Aqua One

Why growers buy Aqua One

Aeration is aeration. An air pump moving 360L/h into a nutrient reservoir does the same job it does in a fish tank, and the aquarium trade has been building this gear cheaply and reliably for decades. Aqua One is the practical end of that market.

Air pumps sized for reservoirs

The Precision series runs from the 2500 at 160L/h up to the 12000 at 1900L/h, with single, twin and four-outlet models. The Infinity range — AP150R, AP250, AP750 and AP950R — ships as a kit with airline included, which saves a second order.

Heaters rated for hydroponic systems

The Thermosafe glass heaters are sold for aquariums and hydroponic systems, and the standard glass heaters run 55W, 100W, 200W and 300W. Reservoir temperature matters — root disease pressure rises with warm water, and in cold sheds nutrient uptake drops off.

Consumables you actually run out of

Airstones perish, airline goes brittle and check valves fail. The range covers golf-ball airstones in 40mm and 50mm, flexible airstones in 30cm and 45cm, encased PVC air disks, non-return check valves, and clear PVC airline in 2.5m, 5m and 100m rolls.

Our Aqua One range

Air pumps: Precision 2500, 7500, 9500 and 12000; Infinity AP150R, AP250, AP750 and AP950R with airline kits included.

Airstones and airline: golf-ball airstones 40mm and 50mm, flexible airstones 30cm and 45cm, encased PVC air disks in medium and large, non-backflow check valves, and clear PVC airline tubing in 2.5m, 5m and 100m rolls.

Water pumps: Maxi power heads from the 101 at 400L/h to the 106 at 3000L/h.

Heating and monitoring: glass heaters in 55W, 100W, 200W and 300W, Thermosafe glass heaters rated for aquariums and hydroponic systems, glass thermometers and water conditioner.

How to size an air pump for a reservoir

1. Start from reservoir volume. A common rule of thumb for DWC is around 1L per minute of air per 4L of solution, which puts a 60L reservoir near 900L/h. More air is rarely a problem; too little is.
2. Count your outlets, not just the litres. One pump split across four buckets delivers a quarter of its output to each. Twin and four-outlet models exist for that reason.
3. Match the airstone to the pump. A large disk stone on an undersized pump produces a trickle. Fine-pore stones need more pressure than a plain ceramic ball.
4. Fit a check valve if the pump sits below the water line. Without one, a power cut siphons nutrient solution back down the airline and into the pump.
5. Watch reservoir temperature. Warm solution holds less dissolved oxygen, so the same pump does less for you in summer. That is the point at which aeration and temperature control stop being separate problems.

For the wider selection see Hydroponic Air Pumps.