Not an emergency, because I over filter… piston air pump failed / failing

So, I’m changing water today, when I noticed my bubble waterfalls aren’t running… a little digging, and the pump, while running, is not making enough pressure to get to the bottom of the bigger tanks, it’s running the sponge filters in my 4 - 10 gallons… every tank in this group is over filtered but since some ( like my Hillstream tank ) need highly oxygenated water… I’m thinking about not filling the tanks all the way, so I get a little extra oxygenation from the water falling to the surface, from the hang on back filters…

I did install my modified Tidal 75 at this water change, and the modified one is whisper quiet, even with the tank level down several inches, mid water change, ( of course I could use the extra oxygenation today, but it is flowing noticeably more water…


And I should make a habit of pulling the filters every couple weeks, there was a brown/ black spotted Hillstream in the filter, alive and in good shape, probably grown significantly, as I don’t think it could get in to it now, and unless it climbs up the outlet and ( the higher outlet flow of the modified filter should help that significantly )

Next thing, has anyone rebuilt one of these pumps??? When I have more time I have one that quit working after an hour, they warrantied it ( last year ) that I’ve been saving, that may have spare parts, unless the same part went bad in that one… will probably order a back up, but this one only lasted a year 24/7

If it’s just a diaphragm air pump those are easy to overhaul . Get your replacement diaphragm and follow the instructions that come with it . About a 15 minute job . Cheap pumps usually aren’t user serviceable . The operation you have you should have a linear piston air pump . They’re expensive but they deliver more air than you’ll ever need and one pump can run all your outlets if you buy the size you need . Look at them on www.jehmco.com .

That is what I’m running… it’s currently running 9 tanks, counting the 10 gallons…

Not this brand, but similar size

Get ahold of Jehmco and see what they say . I’ve never worked on one of those but I think they service them .

I have 2 of those pumps, stored. They don't last long, and the problem is usually the gasket. When I was younger and chronically broke, I tried to fix one, but I could never get the seal right. Sadly, they're disposable.

They're inexpensive now, but they weren't not many years ago.

The Jehmco pumps I have are 4 times the price (though for you in the US, it's easier). But one has run 20 years, and the other, a baby is only 3.
The old one has lost some oomph, but it's still good. I keep the type you have (different brand name but probably the same manufacturer) as desperation back up if one fails. If the old one goes, the new one can handle the basics of the fishroom, but I like to run the extra air.

Ok, that’s weird… came down after supper to finish my water changes and air pump is working fine… I had left all the gang valves wide open, so I closed back the sponge filters, and left the rest wide open… I’m ordering a new Chinese, air pump from Amazon, to have another spare, will look into the good ones, but they would need to last 5 times longer to be worth the price


Anyone familiar with these??? I got a sample, and the fish seem to like them

I’m modifying my 2nd Tidal, after testing this 1st modification… I added a 2nd layer of the original type foam, still room for my mesh bag with extra bio media, Will include a picture of the factory draw tube restriction I removed from the original during the 1st modification ( I removed it before taking a pictures )

In the mean time you can raise the airstones so they aren't on the bottom and you will get more air coming out of them. This means you won't need to reduce the water level in the aquariums and will still have some air and water movement.

A key consideration for buying the Japanese made jehmco pump was how quiet it is. My little Chinese ones sound like 1930s fighter planes. But to run airstones, it is a lot. I use my pumps to filter the fishroom, and the piston pumps are crucial to my set up. They're the heart.

If it's just for airstones and you can hide the noise, then the cheapos are probably best.

Lights not on yet… my 1st dimmest background lights just came on… still have bubble waterfalls working so that’s a good thing… with messing with the air pump, I’m behind on changing water in a couple of tanks, those were topped off a couple days ago, and because they are open topped, and quite full of plants, they are already down about an inch, so I’m seeing significant aeration from the hang on back filters that are In those tanks, by having the water an inch lower… will just have to try to squeeze in a water change in each of those tanks , sometime during the week… Monday night I have more spare time, and that’s my normal day…

As far as pump life, I suspect in theory, not having the valves closed at all would be easier on the pump, than having to have them all partially closed, and raising the resistance???

