Rita Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 Me watching last week’s live stream about not splitting air pumps knowing I have 2 aquatop 40’s each suppling air to 4 sponge filters with metal gang valves….. 😂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schuyler Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 What... Why aren't you supposed to split them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rita Posted February 27, 2023 Author Share Posted February 27, 2023 On 2/26/2023 at 6:12 PM, Schuyler said: What... Why aren't you supposed to split them? Cory explains it better in the stream but the abridged version is that it can get too complicated to achieve the appropriate air output when it’s split 4 times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rube_Goldfish Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 On 2/26/2023 at 9:12 PM, Schuyler said: What... Why aren't you supposed to split them? Caveat: I haven't done it. That said, @Cory , talking about ACO's new pump, says that while you can split outputs, it's often more hassle than it's worth, because adjustments to one output automatically mean adjustments to another, and yes it can start to get unnecessarily complicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 Things can get fiddly. I grew up in an old house with an old shower that wasn't pressure balanced. You'd be taking a nice hot shower when someone somewhere else turned on hot water and you'd suddenly be taking a cold shower with no hot water. Not fun. With air pumps, any adjustment to one, affects everything else. It's not a problem if the air pump is way over-powered, but most people don't use way over-powered air pumps. Turning up the air on one, can have another one lose air completely. If you're watching and paying attention, you can go through and rebalance everything, but if you miss a tank now going airless, you can end up with a dead tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccurtis Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 I just got a couple of the co-op single outlet air pumps. I have a 75g where the air pump in the in the cabinet about 3 feet below the aquarium. I split the pump with a dual gang valve between an air stone on side of the tank and a large sponge filter on the other side. It works great on the high setting. There is a decent amount of air coming out of both, but I think splitting more than two ways would begin to diminish performance rapidly. I'd also like to say if you are on the fence about getting one of these pumps, do it. They are solid pumps that work very well. I am extremely impressed with mine and will be getting a dual outlet one when they come out in a couple months. Another great product by the co-op. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) I have the Fluval A402 . It has double air ports . When hooking it up, I split one line three ways . On the third one no air was getting to an air stone . I pinched the line going to a filter letting the third line fill up . Then released the line and all of the equipment worked fine with adjusting air flow as I think or as how I wanted it . So with two lines I have four things supplied with air running fine . One line just goes to a sponge filter by it's self . I think I could run more as I want to get a 20L and run a stone and sponge filter off that one line that is just feeding the one sponge filter. See if it works when the time comes . Just want to add that the flow control knobs on this air pump don't really adjust the air flow much at all , and found that individual flow valves in the line for each item work better . Edited March 3, 2023 by GCH add info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theplatymaster Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 i have a single outlet Aquatop AP50, i split it using gang valves to 3 different tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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