best Air Pump For A DWC (Deep Water Culture) System: General Hydroponics Dual Diaphragm Air Pump
- The Best Air Pump For Small Scale: Hydrofarm Active Aqua Air Pump, 4 Outlets, 6W
- Best Air Pump For Commercial Hydroponic Systems: Active Aqua Commercial Air Pump
- Perfect For Indoor Plants: Danner Manufacturing Supreme OXY-Flo Low Volume Air Pump
A high-quality air pump pushes oxygen through the water for the roots to absorb and to prevent unwanted algae growth.
Choosing the best air pumps for hydroponics could get very frustrating and overwhelming because you really need to know where to begin.
Don’t worry about getting the right product, though. I have a few things that could help you choose the best hydroponics air pumps.
Before I continue talking about what would work best with your garden, one of the best air pumps out there would be Active Aqua Commercial Air Pump.
Knowing that it’s a commercial air pump could make you feel like it’s off-limits since it probably is expensive to run it, but surprisingly, it only runs on 12 watts!
It’s something great if you want something compact and inexpensive to run.
Best Air Pumps For Hydroponic Systems – Reviews & Buying guide for 2024
1. General Hydroponics Dual Diaphragm Air Pump – Best Air Pump For A DWC (Deep Water Culture) System
Editor’s #1 Choice
- General Hydroponics Dual Diaphragm air pump is the only air pump in the...
- This high output pump (320 mph/24, 800 cc/minute capacities) has four...
- In addition, growers who use our Dual Diaphragm air pump can count on it to...
Specifications
- Weight: 4.1 pounds
- Power: 8 Watts
- Size: 7 X 5 X 6 inches
- Flow rate: high output – 320mph/ 24,800cc per min
- Outlets: 4 (1/4 inch in size)
If you ever feel like you need an air pump that’s exclusively meant for hydroponic purposes, then you need to try the General Hydroponic dual-diaphragm air pump.
The first thing that’ll catch your attention is the 4 outlets which are ¼ inch each.
That means you can use it whether you have a small or large reservoir.
I see the General Hydroponic air pump as something powerful because it pumps lots of oxygen.
The interesting thing I found out is that it can be split to provide air to at least eight farm units and still be powerful.
With the General Hydroponic air pump, you can expect 320 gallons of air per hour, which is roughly 20 liters per minute.
Apart from its high performance, the air pump features durable material meant to last for years of excellent performance.
Let’s talk about the common problem most hydroponic growers have and see if General Hydroponic meets our expectations.
When it comes to noise, it is advertised to be ultra-quiet. Unfortunately, some customers complain about its noises.
Another incredible thing I found that fascinates me about the General hydroponic is the fact that it’s light.
You can move it from one place to another.
Value For Money?
I love the General Hydroponic Dual Diaphragm air pump, but I hate two things about it.
One is the noise, and the other is that it can only last for one and half a year before you need to buy another pump. I expected the pump to take at least two or three years before I bought another one.
What I do love about it is its performance. It is indeed superior, and that makes it beat other hydroponic air pumps on the market.
PROS
CONS
2. Hydrofarm Active Aqua Air Pump 4 Outlets – The Best Air Pump For Small Scale
- Super silent with multi-level muffler
- Special artificial rubber to keep a steady air flow output and pressure...
- Low power consumption
Specifications
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
- Power: 6 watts
- Size: 4.1 x 6 x 9.4 inches
- Flow rate: 240 GPH, 15 LPM
- Outlets: 4
Raise your hands if you have a large system or multiple reservoirs!
Everybody, right?
Okay, you’ll be happy to know that you can just upgrade to Hydrofarm Active Aqua air pump.
…Let me explain Why?
It comes with an excellent air pump system that throws out lots of air and a variety of outlet options.
At only 1.4 lbs, I consider it to be super light and compact enough for you to move it around easily.
Apart from that, the Hydrofarm Active Aqua is suited for Deep Water Culture because it has superior durable pumps.
Alternatively, you can also use it for small-scale set-ups and hydroponic beginner systems.
You’ll also notice that it delivers 240 gallons per hour, which is sufficient oxygen to keep water circulating in your tank.
The exciting thing that most people love about this air pump is its minimal noise disturbances.
Value For Money?
Like Aqua Active air pumps, it has artificial rubber construction that does an excellent job of maintaining steady airflow throughout the day.
Another great addition I noticed in its design is the control pressure knob located on its top.
You can do an excellent job of adjusting the airflow and pressure to the level you want.
Any downside?
Of course, no product in the world is perfect. I am okay with the price, but I saw most customers still complain about its humming noise.
