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Something often missed when looking at new pumps is really simple to fix. Get one large enough is the easy part. Just turn out the money? But then what do we do if it is too large? Not considered in lots of cases and then their new shiny pump may not last long and they feel cheated.
Tear down a diaphram type pump and you can see the problem. There is a rubber cup that flexs with the 60 cycle current. This is what pumps the air. So if you get a really big pump and tie it to a single oulet maybe, there can be far more air produced than used. This causes lot of stress on the rubber diaphram and it may make it tear way before it should.
Simple solution? Add a valve at the end of the run of tubing so that you can let the excess air bleed off. Adjust the valve so that the airstone has plenty but let the rest blow off and your pump will last much longer!
I have used the Tetra and liked it but it can be too much depending on what it supplies.
Tear down a diaphram type pump and you can see the problem. There is a rubber cup that flexs with the 60 cycle current. This is what pumps the air. So if you get a really big pump and tie it to a single oulet maybe, there can be far more air produced than used. This causes lot of stress on the rubber diaphram and it may make it tear way before it should.
Simple solution? Add a valve at the end of the run of tubing so that you can let the excess air bleed off. Adjust the valve so that the airstone has plenty but let the rest blow off and your pump will last much longer!
I have used the Tetra and liked it but it can be too much depending on what it supplies.