The bubble waterfalls consist of 10 inch air bars ( some tanks, like the Hillstream tank ) have 2 of them in a row for a 20 inch wide waterfall along the back side ) they are under the substrate, ( so they are not visible in the tank) with bigger rocks on top to help hold them in place for less maintenance… so if I had to raise them, I’d be best off with temporary stones, rather than messing with the bubble waterfalls… but that’s a good idea, if it comes to that, particularly in the Hillstream tank

Magnum Man said:

Ok, that’s weird… came down after supper to finish my water changes and air pump is working fine… I had left all the gang valves wide open, so I closed back the sponge filters, and left the rest wide open… I’m ordering a new Chinese, air pump from Amazon, to have another spare, will look into the good ones, but they would need to last 5 times longer to be worth the priceView attachment 349461
View attachment 349465

Anyone familiar with these??? I got a sample, and the fish seem to like themView attachment 349462

I’m modifying my 2nd Tidal, after testing this 1st modification… I added a 2nd layer of the original type foam, still room for my mesh bag with extra bio media, Will include a picture of the factory draw tube restriction I removed from the original during the 1st modification ( I removed it before taking a pictures )

Click to expand...

The pump you have chosen is rated for 60 to 80 outlets.... How many tanks you have connected on this ?

Model #LPH26 is rated for 20-25 outlet... For 200$ I think this can run a mini Fishroom easily.

Magnum Man said:

Lights not on yet… my 1st dimmest background lights just came on… still have bubble waterfalls working so that’s a good thing… with messing with the air pump, I’m behind on changing water in a couple of tanks, those were topped off a couple days ago, and because they are open topped, and quite full of plants, they are already down about an inch, so I’m seeing significant aeration from the hang on back filters that are In those tanks, by having the water an inch lower… will just have to try to squeeze in a water change in each of those tanks , sometime during the week… Monday night I have more spare time, and that’s my normal day…

As far as pump life, I suspect in theory, not having the valves closed at all would be easier on the pump, than having to have them all partially closed, and raising the resistance???

The bubble waterfalls consist of 10 inch air bars ( some tanks, like the Hillstream tank ) have 2 of them in a row for a 20 inch wide waterfall along the back side ) they are under the substrate, ( so they are not visible in the tank) with bigger rocks on top to help hold them in place for less maintenance… so if I had to raise them, I’d be best off with temporary stones, rather than messing with the bubble waterfalls… but that’s a good idea, if it comes to that, particularly in the Hillstream tank

Click to expand...

There are pressure gauge available that enables you to run the pump on the "sweet spot" and prevent excessive resistance that ruin the pumps.

The pump I currently have , ( Chinese one ) must not be quite that big, it was the biggest available, and I have a 14-16 place gang valve, with one unused… it might drive a few more tanks, but 2 of these tanks are 24 inches deep, so they take a little more muscle

My buy history doesn’t go back that far, but I think this is the pump I currently have, and what I put in my cart yesterday


May consider the 2 year extended warranty for an extra 6 dollars…

It's close to the performance of the ehmco #LPH26 I suggested. It trows 10 LPM more.

I hope this part of the description is an error...

Top Performance: Pumping 90 liters of air per minute and rated for up to 1 year of service, we guarantee this pump is the reliable solution you've been looking for; If you're not completely satisfied, just contact our attentive service team for a solution or a refund.

If it's the case they are disposable like bic razors...

Cancel this and get the jehmco.

this is a better link than the pictures I posted... and the other similar models can be accessed


but not finding any warranty information... & I'm skeptical that the quality on anything being made today ( not just air pumps ) are as good as the reputation most of these companies were founded on, with their original products