Homemade compressor for aquarium

How to make a compressor for an aquarium with your own hands from scrap materials

For the aquarium to work properly, you need excellent saturation of water by means of oxygen. For this, two types of compressors will perfectly serve - membrane and piston. If you do not have the opportunity to buy a full-fledged device, then you have the opportunity to make a compressor for an aquarium from scrap materials with your own hands, and it will be silent and works great.

We suggest that you consider the principle of operation, the basic rules on how to install it and how to properly care for the equipment at home.

Compressor properties for aquarium

The compressor is a device for creating pressure, which will provide air supply to the aquarium space for the comfort and well-being of indoor fauna and flora.

Consider all the functions that such a unit can perform:

1. Provides aeration - additional water saturation of oxygen will provide small air bubbles.
2. Stirring water and leveling the temperature mode - due to the boiling of the compressor, heated oxygen bubbles, rising from bottom to top, create liquid circulation, and therefore the water is constantly moving, does not begin to stagnate and heats up evenly. If the water still does not refresh from time to time, this negatively affects the condition and health of the aquarium fish - they will fall asleep and swim as close to the surface as possible in order to grab air.
3. Protects against the appearance of a film on the surface of the water - a thin layer of microscopic organisms, waste products and dust may appear on the thickness of the liquid. The compressor helps to prevent this film from forming.

4. Aesthetic component - an aquarium with air bubbles inside, which rise perpendicular to the surface of the water, looks much more beautiful.
5. Simulate the current - certain species of fish need to live in conditions that are close to natural. The device can create the sensation of flow, as in a natural body of water.

Details

Each compressor is designed for a certain volume of liquid

… and the water column, and therefore, such an indicator is the main one when selecting a device power indicator. To calculate the required performance level of the aerator, multiply the displacement by 1/2.

We suggest considering the varieties of professional aquarium compressors:

• Reciprocating - are considered the most powerful, and are also used for large aquariums with a huge volume of water (more than 200 liters). The disadvantage of such units is considered to be incredibly large noise and loud sounds of work, which appear as a result of the movement of the piston-type mechanism.
• Diaphragm - such air pumps operate in a quiet mode, but are not completely silent.They are able to function by the movement of a rubber membrane that pumps oxygen into the plastic outlet pipe.

Such specialized devices can be found in all stores for animals, and they also function due to an electronic engine, and the price ranges from 200 to 20,000 rubles (depending on the manufacturer, size and power level) .

.. But, if you have the opportunity and desire, it is best to create a device with your own hands from available tools using a very simple technology. Consider the features of a home-made compressor:

• Silent operation - a unit assembled by hand, and also functions without buzzing and harsh sounds, like, for example, piston or membrane models. For this reason, it can even be placed in the bedroom, without fear of noise.

• No electrical power required - the device does not depend on electrical energy in any way.
• Long operational life - due to the absence of electromechanical components, the durability of this equipment can be noted. It is only important to remember that the pump will need to be lubricated once every couple of months.

A homemade aquarium compressor will be much easier

..

. and more economical to repair in case of breakdown than purchased devices. The only drawback is the need to pump up the chamber every day by means of a pump, and also the inability to leave the device unattended for several days. Another hand-made device cannot be used in large-sized aquariums.

Components of a do-it-yourself aerator:

• Main body (in order to fix all the constituent elements).

• Rubber tube (responsible for air atomization).
• Pump (heats up and will pump oxygen into the aquarium space).
• Electric motor (low speed).
• Mach with an eccentric (it will be responsible for converting rotary-type movements at the shaft into translational ones).

Next, let's go directly to the assembly process.

Assembling a miniature compressor from a plastic cover

So, first you need to prepare all the necessary materials to perform the work:

• Scotch tape.
• Hot glue.
• Lollipop wand.
• Old plastic card.
• Motor equipped with an old battery for electric power supply.

• Balloon.
• Thin plastic drip tube.
• A block of wood.
• A sheet of rubber (a piece of rubber-type sealant).
• Plastic bottle cap.

Let's take a closer look at the assembly stage:

1. To start from the cap is required to remove the entire seal, and after that, using a marker, it is required to mark future holes for the plastic tube, which are made with sharp scissors.
2. From a piece of rubber, it is required to cut a small-sized part in the form of a horseshoe, and after that it must be tightly glued to the inner side of the cap previously coated with adhesive.
3. Drum building can now begin - structures that allow air circulation. To do this, a piece of a balloon must be put on the lid and fixed with tape.
4. Next, take a plastic card and cut a circle in it with a smaller circle than the plastic cover itself.

   To one side of the circle, you need to glue a stick from a chupa-chups, and with the second part, the part can be attached to a miniature balloon drum using hot glue.

5. After that, you need to cut off a small part of the glue for the gun, and use the awl to make a couple of holes - at the center point, as well as at the edge. Fix the motor in the center and the wire to the side.
6. Attach the motor to the wood base and then apply the position of the second element. It is important to cut off the excess and connect the device into one whole.

7. The final step is to attach the motor to the tube and you have your homemade aquarium compressor ready!

In a home aquarium, it is very important that artificial aeration is provided so that the fish could feel comfortable, and the water remained clean and warmed up evenly.

For this, it is not at all necessary to buy expensive membrane or piston units in pet stores, and you can also assemble a special device with your own hands, using inexpensive materials and fairly simple technologies. Below in the video, which is a visual master class, you can learn how to make a silent compressor with your own hands from simple materials.