PROS
CONS
3. Hydrofarm Active Aqua – Best Air Pump For Commercial Hydroponic Systems
- PROFESSIONAL PUMP: Ideal for pond, growing projects and running several...
- HIGH QUALITY: Electrical magnetic air compressor in a high-quality aluminum...
- STEADY OUTPUT: Special artificial rubber to keep a steady air flow output...
Specifications
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
- Power: 12watts
- Size: 7.1 x 11 x 5.5
- Flow rate: high output – 400-GPH
- Outlets: 8
While the General Hydroponic air pump had four outlets, the Active aqua commercial air pump has eight outlets, which means, this is a hydroponic air pump that’ll support multiple air stones for nutrients circulation and aeration.
Unlike other air pumps on the market, the beauty of using Active Aqua is its powerful ability to produce enough air bubbles at a speed of 25 liters per minutes or 400 gallons per hour.
Even the General hydroponic we just reviewed falls short on this.
Although I consider the pump to be mighty in performance, it should put a smile on your face because it only uses 12 watts.
Even if you run it 24/7, you won’t have to worry about the amount of power bill you’ve to pay.
At first, I was curious and wondered how this air pump maintains a steady pressure at all times.
If you’ve bought hydroponic air pumps in the past, you’ll notice that this is not the case. The air pressure usually starts to decline with time.
But in the case of Active Aqua, they’ve artificial rubber to maintain steady air pressure and the good news is that you can adjust it to the amount of pressure you want.
Value For Money?
If you’re looking to pump air to a separate outlet that doesn’t depend on each other, you’ve every reason to try Active Aqua.
Let’s turn our attention to durability.
Will it last longer, or will it last you at least two years?
The answer is yes, and happy customers report that they’ve used the pump for more than two years.
The only thing that beats me off about Active Aqua is the fact they don’t have replaceable diaphragms.
The pump will last longer, but still, I’ll still need replaceable parts in the future without buying a whole unit.
PROS
CONS
4. Danner Manufacturing Supreme OXY-Flo Low Volume Air Pump – Perfect For Indoor Plants
- The easy to use Supreme Hydro Oxy-Flo Air Pump is the perfect Low Volume...
- The Energy-efficient motor is quiet with an air volume of 110-cubic inch...
- All our pump products are certified to UL or ETL standards
Specifications
- Weight: 1.25 pounds
- Power: 1.5 watts
- Size: 3.6 x 2.2 x 6.4 inches
- Flow rate: 73-cubic inch per minute
- Outlets: 2
Do you know what people like about the Danner OXY-Flow air pump?
It’s adjustable and can pump air out of a diffuser tubing without making noise, but that’s not all there’s to know. It has lots of incredible features.
First, the air pump has a couple of nozzles that pump pressure at 275 CPM, which is a lot by the way.
In addition to high pressure, it rarely produces a loud noise.
In other words, it is so silent that you won’t even hear noises at night when it is running, which is a great thing.
The unique thing I noticed is that hydroponic growers need to adjust and control the flow of air.
What you need to keep in mind is that few hydroponic pumps offer this flexibility.
Because of its superior performance, the pump provides 40 watts of power to maintain the steady flow of air up to a maximum depth of 10 feet.
Honestly, this is extremely powerful.
Value For Money?
But here’s the exciting part about this air pump. Even in its highest setting, you’ll hardly hear loud noises.
Although there are still some customers who are complaining about a humming sound, it produces that can be heard within a certain distance.
The only problem I’ve is that it has weak pumps which make it not suitable for Deep-Water Culture.
PROS
CONS
The Difference Between The Water And Air Pump
Most beginners starting with either aquaponic or hydroponic are confused between water and air pump.
In fact, a majority of them think that they are the same, which is not really true.
Both aquaponic and hydroponic pumps utilize nutrient-rich water and oxygen without the use of the soil.
So what is the difference between the two pumps?
Let me explain…
In hydroponics, you don’t make use of soil to grow your plants or vegetables.
Water takes the place of the soil to provide your plants with all the necessities.
That explains why you need a hydroponics water pump to create a healthy environment for plants to grow.
While that might be the case, there’s still something that is missing.
Water and water pumps are not enough to sustain your plants.
…Give me a chance to explain.
The soil has air particles and oxygen that are essential for the growth of your plants.
That means, without sufficient oxygen, the plants will die.
While it may seem like giving water to our plants is enough, the truth is that there’s no oxygen in it yet.
Stagnant water is a sign that the water has no oxygen and without it, your plants won’t grow to the optimum level you want them to.
The worst scenario is that they may even die.
