What is a check valve for air pump?
A check valve is used to prevent water from siphoning out of your aquarium. If water siphons out it will usually damage the air pump, and lead to water on your floor. In extreme cases this can lead to fire if electronics are sitting in water.
Do you need a check valve for an air pump?
Check valves are a must when using an aquarium air pump. They prevent a phenomenon known as back siphoning, which can have serious repercussions.
Does a check valve reduce air flow?
A bleed valve refers to any air fitting that sits inline on your airline tubing and allows you to bleed off air, reducing the pressure of the airflow. Otherwise, the check valve will fail to protect your tank.
How does an air check valve work?
An air compressor check valve has only one function: to let air flow from one side to the other, while blocking air flow in the opposite direction. If you hold the check valve in your hand and would blow on it on one side, you have no problem blowing air through it.
Can you have too much air in a fish tank?
Too much oxygen in water can lead to the potentially lethal gas bubble disease, in which gas comes out of solution inside the fish, creating bubbles in its skin and around its eyes.
Can an air stone be too strong?
An air pump that is too powerful can wreak havoc in your aquarium. When attached to a sponge filter, it can cause a current strong enough to stress fish that prefer calm water. Or, maybe it’s causing your airstone to work overtime, producing so many bubbles that you can’t see your fish.
How can I tell if there is air in my pool pump?
Check to see if you have air in the pool filter. You would do this by opening the air bleeder valve on your filter. This will allow all air in the pool filter to blow out. You will know when all of the air is out because the valve will be lightly spritzing water all over you!
How big of an air pump do I Need?
Some air pumps are rated for different sizes of tanks, but these ratings are, actually, nearly irrelevant to choosing the correct air pump. If you are using the air pump only to operate an under gravel filter, and your tank is a standard size, then the tank size ratings on an air pump are probably relevant.
What are the uses of an air pump?
Well, there are many uses of an air pump. Some action ornaments are moved by air passing through them, turning valves, spinning wheels, lifting things, or whatever. Some people like to have air stones in the tank which just bubble or give off a fine mist of air.
What to do if your pool pump is sucking in air?
So don’t worry that your pipes underground may be sucking in air; although that can happen, it’s a rare occurrence. Another test is to get your pump running at “full head”, really pumping water, then shut off the pump while looking closely at the area in front of the pump.