Sponge filter cfm requirement question

[Jeeperscreepersmyth]

I'm looking at getting a big air pump to run a rack of tanks sponge filters and I need to know how many cfm I need to run 10 small 10gallon size sponge filters and 2-4 large 55gallon size sponge filters. I'd like to know the requirement for each size so I can decide how much overkill I want for future proofing.

[Jeeperscreepersmyth]

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[gardenman]

As is often the case, there is no one answer to your question. In general, you want modest water flow through a biofilter media, like a sponge filter. I've seen sponge filters operating at a very slow rate in very crowded aquariums and everything was fine. I've seen Matten filters in use where you have to wait a few seconds to see a bubble at all and they're working fine. I've also seen both types of filters used with lots of airflow and once again they seem to work fine. Fourteen or so sponge filters won't need a massive blower style air pump. I might be inclined to go with two of the larger four outlet conventional air pumps and then use some airline tees and valves to get air to every tank. By using two or more smaller air pumps you have protection for when one fails. If you only use one big pump and it dies, every tank goes airless. With a multi-pump set up if one pump dies it only affect the tanks it's connected to, and you can divert air from the others to those tanks until you can replace/repair that pump. As to the CFM per filter, it depends on how much airflow you want. If you're a few bubbles per second tank owner, then you need a smaller air pump. If you like to recreate Niagara Falls, then you need a much bigger air pump. There is no "right" answer.

[Wingman12r]

I've seen many use a 1LPH per filter as a guide. The air flow won't really change with the filter size but aquarium depth will have a affect.

[Jeeperscreepersmyth]

I do plan to have a backup pump for the rack but would only like to run 1 for the entire thing. Is there a pump you reccomend that will do that for a reasonable price? I'm looking at the 602gph and 1189gph on amazon and really dont know if either or both are overkill or underkill.