Fish room air pump setup

[Jshakour]

I recently purchased an AP-60 air pump, I have 15 tanks the deepest being 17 inches. I do plan on adding more tanks, maybe a couple 55's and some more 20's.

I talked with a couple of people at the Extravaganza but i wanted to get a few more opinions.

My question is..... what size PVC should I use? inch / 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 and why?


The longest straight run would be about 12 feet and i would set up to run in a loop.

[dbrummitt]

I used all 1" and have plenty of left over air. Just a thought Dustin B.

[Jshakour]

I used all 1" and have plenty of left over air. Just a thought Dustin B.

how many tanks are you running and how deep?

[Tilly]

I am currently running the following:
2 - 125 gallons
6 - 75 gallons
5 - 40 breeders
6 - 10 gallons

I have a jehmco LP60 and used 3/4 pvc. I have had upto 30 tanks running on this setup and never had any issues. It has been running for over 6 years.

Bob

[Jshakour]

I am currently running the following:
2 - 125 gallons
6 - 75 gallons
5 - 40 breeders
6 - 10 gallons

I have a jehmco LP60 and used 3/4 pvc. I have had upto 30 tanks running on this setup and never had any issues. It has been running for over 6 years.

Bob

how many total outlets?

[Kyle May]

It's important to note that it's imperative to put your deepest tanks closest to the pump.....shallow tanks farthest.

Kyle

[fmueller]

I don't have a fish room, but just thinking of how the show setup at the Extravaganza is run, pipe diameter doesn't seem to be crucial. The main pipe at the Extravaganza is a standard garden hose, and it runs well over 100 outlets! Of course none of the tanks at the Extravaganza are very deep, but as long as you keep the deep tanks close to the pump as Kyle suggested, I bet even a 1/2" pipe would do. On the other hand, the price difference between 1/2" and 1" PVC pipe isn't huge.

[ajsubotnik]

Someone I know wrote an article for the bulletin a few months ago on this very subject, maybe you should check that out?

I will try to dig up the article this weekend and email it to you.

Andrew

[Jshakour]

Someone I know wrote an article for the bulletin a few months ago on this very subject, maybe you should check that out?

I will try to dig up the article this weekend and email it to you.

Andrew

Ahhhhhhh yes!!!!! I think it was Mr. Woodland.

[ajsubotnik]

Ahhhhhhh yes!!!!! I think it was Mr. Woodland.

lol...or Mr. Subotnik. I have the article saved on my laptop, I will get it to you this weekend...

[Jshakour]

Ahhhhhhh yes!!!!! I think it was Mr. Woodland.

lol...or Mr. Subotnik. I have the article saved on my laptop, I will get it to you this weekend...

Lol sorry, I remember Dan writing an article about fish room must haves.

[dbrummitt]

All my pvc pipes is 6 foot off the floor and my lowest tanks sit 3.75" off the floor. I have a dolphin av-150 pump and I'm currently running 1-180, 7-75, 1-88, 2-65, 5-55, 1-40, 3-33, 1-29,1-25, 6-20, 10-10 and airlines for tumblers and airstones for when needed. I have about 85 valves in my system. I also made my system a complete loop so the extra air continues around. My pump itself is only 2.5' lower than my pvc pipes and it feeds up into it and works great. Hope this helps. Dustin B.

[fmueller]

lol...or Mr. Subotnik. I have the article saved on my laptop, I will get it to you this weekend...

That was a good article, Mr Subotnik. I recommended it for reading to several people on Cichlid-forum.com, and they seemed to get all the information from it they needed, and then some. I am looking forward to the next chapter of what will undoubtedly become the Subotnik Bible for the Aquarist

[trebor69]

Someone I know wrote an article for the bulletin a few months ago on this very subject, maybe you should check that out?

I will try to dig up the article this weekend and email it to you.

Andrew

you remember which month it was?

[trebor69]

Nevermind Andrew... I found it

for anyone interested its in the January 2010 issue of the OCA Bulletin if you happen to still have it.

if not let me know I can email it to you

[Dan Woodland]

I don't recall if it's in Andrew's article but I think a key element in a "larger" air system is to make the PVC, what ever size you pick (persoanlly I would choose 1.5 or 2"), a closed system or a loop. This will ensure you don't have dead spots and would eliminate any worries of having your deep tanks closer to the pump.

[deeda]

I would be interested in an email copy of the January 2010 Bulletin, if anyone can send me a copy. Please!!!

[Jshakour]

Andrew,

Great article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[satony]

hey dan now if you go to 1.5 or 2" will you be able to pump 75g or 125g tanks? thats what im trying to figure out. Is a way to pump a 75g or 125g tank with my ap- 100. and im currently running 3/4". sorry to steal your thread james but I figured since everyones on the topic I would ask.

[Jshakour]

hey dan now if you go to 1.5 or 2" will you be able to pump 75g or 125g tanks? thats what im trying to figure out. Is a way to pump a 75g or 125g tank with my ap- 100. and im currently running 3/4". sorry to steal your thread james but I figured since everyones on the topic I would ask.

No worries.....great question!