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  1. #1
    Members Shas's Avatar
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    Portable air pumps

    I'd be interested in hearing your experiences
    with battery-operated air pumps for transporting fish.

    I bought two portables on ebay
    (I prefer to support local businesses,
    but we live WAY out in the woods
    and our closest pet shop doesn't carry these).
    These are "Five Plan" brand
    and the model is "Atom 2".
    With shipping they cost about eleven dollars each.

    These are strange little pumps.
    About the size of a pager, they take two 'D' cell batteries,
    though they run fine on a single 'D' cell.
    They are described as 2-speed pumps,
    and the second battery is necessary for the second speed,
    though there seems to be only something like a ten-percent difference
    between the 'Low" and 'High" speeds.

    They are not powerful in the sense that the air flow diminishes rapidly
    if the air stone is submerged beyond about 20 inches,
    but in 16 inches of water they put out as much air
    as my AC Whisper pumps.
    They are exceedingly noisy;
    anyone sitting next to the tank or cooler being used
    will have a headache within half an hour
    unless they are fans of heavy metal ;=)

    These pumps ship with an air stone and twenty inches of air line.
    To my surprise, these are good enough that I didn't bother changing them.

    I have used these pumps for a total of maybe three hours
    and the batteries still seem like new.
    I would buy them again,
    though if I could find quieter pumps that would be a very good thing.

    Does anyone have experience with the Azoo portable pumps?
    Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you're a nice person
    is like expecting a bull not to charge you because you're a vegetarian.

  2. #2
    Members Eleven11's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    I'm not sure the name brand of mine but it's more the size of a walkie talkie. Other than that, it sounds identical to what you describe. It cost $14 bucks local.

    I used it to transport 10 large tilapia on a 45 minute trip and they arrived ok.
    Nothin to it but to do it yourself

  3. #3
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    the large outdoorsman stores sell similar ones.. from what i read, most of the ones with 2 d cells will last anywhere from 10 to 15 hours.. nice for guys spending the day fishing i guess.. but i think they'd be great for emergency "backup" air.. i've had a couple power outages, the first time i used an adapter and ran my system off my car, the second time i had my ups hooked up, that gave me 6 or 7 hours of just air.. the system went for a couple more hours after the batteries died before power came back on, and i had no problems..
    but i definitely want to get one or two of these before i start another round of fish

  4. #4
    Moderator davidstcldfl's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    I bought an air pump at (one of the big brand) pet stores....It has a plug, plus it takes 2 D batteries. It's a 'back-up' air pump....it doesn't run, unless the main power goes out.

    I've used it to transport fish too.
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan

  5. #5
    Members Shas's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    Quote Originally Posted by davidstcldfl
    It's a 'back-up' air pump....it doesn't run, unless the main power goes out.
    That sounds like a useful bit of equipment, David.
    Does it have a brand name?
    A price?
    Is it noisy?
    How large a tank do you think it would support
    during a lengthy power outage?
    ???
    Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you're a nice person
    is like expecting a bull not to charge you because you're a vegetarian.

  6. #6
    Members foodchain's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    Woudn't how big a tank it would support, depend on temp and bioload?
    At first I left this blank...but now I believe: "It's better to keep your mouth closed, and have the world think your a fool, than open it and confirm it."

  7. #7
    Moderator davidstcldfl's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    It's almost like the other battery powered unit that I bought at the sporting goods for fishing, except it has the 'on' feature, when there is no main power.

    It puts out as much air as the other little D powered units. In regards to 'how big a tank'.... food chain is right...lots of variables. It's a matter of...any air is better then 'no air.' It buys you a little time, till the power comes on again.
    For less the $20 US dollars, it's not bad for a 'little' back up.

    It has a 2 postion switch...one is 'off', the other is 'stand by'. It only 'runs' in stand by if there is no main power.
    Shas, It does make some noise.

    Penn-Plax Silent Air B11
    http://www.petsupermarket.com/Products/ ... 29045.aspx
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan

  8. #8
    Members Shas's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    Quote Originally Posted by foodchain
    Woudn't how big a tank it would support, depend on temp and bioload?
    *sigh*
    Re-read your signature, buddy.
    Pedanticism doesn't advance knowledge.

    I was simply trying to get some idea of the output of the pump.
    Perhaps I would have been wiser to ask for the rating
    (in the unlikely event that it is listed)
    in litres per minute.

    Thanks for the link, David.
    I can see from the description
    that this pump is designed to protect
    a single hobbyist's aquarium.
    Though I certainly agree that any aeration is better than none.

    That's a good price for a back-up
    that comes on line automatically.
    Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you're a nice person
    is like expecting a bull not to charge you because you're a vegetarian.

  9. #9
    Members foodchain's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    You're right. My bad.
    At first I left this blank...but now I believe: "It's better to keep your mouth closed, and have the world think your a fool, than open it and confirm it."

  10. #10
    Members foodchain's Avatar
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    Re: Portable air pumps

    Confused. I have to admit I looked up "pendanticism" to see what it meant. Here's what I found, and the links to where I found it. I could be wrong, but I don't believe the context is accurate for the above comment. The above comment was made in an effort to grasp what your driving at and it appeared to me that more variables are at play that effect your question than just the pump. I can't help find an answer, or at least I think it's helping find you an answer if I don't understand the question. I am getting off point.
    Here's the definition, please explain where I went wrong? My signature was not to be a slam at you...it goes on every post I make, like a shadow it follows me. Originally set up as a veiw of my own learning curve...and inadequacies as I seem to learn mostly by trial and error.

    www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pedanticism
    Pedanticism is a practised by people so focused on errors that they sometimes
    end up missing the errors of their own.

    Main Entry: ped·ant·ry
    Pronunciation: ped-n-tr
    Function: noun
    Inflected Form(s): plural -ries
    : dull and overly exact presentation of knowledge or learning
    http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/stud ... a=pedantry

    Time to tuck tail back to shadows....
    At first I left this blank...but now I believe: "It's better to keep your mouth closed, and have the world think your a fool, than open it and confirm it."

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