Therefore, you’ll need an air pump to supply oxygen to the water so that your plants, vegetables, or aquatic life can grow to their optimal level.
Why Some Hydroponics System Need Air Pumps?
Your plants will need an excellent hydroponic system set up for them to get the nutrients they need for their growth.
It may seem fairly obvious, but it is not. You’ll need water and combine it with nutrient solutions.
The reservoir pumps nutrients solution so that it could reach the roots of vegetables or plants.
That’s when absorption takes place.
Stagnant water will create bacteria build-up and pathogens that may harm the plants.
Most importantly, absorption of nutrients won’t take place in stagnant water.
If you want to protect your reservoir pump and ultimately prevent pathogens and harmful bacteria from stopping your plant’s growth, you need oxygen.
It is because plants use oxygen to absorb nutrients in the solution.
The best way of supplying your plants with enough oxygen is using air pumps.
Additionally, the oxygen should also be at a constant temperature, which is room temperature.
That’s ideal for your plants or vegetables to thrive.
How To Calculate Your The Air Pump Size You Need
Honestly, this was more challenging for me at the beginning.
Even today, I still have to sit down and do some calculations before I think of buying the right-sized air pump.
Don’t worry. I’ll make things easier for you…..
Alright, the size of the pump will depend on the size of the nutrient reservoir you’ve.
If that’s the case, you need to buy a pump that has a wattage that’s equal to the number of gallons with the nutrient solution.
I know this can be overkill for some growers, but I’ll try to make it simple.
Always make sure that the pump you are going to buy can produce anywhere from 500 to 600cc per minute of air.
…….But why?
Because that’s enough amount of air that the nutrient reservoir needs to distribute oxygen that would help the plants grow.
For those who don’t understand CC, it is the same as having 500 to 600 ml per minute of air.
Even the cheapest air pump on the market will produce more than what I’ve stated above.
How To Choose Hydroponics Air Pump
Now that you understand the benefit of the air pump, you need to know the criteria to follow when buying an air pump for a hydroponic system.
The truth is, there are lots of them in the market today, and you’ve to know what you’re exactly looking for.
Fortunately, we have a checklist with three reminders that you can use in choosing the right hydroponic air pump for your plants.
How Loud Is Heat Pump Noise?
The size of your hydroponic air pump matters a lot because it’ll determine the amount of oxygen your plants are getting.
A common rule of thumb most indoor gardeners agree with is a minimum of 1 watt per gallon of water.
I wouldn’t wish to go to the technical aspect of this, but I’ll make it simple for you.
What I mean is that the more air, the more oxygen your plants receive, and that translates to a 1 watt per gallon of water.
More air won’t harm or affect your plant’s growth, but as a grower, I believe that most of us can’t know if our plants are receiving more or less oxygen.
How Loud Is Heat Pump Noise?
I know that most air pumps emit annoying humming sounds.
Well, as it turns out, most air pumps can’t work without emitting noise.
Otherwise, how will they work or meet your ultimate obligation if they don’t use turbines to run their operations?
Honestly, no air pump doesn’t emit noise.
Not even those advertised as ultra-quiet.
You can just find one that produces little sound. I’m comfortable with the noise because that’s how they work.
If there’s one thing that I’ve to admit, that is the fact that all the four products
I’ve reviewed emit a considerable amount of noise that won’t affect the quality of anyone’s sleep or eardrums at night.
Pump nozzle loadings
This will depend on how many reservoirs you’ve at the moment.
If you’ve more than one, then you need more nozzles.
Increasing the number of nozzles is perfect if you’re growing several types of plants in your garden all at the same time.
Nozzles make it easier for you to split the airline tubing, so they are also for convenience.
FAQ
Can You Run Hydroponics Air Pump 24/7?
Sure, and it is advisable that you run it all the time especially when the plant’s root is still under the water.
Running it on a 24/7 period relieves the plants from stress, retains the pump life, and prevents pathogens and bacteria from growing inside the plants.
Can You Reduce The Noise of a Hydroponic Air Pump?
There’s no definite answer for this, but a lot will depend on where you place your reservoir.
If you put it inside the house, you’ve no option but to tolerate it. I’ve mine placed outside our living area.
Verdict for Hydroponic Air Pumps
Choosing the best hydroponic air pumps shouldn’t be a problem now that you’ve read the guide and taken bits of information that’ll help you in the buying process.
Keep in mind that there’s no air pump that won’t produce noise.
The turbines have to turn which means noise is inevitable.
The location you choose for your reservoir would be the main determining factor.
I hope this short guide opened your eyes to the best hydroponic air pumps available on the market.
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.